Marine Territory Research Articles

Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement.

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) is a common occurrence. Although PADDD is expected to weaken biodiversity protection, PADDD offsets and new unrelated protected areas (PAs) could help restore representation of biodiversity features to the reserve network affected by PADDD. Globally, we analyzed 16 territories with terrestrial PADDD and 4 territories with marine PADDD from 2011 to 2020. Our objective was to evaluate whether PADDD offsets and new PAs could restore the PAs, key biodiversity areas (KBAs), ecoregions, and threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile species ranges where PADDD had occurred. In our studied territories, offsets of PADDD were rare (enacted in 3 [19%] terrestrial territories and one [25%] marine territory). One territory had PADDD losses that were compensated fully by PADDD offsets in terms of area coverage and ecoregions represented. All other territories failed to achieve compensation goals. In territories affected by PADDD, PADDD offsets and new PAs partially restored area representation (63%) and KBA coverage (57%). However, only 38% of ecoregion representation and 20%, 33%, 31%, and 21% of threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile representation, respectively, were restored. Overall, we found a large shortfall in PADDD offsets, even when unrelated PAs were included in the calculus. There is an urgent need to expand PADDD offsets and PAs to advance biodiversity conservation and achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target. Future planning of newly enacted conservation areas needs to prioritize biodiversity conservation and consider the purpose of restoring reserve networks affected by PADDD, rather than solely focusing on areal targets.

Coupled Motion Response Analysis for Dynamic Target Salvage under Wave Action

The strategic recovery of buoys is a critical task in executing deep-sea research missions, as nations extend their exploration of marine territories. This study primarily investigates the dynamics of remotely operated vehicle (ROV)-assisted salvage operations for floating bodies during the recovery of dynamic maritime targets. It focuses on the hydrodynamic coefficients of dual floating bodies in this salvage process. The interaction dynamics of the twin floats are examined using parameters such as the kinematic response amplitude operator (RAO), added mass, damping coefficient, and mean drift force. During the “berthing stage”, when the double floats are at Fr = 0.15–0.18, their roll and yaw Response Amplitude Operators are diminished, resulting in smoother motion. Thus, the optimal berthing speed range for this stage is Fr = 0.15–0.18. During the “side-by-side phase”, the spacing between the ROV and FLOAT under wave action should be approximately 0.4 L to 0.5 L. The coupled motion of twin floating bodies under the influence of following waves can further enhance their stability. The ideal towing speed during the “towing phase” is Fr = 0.2. This research aims to analyze the mutual influence between two floating bodies under wave action. By simulating the coupled motion of dual dynamic targets, we more precisely assess the risks and challenges inherent in salvage operations, thus providing a scientific basis for the design and optimization of salvage strategies.

Legal Efforts of the Indonesian Government for the Protection of Marine Resources Due to Damage to Marine Ecosystems by Fishermen

As a huge maritime country, Indonesia has tremendous potential for marine resources. Indonesia is the largest tropical marine country in the world and has the largest biodiversity in the sea. The potential of marine biological resources in Indonesian waters has always been able to provide optimal benefits for the economic and socio-cultural development of the community. However, many fishermen conduct fishing easily and destructively (destructively fishing) of marine ecosystems using fishing gear that is not environmentally friendly to meet the demand for fish needs. The perpetrators use Dupont Lannate chemicals containing Methomil with mashed fish and then spread it into the sea, then pick up the dead fish. The use of chemical poisons can kill the animals that make up the coral so that the coral becomes discolored which eventually dies and other fish that are not targeted also die. Therefore in this study, the author examines law enforcement in Indonesia’s marine territory to protect the biodiversity of Indonesia’s marine areas. this study uses a Normative research type that examines national and international legal arrangements regarding the protection of the marine environment. Therefore researchers examine the regulation and effectiveness of law enforcement in Indonesia.

Toward better governance of the marine environment: an examination of the revision of China’s marine environmental protection law in 2023

The marine economy has become an increasingly important contributor to the global economy due to advancements in science and technology and humans’ growing ability to manipulate nature. As a country with a vast marine territory, China has the important responsibility of utilizing marine resources rationally and promoting sustainable development of the marine economy. Since the introduction of the Marine Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (MEPL) in 1982, China has made significant progress in strengthening the legal framework for marine environmental protection. MEPL has undergone several revisions to improve its legal content under the guidance of national policies. On October 24, 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress revised and adopted MEPL again. This paper analyzes the changes in the contents of the new law and the legal background at home and abroad while integrating the domestic and international legal backgrounds. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the changes made in the new law, summarizes the revision ideas, and examines the new law in the context of domestic and international laws. The aim is to provide a clear understanding of the spirit and purpose of the legislation.

Diagnosis of Integrated Coastal Management in Mexico

The growing concern about the abuse of coastal resources and the adverse effects caused by their exploitation have led countries to take measures to combat the consequences of null or deficient management. Currently, our country is subscribed to several international agreements to prevent marine pollution and protect ocean biodiversity. Although it lacks an integrated coastal management plan, it has a large number of laws that regulate activities related to its coasts and oceans. In this article we will analyze, with the help of the ICZM Decalogue proposed by Barragán (2001; 2004), Mexico’s actions with respect to the integrated coastal management of its extensive marine territory. Keywords: ICZM Decalogue, Integrated coastal management, Mexico.

Sheet pile walls as a part of the substructure of bridges. Practical application in Denmark

The usage of “sheet pile wall” is very common solution in Denmark due to the geographic situation of the country – low sea level, a significant part of the state border is sea, high groundwater level, poor geotechnical conditions. The “sheet pile wall” is used for strengthening of embankments, reclaim marine territories and as a supporting walls of railway lines and roads. As a consequence of this, a very common solution is to use the sheet pile walls as a part of the substructure of bridges – overpasses of railway lines and roads when the alignment is in excavation. From one side, the “sheet pile wall” are used as wing walls of the bridge and they support the road embankment. From another side, it is used as an abutment walls of the bridge. The part of the wall acting as a bridge support is design with some concrete “hammer beam”. The “hammer” in some cases is connected to the bridge deck by means of concrete hinges. Very often, “sheet pile wall” in the zone of the wing walls is combined with anchors in order to take increased section forces. Common variants in Denmark practice for connection of the bridge superstructure and sheet pile substructure are presented and analysed in the paper.

Mexico on Track to Protect 30% of Its Marine Area by 2030

Mexico has committed to protecting 30% of its marine territory by 2030 to comply with Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted during the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of meeting this commitment by determining the marine extent of conservation measures based on legally established Marine Protected Areas and areas that meet the criteria to be considered as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and determining the marine extent of areas proposed in various conservation planning exercises that can be created as any of the area-based instruments that exist in Mexico. The total coverage of existing and proposed areas was calculated by merging the dataset to remove duplicates and dissolving the boundaries between polygons to determine the total area. Spatial analysis was carried out in ArcGIS using geoprocessing tools. Currently, more than 25% of Mexico’s marine area is legally protected or conserved, with federal marine protected areas covering more than 22% of the Exclusive Economic Zone. The legally established areas that can be considered OECMs cover about 3% of the marine territory. We found that more than 9% of Mexico’s Economic Exclusive Zone contains areas of high conservation importance that are not covered by any area-based instrument. This study shows that Mexico has the potential to protect or conserve 32.8% of its marine territory by 2030.

A possible Jurassic age for the New Caledonia Trough and implications for Zealandia’s history

ABSTRACT The New Caledonia Trough is a bathymetric depression extending 2,500 km from New Zealand to the Coral Sea. Sedimentary successions up to 10 km thick are contained in three main sedimentary basins, the New Caledonia, Fairway and Deepwater Taranaki basins. Deepwater Taranaki Basin occupies the head of the New Caledonia Trough adjacent to the well-known Taranaki Basin lying almost entirely within New Zealand’s marine territory. The inboard part of Deepwater Taranaki Basin is covered by a dense grid of high-quality 2D and some 3D seismic data and one exploration well, Romney-1, which did not drill the syn-rift succession. The oldest sedimentary rocks drilled by Romney-1 are palynologically dated as Teratan (latest Turonian and Coniacian – 91–87 Ma). While the New Caledonia Trough is generally thought to have been initiated by Late Cretaceous (Campbell and Mortimer 2014; Strogen et al. 2017), this paper examines the evidence for the age of the oldest sedimentary rocks in the Deepwater Taranaki Basin and hence its age of inception and by inference, inception of the New Caledonia Trough to suggest a possible Jurassic age.

Connecting conservation & culture: The importance of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation decision-making and resource management of migratory marine species

Migratory marine species (e.g., seabirds, marine mammals, fish, and sea turtles) cross and connect distant communities and ecosystems throughout their transboundary journeys. Due to their multi-jurisdictional and cross-cultural movements, studying, managing, and protecting migratory marine species as well as their habitats and migration routes are deeply political and geographically complex tasks. Despite a place-based cultural connection to migratory marine species; inherent rights, responsibilities, and authority to manage Sea Country (marine territory), Indigenous communities are far too often excluded from marine conservation decision-making. In this paper we conduct a narrative review and synthesis of relevant literature and analyze four community-driven case studies (both terrestrial and marine) that recognize the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge to support the governance and management of a culturally significant migratory species. The case studies are presented from an Australian Sea Country context as well as from a Canadian marine territory setting. Together these case studies highlight how Indigenous knowledge can increase the understanding of connectivity as well as provide a spatio-temporal baseline for species with limited science-based knowledge. It is essential that Indigenous communities as rights holders to Sea Country (marine territory) and owners of vast amounts of relevant marine knowledge be at the forefront of migratory marine species conservation decision-making for both coastal and distant offshore areas such as Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Bringing Indigenous knowledge and scientific monitoring data together has the potential to respond to Indigenous priorities for Sea Country and further contribute to the understanding of migratory marine species distribution, abundance, life cycles, threats, and oceanic connectivity.

Chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) present in the territorial waters of Venezuela, Southeast Caribbean: a general review and update of their knowledge

Introduction: It is currently accepted that the marine malaco-faunistic biodiversity of Chitons (Polyplacophora) occurring in the general environment of the tropical watershed of the Caribbean is composed of a total of 53 native species of these singular benthic molluscs, taxonomically included in 2 Orders, 8 Families and 18 genera. Objective: Updated general review of the inventory of polyplacophorous molluscs occurring in the marine territory of Venezuela, tropical southeastern portion of the Caribbean. Methodology: Unprecedented systematic organization of a reference database comprising total regional knowledge chronologically produced around the theme over a period of 122 years (1900 - 2022). Results and Conclusions: Confirmed and recorded regional total of 23 chiton species (43% of the previously recognized for the Caribbean), including 22 forms of shallow coastal waters and one (1) deep water, recorded for 16 geographic localities (10 island, 5 continental and 1 deep water in continental shelf), all verified through the global platform "MolluscaBase", taxonomically included in 2 Orders, 7 Families and 13 Genus, including additional information about their known biogeographical distribution in the country's territorial space.

Implementation of the San Remo Manual as a Strategy for the Rule of War in the Indonesian Marine Territory

In 1994, a regulation on sea warfare was made, which could be used by countries conducting sea wars. This regulation is called the San Remo Manual, with changes to make various adjustments related to the conduct of war at sea. Indonesia is in an important strategic area both in the sea and air zones, this makes Indonesia a strategic area both regionally and globally. The purpose of this research is to provide practical guidelines for countries in applying international law that applies in times of armed conflict at sea and to find out how the law is applied in Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative method. Qualitative research tries to identify various phenomena ideographically. The theory of development and development can be formed empirically through various phenomena or cases studied. the result of this is to become a guideline for countries in conducting wars at sea, armed conflicts at sea, parties involved in the conflict, actions that are permitted and which are not permitted during conflicts, protection of injured ships and people who are injured or captured, as well as actions taken can be taken by countries outside the conflict.

The Microplastic Existence in Ecosystem of Semi-arid Coastal Area, Kupang City: A Literature Review

Microplastic contamination gain recognition in recent years. Microplastic is found within many parts of human tissue and thus provides potential health hazards. Although microplastic pollution ranges across the land, air, and water ecosystem, this review only exposes the existence of microplastic within the marine environment, which includes the marine territories of Kupang City, Indonesia, and its proximity. In this review, we assess any scientific literature related to microplastic issues in Kupang City. The purpose of this review article is to analyze and combine the results from the researchers who discuss the existence of microplastics and the characteristics of the microplastics studied in Kupang City. In order to achieve a comprehensive explanation, each aspect of expertise in previous research will be carried within a human health point of view. As a result, seven papers published in 2019 to 2022 referring to microplastic problems in Kupang City were found, proposing the presence of filament-shaped and black microplastics in almost all related studies.

Scoping an integrated ecosystem assessment for South Africa

The need to move toward marine ecosystem-based management is globally recognized. Few countries effectively account for multiple interacting pressures in their marine assessments, planning and management. Many socio-economic sectors currently operate in South African waters and in most cases, their associated pressures are managed on a sector-by-sector basis and interacting pressures are seldom accounted for in assessments or decision-making. For ecosystem-based management to be effective, a science-based approach to prioritize sectors and pressures needing most urgent action, and to identify affected ecological components is needed. Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) has hence been put forward as a tool that can organize relevant information and provide context for cross-sectoral management decisions. Consisting of five main stages that form an iterative cycle, the first IEA stage involves scoping of top management priorities in a given area and can be done by way of risk assessment. Through the ODEMM (Options for Delivering Ecosystem-based Marine Management) approach, linkage chains (interactions) among sectors, pressures and affected ecological components for the entirety of the South African marine territory were identified. Subsequently, impact risk scores of each linkage chain were calculated based on the exposure and severity of impacts faced by ecological components from pressures that are associated with each sector. Fishing was the sector with the greatest connectivity (11.65% proportional connectance) in the framework and ranked highest in terms of impact risk (summed), followed by Shipping and Coastal infrastructure. Pressures with the most serious impacts on ecological components, as identified through summed impact risk scores, included Bycatch, Species extraction, and Incidental loss and the ecological components most affected were those primarily associated with Fishing and its associated pressures. These findings align with those of the recent South African National Biodiversity Assessment and corroborate views of local stakeholders. This study also identified key local knowledge gaps, including impacts of underwater noise, invasive species, and climate change, that must be better understood to improve assessment accuracy and guide management prioritization of pressures exerted by most impactful sectors.

Natura 2000 public awareness in EU: A prerequisite for successful conservation policy

The Natura 2000 network is a system of managed natural areas exclusively designed to protect Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats and covers 18.6% of its land area, and 8.9% of its marine territory. Repeated Eurobarometer public opinion surveys show that European citizens are unaware of this broad network. Awareness is a prerequisite to successful participatory planning. The present work addresses two issues. First, it reflects on the presumed “low” level of Natura 2000 recognition among Europeans using the citizens' knowledge of similar concepts as a yardstick. Second, it explores whether aware and non-aware citizens are systematically and characteristically different from each other regarding their human capital, social and economic attributes. Data are sourced from publicly available Eurobarometer surveys summing up to a large dataset of 52,000 respondents across all EU countries and regions. The statistical analysis utilises a random intercept, multilevel ordered logistic, regression model that considers the ordinal nature of the Natura 2000 awareness dependent variable and the fact that European respondents cluster in regions and countries. The results highlight that a higher awareness level is related to more privileged citizens and reveal a substantial gender issue, a cognitive rural-urban separation and, possibly, a generational predisposition. Findings also disclose the complex and obscure geography of awareness. The revealed “biased awareness” is a threat to successful public participation. Environmental policy must be proactive about testing new ways to support higher awareness levels and rise to the challenge of providing an improved and inclusive awareness-raising strategy.

The geopolitics of whaling and Japanese colonialism in Korea

ABSTRACT Although Japanese colonialism in Korea lasted less than half a century (1910–45), Korea served as a critical foothold for Japanese expansion into Asia and the Pacific. The Japanese Empire once encompassed a fifth of the globe, and its reach was just as contingent upon dominating marine environments as it was on land-based conquest. Reading Japanese colonialism as a volumetric undertaking, we examine colonial archives, whaling statistics and legal documents to understand how geopolitical ambitions shaped, and were shaped by, colonial whaling projects to dominate marine spaces around colonial Korea. Japanese whalers employed volumetric techniques to control voluminal marine space and its constitutive elements – including whales – and to satisfy the political and economic needs of colonial and later wartime Japan. However, while Imperial Japan's extensive subordination of marine space has earned it the moniker of a ‘pelagic empire’, we find its territorialization was always partial and incomplete, impeded as it was by material realities. Our analysis of Japanese colonial whaling demonstrates how the ongoing process of (re)making marine territory is intertwined with, and reliant upon, terrestrial and aerial volumes.

“Draw the sea…”: Children’s representations of ocean connectivity in Fiji and New Caledonia

In the South Pacific region, marine territories and resources play a crucial role for local communities. Children engage with these territories and resources from an early age onwards. As the next ocean stewards, they are a stakeholder group whose understandings of ocean connectivity and fisheries should be given serious consideration in decision-making processes towards the sustainable use and management of coastal seas. This paper analyses 290 children’s drawings from Fiji and New Caledonia, created in 2019 in spontaneous response to the instruction: “Draw the sea and what you and others do in the sea”. Exploring the webs of connections with and within the sea revealed by these children’s drawings and their own interpretations leads us to discuss children’s representations of the sea: (1) beyond a land-sea compartmentation, (2) as a locus of both exploitation and conservation of marine life, and (3) as a ‘place-full’ space connecting human and more-than-human realms.

The Strategy Development of Marine Posture in Supporting the Main Task of Navy Using Swot and Borda Method

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world. Its geological constellations which is the world cross position, place the marine territory of the national jurisdiction very strategically for Indonesia as well as for other countries. The marine posture capability can still be developed by enhancing the power and ability of the marines and optimizing the degree patterns. The marine posture development strategy can be done by learning the potential possible threats in the future and analyzing the marine posture conditions that must be improved to enhance national marine security. In this research, the strategy was analyzed with SWOT and BORDA methods. The result of this research is IFE value is 3.26 (3.00- 4.00) and the EFE value of 3.21 (3.00 – 4.00) which indicates that the marine posture is currently in a strong position. The position of marine posture strategy located at coordinates (3.26; 3.21) is Growth and Build. The marine posture development strategy lies in the position of quadrant III with coordinates (0.02;-0.11) that indicate st (strength threat) strategy, i.e. marine posture utilizes force to overcome threats.

Implementing SDG 14 Under Principles, Ethical Values, and Environmental and Economic Justice for Small-Scale Artisanal Fishermen in Costa Rica

Abstract In Costa Rica, as in other countries, vulnerability and marginalization experienced by small-scale artisanal fishermen, fisherwomen, and mollusk collectors are the result of the absence of a human rights‐based approach to marine conservation and development in the coastal areas. Usually non-formality, absence of tenure and access rights, bad health services, and low education compared to other productive sectors are part of what fisherfolks experience. This commentary shares how working in a long-term and integral way with these communities and incorporating a human rights‐based approach strengthens the contributions that the sector provides toward the sustainable use of the fishing resource of their marine territories with dignity, equity, and justice, especially in the context of SDG 14, the Ocean Decade, and 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. Born during the COVID pandemic, the initiative of a fair and equitable Sea Market for the fishing products of these small-scale communities supported by CoopeSoliDar RL 1 and the Marine Responsible Fishing areas and marine territories of life network in Costa Rica is today a concrete example of how a fair and just market can contribute positively to the objectives of sustainable development and the fundamental elements contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity, preservation of the natural environment, sustainable use, and fair and equitable distribution of benefits.

Participatory Methodologies and the Production of Data on Artisanal Fishing in Areas with Offshore Wind Farm Projects in Ceará, Brazil

Offshore wind farms (OWF) are an essential emerging energy source. In Brazil, environmental licensing of OWFs requires an identification map of multiple preexisting uses, targeting potentially conflicting activities, such as fishing and navigation routes. The objective of the work was to evaluate the application of participatory methodologies in the construction of data on fishing activity, aiming at analyzing potential impacts of OWFs in marine territories of the state of Ceará, with a focus on artisanal fishing. A participatory map and fishing calendar were produced in Colônia Z18, Amontada, Ceará. Data collection took place through four participatory workshops with 45 participants. The data were digitized in a GIS environment and later validated with the community. The results show complete overlap between an OWF and the local fishing activity. Thus, participatory methodologies can help in the acquisition of fishery data and the assessment of the multiple uses of marine territories.

Enforcement of Illegal Fishing Laws that was Done by Foreign Ships in the Indonesian Sea Region, Viewed from International Sea Law

This study aims to determine and examine the law enforcement of illegal fishing and the factors that inhibit law enforcement of illegal fishing conducted by foreign ships in the sea of Indonesia in terms of international maritime law. The type of research used by the authors in this study is a type of normative legal research. Normative legal research is done by examining the object of the form of legislation or legal norms applicable or applied to a particular legal problem. Concerning the type of research used the approach. The results showed that according to the 1982 International Maritime Law Convention (UNCLOS 1982) law enforcement of illegal fishing has been regulated in Article 73 UNCLOS 1982 while in the Indonesian National Law has been regulated in Article 69 Paragraph (4) law Number 45 of 2009 on Fisheries. Further obstacles to law enforcement are the impenetrable enforcement, lack of insight, and the integrity of law enforcement, and the lack of an active role and awareness of the community to assist law enforcement of illegal fishing in the Indonesian marine territory.