Management Of Marine Resources Research Articles

The Role of the State in Providing Public Services for the Utilization of Marine Resources

This paper aims to describe the role of the state in carrying out its public services for the utilization of natural resources by using the outlook of Indonesian philosophical insight of Pancasila in managing archipelagic state. This paper was conducted by using normative juridical approach to describe national management of marine resources. The management of marine resources is carried out through a legal framework to provide legal certainty and benefits for all communities as an archipelagic country characterized by an archipelago. The findings highlight that policies to maintain and manage marine natural resources, which will then be written about marine resources, must provide legal certainty and benefit value. The main contribution of this research is to explain the intersection of interests between uses within the national scope and at the same time containing the interests of use within the scope for the international community. This paper qualitatively examines the role of state as the main public service provider in administering institutions, corporations, independent institutions established by law for public service activities, and other legal entities established solely for public service activities in the context of utilization of marine resource. Empirical relationship between public sector performance and marine resource utilization was not tested in this study. The results encourage the state to maintain the integration of the nation and state both ideologically and territorially by realizing reliable public service through the improvement of utilizing marine resource as a means of increasing people welfare, especially in an archipelagic state such as Indonesia. The description is in relation to the role of the state in implementing public services in the utilization of marine resources in an archipelagic country based on national insight.

In a network of lines that intersect: The socio-economic development impact of marine resource management and conservation in Southeast Asia

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are rapidly spreading to meet global conservation targets, but new governance arrangements can have unintended impacts on socio-economic development that can undermine and counteract their intended outcomes. We use an exploratory mixed-method research design to understand these development impacts and their underlying mechanisms, guided by an innovative activity space framework that situates marine resource management and conservation in a network of relationships between communities, human services, and nature. Qualitative research – based on 22 interviews in Koh Sdach Archipelago, Cambodia – demonstrates how the local community experienced improving relationships with the state and a slowing deterioration of marine resources, but also social division, heightened livelihood anxiety, and potentially a false sense of economic security. We hypothesise on this basis that marine conservation could impede socio-economic development, for which we find support in our quantitative analysis across Cambodia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste: MPAs materialised in better-off communities but were associated with slower and partly regressive socio-economic development, in particular decreasing wealth and increasing child mortality. These findings suggest that the rapid global expansion of MPA coverage in its current, environmental-conservation-focused form is problematic as it disregards local social realities. Livelihood adaptation support should complement the implementation of marine resource governance mechanisms to mitigate unintended negative consequences.

Preface

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world economy, and Indonesia has not escaped its impacts. The marine and fisheries sector has suffered significantly in Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, where the marine and fisheries sector plays an important role in contributing to food security, livelihoods, and foreign exchange earnings. In addition to its impact on national and global economic sectors, the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 14 (SDG-14), Life Below Water. Specific targets which have been impacted include: (i) fish stock exploitation below 80% MSY; (ii) conservation area extent, (iii) marine spatial planning instruments, (iv) establishing the management of Fisheries Management Areas (FMA); (v) the protection of fishermen; (vi) access to finance for fishermen; and (vii) raising levels of fisheries-related business compliance.Various parties have endeavoured to minimize the impact of this pandemic, in particular efforts to ensure that restrictions on daily activities do not unnecessarily reduce the nation’s economic sector. These include initiatives by academics and researchers at many institutions across the country. In this context, one way in which the Faculty of Marine and Fisheries Sciences of Universitas Hasanuddin (FIKP Unhas) is showing its concern and making a contribution towards these efforts is by holding a International Symposium on Marine and Fisheries (ISMF) in 2021. FIKP Unhas in collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP) which is part of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) held the international symposium with the theme “ Acceleration of Management of Marine and Fishery Resources in Achieving SDGs in the Era of the Covid-19 Pandemic ”. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our international symposium was held on-line using the Zoom platform on 6th June 2021. Despite challenges related to the pandemic, we anticipate that this symposium can be a forum for the exchange of information, knowledge, experience, and for initiating cooperation in research and development activities in the marine and fisheries sector in order to strengthen innovation and improve the sustainable management of aquatic resources.List of title Conference Committee are available in this Pdf.

Social-ecological system in Depapre Bay Area of Jayapura Papua Indonesia

A Socio-Ecological Systems (SESs) are systems that connect human systems and natural systems by emphasizing that humans must be seen as part of, and cannot be separated from nature. Understanding SESs is very important as the main capital in planning the management of coastal and marine resources. The purpose of this study was to study SESs in Depapre Bay, Jayapura, Papua Province using the Drivers-Pressure-Impact-State-Responses (DPSIR) approach. Based on the research results, it was found that the issues and problems of SESs in Depapre Bay were related to the utilization of coastal and marine resources that were not environmentally friendly, such as the use of blast fishing and tuba root poisoning and development that did not consider the sustainability of coastal and marine resources. In addition, the response of the government and stakeholders has not focused on overcoming the damage to ecosystems and coastal and marine biological resources in an integrated manner. This can be seen from the programs carried out that are still partial, especially in the prevention of destructive fishing and the rehabilitation of coastal and marine ecosystems that have been damaged.

Advancing the Interpretation of Shallow Water Marine Soundscapes

Soundscapes offer rich descriptions of composite acoustic environments. Characterizing marine soundscapes simply through sound levels results in incomplete descriptions, limits the understanding of unique features, and impedes meaningful comparisons. Sources that contribute to sound level metrics shift in time and space with changes in biological patterns, physical forces, and human activity. The presence of a constant or chronic source is often interwoven with episodic sounds. Further, the presence and intensity of sources can influence other sources, calling for a more integrated approach to characterizing soundscapes. Here, we illustrate this complexity using data from a national-scale effort, the Sanctuary Soundscape Monitoring Project (SanctSound), an initiative designed to support collection of biological, environmental, and human use data to compliment the interpretation of sound level measurements. Using nine examples from this diverse dataset we demonstrate the benefit of integrating source identification and site features to interpret sound levels across a diversity of shallow water marine soundscapes (<150 m). Sound levels from sites in high human use areas reflect the anthropogenic influences on the soundscape, especially when measuring broad frequency bands, whereas sites with relatively low human activity and high sound levels reveal biological features of the soundscape. At sites with large tidal changes, sound levels correlated with the magnitude of tidal flow, and sound levels during high tidal flow periods were similar to sound levels at sites near commercial shipping lanes. At sites in relatively close proximity (<30 km), sound levels diverge because of the presence of different proximate sound contributors and propagation features of the site. A review of emerging methodologies for integrated soundscape analysis, including acoustic scenes, provides a framework for interpreting soundscapes across a variety of conditions. With a global growth in monitoring efforts collecting standardized measurements over widely distributed arrays, more integrated methods are needed to advance the utility of soundscapes in marine resource management.

Understanding Local Perceptions of the Drivers/Pressures on the Coastal Marine Environment in Palawan, Philippines

The Philippines, as a tropical archipelagic country, is particularly vulnerable to environmental changes affecting coastal and marine settings. However, there are limited studies investigating how these changes are perceived by the local populations who depend directly on the marine environment for their livelihoods, health, and well-being, and who are the most vulnerable to such changes. To explore these issues, we conducted an in-home face-to-face structured survey in 10 coastal communities in Palawan, Philippines (n = 431). As part of the survey, respondents were asked to comment on how important they believed a list of 22 drivers/pressures (e.g., “land-use change”) were in affecting their local marine environment. Statistical analysis of this list using Exploratory Factor Analysis suggested the 22 drivers/pressures could be categorized into 7 discrete groups (or in statistical terms “factors”) of drivers/pressures (e.g., “urbanization,” “unsustainable fishing practices” etc.). We then used ordinary least squared regression to identify similarities and differences between the perspectives within and across communities, using various socio-demographic variables. Results suggested that among the seven identified factors, four were perceived by the local communities as making the marine environment worse, two were perceived as having no impact, and one was perceived to be making the marine environment better. Perceptions differed by gender, education, ethnicity, and study site. A subsequent survey with 16 local coastal resource management experts, suggested that public perceptions of the most critical drivers/pressures were broadly consistent with those of this expert group. Our findings highlight how aware local coastal communities are of the drivers/pressures underpinning the threats facing their livelihoods, health, and well-being. Ultimately, this information can support and inform decisions for the management of local marine resources.

Use of food web knowledge in environmental conservation and management of living resources in the Baltic Sea

AbstractFood webs are central entities mediating processes and external pressures in marine ecosystems. They are essential to understand and predict ecosystem dynamics and provision of ecosystem services. Paradoxically, utilization of food web knowledge in marine environmental conservation and resource management is limited. To better understand the use of knowledge and barriers to incorporation in management, we assess its application related to the management of eutrophication, chemical contamination, fish stocks, and non-indigenous species. We focus on the Baltic, a severely impacted, but also intensely studied and actively managed semi-enclosed sea. Our assessment shows food web processes playing a central role in all four areas, but application varies strongly, from formalized integration in management decisions, to support in selecting indicators and setting threshold values, to informal knowledge explaining ecosystem dynamics and management performance. Barriers for integration are complexity of involved ecological processes and that management frameworks are not designed to handle such information. We provide a categorization of the multi-faceted uses of food web knowledge and benefits of future incorporation in management, especially moving towards ecosystem-based approaches as guiding principle in present marine policies and directives. We close with perspectives on research needs to support this move considering global and regional change.

Addressing Cetacean–Fishery Interactions to Inform a Deep-Sea Ecosystem-Based Management in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea)

Understanding of cetaceans’ trophic role and the quantification of their impacts on the food web is a critical task, especially when data on their prey are linked to deep-sea ecosystems, which are often exposed to excessive exploitation of fishery resources due to poor management. This aspect represents one of the major issues in marine resource management, and trade-offs are needed to simultaneously support the conservation of cetaceans and their irreplaceable ecological role, together with sustainable fishing yield. In that regard, food web models can represent useful tools to support decision-making processes according to an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach. This study provides a focus on the feeding activity occurrence and the trophic interactions between odontocetes and the fishery in the marine food web of the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea), by zooming in on cetaceans’ prey of commercial interest. In particular, the quantification of trophic impacts is estimated using a food web mass-balance model that integrates information on the bathymetric displacement of both cetaceans’ prey and fishing activity. The results are discussed from a management perspective to guide future research and knowledge enhancement activities as well as support the implementation of an EBM approach.

Ask the Locals: A Community-Informed Analysis of Perceived Marine Environment Quality Over Time in Palawan, Philippines.

Despite the potentially huge contributions that coastal communities might make in marine resource management and sustainability, their participation in such efforts have only been recognized recently, particularly in Southeast Asia. Involving community perceptions can offer new insights for policy makers and resource managers and can elicit strong commitment and support from the communities themselves. This article aims to understand the perceptions of coastal communities of local environmental issues, specifically how these have developed over time, to understand the expectations and perceptions of trends. Sixteen marine environmental issues were identified during stakeholder meetings in Palawan, Philippines. A co-developed survey was administered to 431 respondents from coastal communities in two municipalities (Taytay and Aborlan) and in the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan. The results show variation in the perceptions and expectations across issues. We find that communities expect positive trends for mangrove coverage, beach tree cover, and seagrass coverage as well as for seaweed farming and quality of drinking water. The amount of plastic litter, wild fish and shellfish, and the severity of sewage pollution are perceived to get slightly worse. The aquaculture sector is expected to remain unchanged in the future as it had been in the past. We also find significant differences in how people from different areas of residence perceive their marine environment. In the discussion, we mapped these different community perceptions on existing policies and their implementation. We further recommend how community perceptions can be integrated into resource management and policy making in the future.

Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) as a tool for marine fish identification

Assessment and monitoring of marine biodiversity, including fish populations, is essential for evidence-based conservation management of coastal marine resources. The effectiveness of monitoring techniques for stock assessment varies with sea conditions. In dynamic marine environments with high turbidity, such as those found in estuaries, mangroves, coastal straits, fjords, and bays, traditional assessment methods include the use of destructive techniques such as trawling. Hydroacoustic sampling techniques overcome such restrictions, equipment such as echosounders have commonly been used for biodiversity assessments including fish community structure, biomass, behaviour, and dynamics studies. However, hydroacoustic methods have been shown to be less reliable for species identification.The high frequency Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) is widely used for underwater object detection and imaging. Our study investigated the suitability of ARIS 3000 for the species identification of North-East Atlantic marine species using experimental aquarium studies, field surveys and multi investigator assessments. Aquaria results showed that 82 % of species were detected by observers, of which five were identified correctly identified consistently. The remaining four species were identified correctly <67 % of the time. During field surveys, a 150 % higher confidence in identification was given to more morphologically distinct groups such as elasmobranchs.Whilst our results highlight the suitability of the ARIS for accurate and repeatable identification of some of the model species used in this study, we have also shown that factors such as size and morphological traits limit the accuracy of identification for all species. We suggest that monitoring techniques combine the use of ARIS sonars alongside other sampling tools for assessing motile faunal communities.

Trends and Evolution in the Concept of Marine Ecosystem Services: An Overview

The biotic and abiotic assets of the marine environment form the “marine natural capital” embedded in the global ocean. Marine natural capital provides the flow of “marine ecosystem services” that are directly used or enjoyed by people providing benefits to human well-being. They include provisioning services (e.g., food), regulation and maintenance services (e.g., carbon sequestration and storage, and coastal protection), and cultural services (e.g., tourism and recreational benefits). In recent decades, human activities have increased the pressures on marine ecosystems, often leading to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss and, in turn, affecting their ability to provide benefits to humans. Therefore, effective management strategies are crucial to the conservation of healthy and diverse marine ecosystems and to ensuring their long-term generation of goods and services. Biophysical, economic, and sociocultural assessments of marine ecosystem services are much needed to convey the importance of natural resources to managers and policy makers supporting the development and implementation of policies oriented for the sustainable management of marine resources. In addition, the accounting of marine ecosystem service values can be usefully complemented by their mapping to enable the identification of priority areas and management strategies and to facilitate science–policy dialogue. Given this premise, this study aims to review trends and evolution in the concept of marine ecosystem services. In particular, the global scientific literature on marine ecosystem services is explored by focusing on the following main aspects: the definition and classification of marine ecosystem services; their loss due to anthropogenic pressures, alternative assessment, and mapping approaches; and the inclusion of marine ecosystem services into policy and decision-making processes.

Molecular identification of Gracilaria species (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) obtained from the South Coast of Java Island, Indonesia

Abstract. Meinita MDN, Akromah N, Andriyani N, Setijanto, Harwanto D, Liu T. 2021. Molecular identification of Gracilaria species (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) obtained from the South Coast of Java Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3046-3056. The study of seaweeds diversity and species identification is an important component of marine resource management. However, seaweed identification based on morphological characteristics has several limitations. Besides, DNA barcodes or the partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1) have been proved to identify seaweeds at the species level. To date, Gracilaria species molecular diversity has not been studied in the South Coast of Java Island. Hence, this study aimed to identify the Gracilaria spp. obtained from 6 different beaches along the South Coast of Java, based on the COX1 gene. COX1 gene utilization for identifying and observing the genetic diversity, both intraspecific (genetic variation within species) and interspecific (variations between species) of Gracilaria species in this study has produced good results. A total of 13 seaweed samples collected from beaches in this study were identified as Gracilaria salicornia, G. edulis, G. firma, and G. textorii. The results of genetic diversity analysis conducted using the COX1 gene showed the intraspecific diversity of G. edulis obtained from the beaches of Kondang Merak, Kukup, Nusakambangan, and Karapyak was included in the moderate diversity category. Also, the intraspecific diversity of G. salicornia obtained from the beaches of Kondang Merak, Kukup, and Nusakambangan was included in the moderate diversity category, while the intraspecific diversity of G. textorii from Menganti and Karapyak Beach had no diversity.

From ritual performers to ocean defenders: fisher migrations, identity narratives and resource access in the Barren Isles, West Madagascar

ABSTRACT Vezo migrant fishers have played a key role in shaping the seascape and resource use practices in the Southwest of Madagascar. As a population relying mainly on fishing for its livelihood, Vezo people have struggled to maintain their livelihood in the face of resource depletion. They migrate seasonally or long term from their home region on the southwest coast to marine frontiers further north such as the Barren Isles, a remote archipelago in the west of Madagascar. Exploiting sea cucumber and sharks for the global market involves economic and ritual practices that they have maintained in their journeys and constitute their identities as migrant fishers. Within a context of increasing commercialization and depletion of small-scale fisheries, various conservation initiatives have taken place within the migration route of the Vezo including the establishment of Madagascar’s largest marine protected area in the Barren Isles. This article argues that migrant fishers have managed to gain, maintain and control access to marine resources, both by performing ancestral rituals by which newcomers attach themselves to ecological niches, and also by mobilizing an environmentalist identity narrative promoted by the Malagasy government and international NGOs. In this way, Vezo migrant fishers have become key actors in the management of marine resources while maintaining their ancestral practices. This is an important argument discussing the role of local identity narratives in the political economy of global resource appropriation and shows how migrant fishers fit in the contemporary seascapes.

Management of Marine and Fisheries Resources: Cipta Kerja act and Islamic Perspective

The Tenaga Kerja act has been passed. One of the sectors associated with the Tenaga Kerja act is marine and fisheries sector. Therefore, it is important to understand the potential impact of the act on the maritime and fisheries sector. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the potential effect of the Tenaga Kerja act on the marine and fisheries sector. In addition, this paper also offers a new paradigm in optimal and environmentally friendly marine and fisheries resource management based on Islam. We used descriptive analysis method by comparing the Tenaga Kerja act with acts relating to the maritime and fisheries sector. In addition, to understand how Islam manages existing natural resources, the Koran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam were used. The results showed that the Tenaga Kerja act opens opportunities for foreigners to exploit marine and fishery resources in Indonesia waters. As a consequence, the interests of the national fishing industry are threatened. In addition, the act created a very strong centralization of authority to the Central Government and weakened the roles of the Technical Ministers and local governments. On the other hand, Islam provides solutions in optimal management of marine and fisheries resources while maintaining their sustainability. Therefore, it is very important to consider Islam in environmental management such as in the marine and fisheries sector.

Classed conservation: Socio-economic drivers of participation in marine resource management

Conservation organizations often adopt the normative value of “whole community” participation, predicated on the idea that broad community involvement across categories of identity and social stratification will lead to more successful project outcomes. Analysis of intra-community social stratifications in relation to participation in conservation is important to the pursuit of environmental justice as well as improved efficacy of a given conservation intervention. While a large body of literature broadly examines intra and inter-community dynamics in relation to community-based conservation, few have specifically quantified how wealth influences one’s participation in community-based conservation initiatives, especially in the marine realm. To address these questions, we interviewed people living near marine conservation initiatives in Madagascar. Using a principle component analysis, we created an asset-based wealth index and showed that both knowledge of and participation in marine conservation was positively correlated with wealth. Specifically, three of the four participation categories were statistically correlated with wealth, including involvement in any element of the conservation project, involvement in decision-making, and in enforcement. However, wealth was not significantly correlated with participation in monitoring. Ultimately our research highlights the importance of understanding underlying drivers of participation in community-based conservation. If the poorest in a community are underrepresented in local participation, the conservation initiative will not only be unjust, but will also likely be less effective.

Next-generation regional ocean projections for living marine resource management in a changing climate

AbstractEfforts to manage living marine resources (LMRs) under climate change need projections of future ocean conditions, yet most global climate models (GCMs) poorly represent critical coastal habitats. GCM utility for LMR applications will increase with higher spatial resolution but obstacles including computational and data storage costs, obstinate regional biases, and formulations prioritizing global robustness over regional skill will persist. Downscaling can help address GCM limitations, but significant improvements are needed to robustly support LMR science and management. We synthesize past ocean downscaling efforts to suggest a protocol to achieve this goal. The protocol emphasizes LMR-driven design to ensure delivery of decision-relevant information. It prioritizes ensembles of downscaled projections spanning the range of ocean futures with durations long enough to capture climate change signals. This demands judicious resolution refinement, with pragmatic consideration for LMR-essential ocean features superseding theoretical investigation. Statistical downscaling can complement dynamical approaches in building these ensembles. Inconsistent use of bias correction indicates a need for objective best practices. Application of the suggested protocol should yield regional ocean projections that, with effective dissemination and translation to decision-relevant analytics, can robustly support LMR science and management under climate change.

Carbon Cycling in Mangrove Ecosystem of Western Bay of Bengal (India)

Carbon cycling in the mangrove ecosystem is one of the important processes determining the potential of coastal vegetation (mangroves), sediment, and adjoining waters to carbon absorption. This paper investigates the carbon storage capacity of five dominant mangrove species (Avicenia marina, Avicenia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizophora mucronata, and Xylocarpous granatum) on the east coast of the Indian mangrove along with the role they play in the carbon cycling phenomenon. Soil and water parameters were analyzed simultaneously with Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Above Ground Carbon (AGC) values for 10 selected stations along. The total carbon (TC) calculated from the study area varied from 51.35 ± 6.77 to 322.47 ± 110.79 tons per hectare with a mean total carbon of 117.89 ± 28.90 and 432.64 ± 106.05 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The alarm of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for reducing carbon emissions has been addressed by calculating the amount of carbon stored in biotic (mangroves) and abiotic (soil and water) compartments. This paper focuses on the technical investigations on the factors that control the carbon cycling process in mangroves. This blue carbon will help policymakers to develop a sustainable relationship between marine resource management and coastal inhabitants so that carbon trading markets can be developed, and the ecosystem is balanced.

Marine resource management and fisheries governance in Belize exhibit a polycentric, decentralized, and nested institutional structure

Overfishing is one of the most severe anthropogenic threats to the world's oceans, marked by widespread degradation of marine food webs and disruption of ecosystem functioning. Global fisheries can be categorized as common-pool resource (CPR) systems because restricting marine resource extraction is extremely challenging, and over-extraction contributes to an overall decline in availability to others. Because of these challenges, establishing effective institutions for the sustainable management of natural resource systems is essential. Community-based fisheries management offers a potential solution to overcome the challenges associated with fisheries as CPRs by including fishers in the management of their fisheries through collective action. The purpose of this study was to examine the institutional robustness (e.g. presence of nested and decentralized enterprises as indicators of resilience to shocks) of over 40 years of fisheries management in Belize. I used a mixed methods approach combining review of secondary literature, semi-structured interviews with key informants across the governmental, non-governmental, and fishers' sectors, and participant observation. The results of this study suggest that Belize has the institutions in place to overcome collective action problems and be a long-enduring CPR system. These conclusions have implications for the enforcement of Belize's new Fisheries Resource Bill (as of late 2019), and in other small-scale fisheries across the globe.

Biologically meaningful distribution models highlight the benefits of the Paris Agreement for demersal fishing targets in the North Atlantic Ocean

AbstractAimWith climate change challenging marine biodiversity and resource management, it is crucial to anticipate future latitudinal and depth shifts under contrasting global change scenarios to support policy‐relevant biodiversity impact assessments [e.g., Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)]. We aim to demonstrate the benefits of complying with the Paris Agreement (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and limiting environmental changes, by assessing future distributional shifts of 10 commercially important demersal fish species.LocationNorthern Atlantic Ocean.Time periodAnalyses of distributional shifts compared near present‐day conditions (2000–2017) with two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios of future climate changes (2090–2100): one following the Paris Agreement climate forcing (RCP2.6) and another without stringent mitigation measures (RCP8.5).Major taxa studiedDemersal fish.MethodsWe use machine learning distribution models coupled with biologically meaningful predictors to project future latitudinal and depth shifts. Structuring projections with information beyond temperature‐based predictors allowed us to encompass the physiological limitations of species better.ResultsOur models highlighted the additional roles of temperature, primary productivity and dissolved oxygen in shaping fish distributions (average relative contribution to the models of 32.12 ± 10.24, 15.6 ± 7.5 and 12.1 ± 6.1%, respectively). We anticipated a generalized trend of poleward shifts in both future scenarios, with aggravated changes in suitable area with RCP8.5 (average area loss with RCP2.6 = 13.3 ± 4.1%; RCP8.5 = 40.9 ± 13.3%). Shifts to deeper waters were also predicted to be of greater magnitude with RCP8.5 (average depth gain = 25.4 ± 21.5 m) than with RCP2.6 (average depth gain = 10.4 ± 7.9 m). Habitat losses were projected mostly in the Mediterranean, Celtic and Irish Seas, the southern areas of the North Sea and along the NE coast of North America.Main conclusionsInclusion of biologically meaningful predictors beyond temperature in species distribution modelling can improve predictive performances. Limiting future climate changes by complying with the Paris Agreement can translate into reduced distributional shifts, supporting biodiversity conservation and resource management.

Developing an Ecological Risk Assessment to Effectively Manage Marine Resources in Data-Limited Locations: A Case Study for St Helena Sand Extraction

Maritime states are faced with the challenge of effectively managing their marine spaces to use resources sustainably, maximise economic potential and simultaneously protect their marine environments. Anthropogenic activities, whether in isolation or combination, all have effects on the natural environment. Each of these effects has a footprint in time and space. Assessing the distribution and intensity of human activities and their effects on marine biodiversity, and all other human uses and users is necessary for effective spatial planning, as well as to harmonise conservation with sustainable development. Assessing and managing combined pressures from human activities can be achieved using risk assessment and risk management processes. There are multiple examples of environmental risk assessments which propose a similar formula. However, standardised approaches to ecological risk assessment in data-limited locations that relate to sand extraction are limited. Also most assessments require a certain level of information to produce meaningful outcomes, that enable subsequent management action to appropriately reflect the identified level of risk. Here we outline an approach to assess the risk to the marine environment of sand extraction activity within the Exclusive Economic Zone and Marine Protected Area of St Helena Island in the Atlantic. The proposed risk assessment tool has supported the development of a sand extraction management strategy on St Helena, and will be used to inform future management plans and policies that allow anthropogenic activities to take place in a way that balances local management, monitoring and enforcement capability, in line with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category VI designation. Both the tool and strategy promote sustainable use of resources and protection of the marine environment, which are key objectives stated in the St Helena Marine Management Plan.