Marine Wildlife Research Articles

Assessment on impact of sewage in coastal pollution and distribution of fecal pathogenic bacteria with reference to antibiotic resistance in the coastal area of Cape Comorin, India

Sewage is one of the biggest contributors to coastal pollution. The study was aimed to assess the impact of sewage on coastal water quality of Kanyakumari, the southernmost part of India. A bacteriological survey was made on distribution and abundance of fecal indicators and human pathogenic bacteria and seasonal influence on the bacterial load and antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Samples were collected from sewage discharge point along the eastern shore of Kanyakumari Coast from February 2019 to January 2020. Nine pollution indicator bacteria and pathogenic species such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Aeromonas spp., Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella spp. and Flavobacterium spp. were isolated from the samples. These isolates were tested against 10 antibiotics, using Kirby Bauer method. All the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has been used as bio-indicators of pollution. Hence it is clear that the domestic sewage entering the coast is untreated which might lead a serious impact on human and marine wildlife along coastlines.

Marine Litter and Grading of the Coastal Areas of Ambon Bay, Indonesia

The coastal is frequently impacted by marine litter that damages marine wildlife and causes economic loss to fishing and maritime industries. In this study, we described the quantity of marine litter in the inner and outer of Ambon Bay. The Sampling was carried out in September 2017. The beach litter sampling was handled by the line transect method combined with the quadrant method in 8 sites; the observation of floating litter was conducted manually with boat sampling and visual observation in a seven-line trajectory. About 2359 items of coastal litter were found in seven sites in Ambon Bay with a mean density of 18.87 items.m -2. These beach litter belonging to five categories were counted (plastic, glass, metal, cloth, paper). The highest abundance of beach litter was found in the inner Ambon Bay with a mean density of 68.74 items per m2. Plastic was the most abundant beach litter observed. Based on Clean Coast Index (CCI) evaluation, all coastal sites in Ambon Bay were identified as Very Dirty, that is most of the coastal is covered with litter. The highest floating litter was found near the market. The abundance and distribution of litter through Ambon Bay seem to be influenced by the local human population, anthropogenic activities, and seawater circulation in inner and outer Ambon Bay.

Pacific Islands‐Hawaii marine wildlife response, outreach, population monitoring (DOC)

Pacific Islands‐Hawaii marine wildlife response, outreach, population monitoring (DOC)

Addressing Marine Wildlife Entanglement in Derelict Fishing Nets Using Community-Based Social Marketing: Case Study and Lessons Learnt

Background Entanglement of marine species, particularly endangered sea turtles and cetaceans, in abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear is a major conservation concern. Focus of the Article This case study applies Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) to reduce marine wildlife net entanglement in the waters surrounding Masirah Island, a marine biodiversity hotspot in Oman. Importance to the Social Marketing Field The study demonstrates the use of social marketing tools in biodiversity conservation, bringing new knowledge to the cross-application of these two fields. Methods The CBSM methodology was applied to select behaviours, identify barriers and benefits, develop strategies and design a pilot study. The responsible disposal of derelict nets in skip bins was selected as the target behaviour, and a mix of behavioural change tools was applied to achieve change: convenience (installation of three skip bins), education (installation of informative signs, distribution of awareness posters, one-to-one engagement with fishers on the beaches), prompts (installation of signs and posters on vessels) and social norms (one-to-one engagement with key influencers and decision makers). The monitoring of behaviour change took place through structured observations over 23 weeks, focussing on the number of nets disposed of in the allocated skip bins. Results Results showed a low level of behaviour adoption rate by skiff and launch vessel fisheries, respectively, 5.36% and 2.58%. Positive results were observed for a short time but did not reach the estimated target value throughout the study period. Recommendations for Research Our pilot study did not lead to broad-scale implementation and we recommend further awareness and engagement with the target audience, trials of various behaviour change tools and increase field monitoring time. We further recommend the application and funding of behaviour change methods applied to fishers with the incorporation of conventional financial, conservation and regulatory tools to support resource management. Limitations Our results show that focussing on specific behaviours with appropriate measurement is both resource and time demanding to solve pressing conservation problems, particularly ones generated by complex industries such as fishing. Various lessons, useful for other social marketers, have been drawn from our evaluation of the overall study.

Vessel risks to marine wildlife in the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area and the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage

The Arctic is changing rapidly due to climate change, which is allowing unprecedented levels of vessel traffic to transit the region. Vessel traffic can negatively affect marine wildlife in a number of ways, particularly in areas where vessels overlap with high concentrations of ecologically important species, and the significance of these impacts are of increased concern when the wildlife are also culturally important. Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, located in Lancaster Sound, Nunavut, Canada, at the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, is experiencing the greatest levels of vessel traffic in the Canadian Arctic, and is important habitat for marine wildlife, including marine mammals and seabirds. Here, we examined the overlap between vessel traffic, including modeled underwater noise levels, and the distribution of two cetacean species, beluga and narwhal, and three seabird species, thick-billed murre, northern fulmar, and black-legged kittiwake. Narwhal had the highest vessel risk in Eclipse Sound and Milne Inlet, all three seabirds had high vessel risk at the eastern entrance to Eclipse Sound, with additional areas for northern fulmar at southern Devon Island and for black-legged kittiwake at Prince Leopold Island, and belugas had the highest vessel risk along southern and eastern Devon Island. Our results provide crucial information for implementing monitoring, conservation, and management initiatives for species inhabiting this protected area, and allow for a better understanding of the potential cultural implications of vessel-based marine wildlife impacts that will affect traditional subsistence hunting and local livelihoods.

#Bucketlist: exploring the motivations of tourists to swim with humpback whales in Niue

Swim-with-whales tourism has become a growing aspect of the marine mammal tourism scene. Several remote island destinations allow for these in-water experiences. Understanding swim-with-whales tourists’ motivations is an important aspect to effectively promoting and managing these interactions. This paper focuses on tourist motivations for swimming with humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Niue. A qualitative research approach using 21 semi-structured in-depth interviews was used to gain these. A thematic approach to understanding the data identified eight themes that describe intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in these whale-swim participants. Of particular interest was the emotional component of engaging in the activity. In contrast to other research on marine wildlife tourism motivations, the importance of learning was absent in this study. These findings highlight the personal and variable nature of individual motivations for participating in commercial whale-swims.

Risk Reduction of Marine Oil Spill using Clusters of Fruit Peel Pellets

Globalization has led to massive rise in cross border trade. Increase in E-commerce business has contributed to this too. As a result, a continuous and complex logistics network of supply chains operate across the globe round the clock. Transportation of goods is the most essential activity of this network. Statistics reveals that approximately 90 percent of world’s goods are transported via sea route. This intense network of shipment poses a huge threat to marine ecosystem in numerous ways. One of the most dangerous events for marine ecosystem is oil spill. Oil spill from vessels and pipelines are a major reason behind mortality of marine wildlife. The present work focuses on developing a cost-effective sustainable solution for mitigation of marine oil spill. It was found from existing literature that peels of some fruits have substantial oil absorbing capacity. This fact was experimentally validated and a reduced scale prototype was designed aiming for the task of deployment in case of oil spill in marine waters. The experimental results show that the proposed model floats on water after absorbing oil up to its saturation value. It was also found that through appropriate mechanical setup, absorbed oil can be extracted for reuse or processing.

Differences in marine megafauna in vitro sensitivity highlights the need for species-specific chemical risk assessments.

Sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs can be exposed to large mixtures of contaminants due to the proximity of foraging locations to anthropogenic inputs. Differences in accumulation and effect result in differences of chemical risk to these species. However, little is known about the effect of contaminants in marine wildlife. Cell-based, or in vitro, exposure experiments offer an ethical alternative to investigate the effect of contaminants in wildlife. Data from in vitro studies can then be placed in an environmental context, by using screening risk assessments, comparing effect data with accumulation data from the literature, to identify risk to populations of marine wildlife. Cytotoxicity of Cr6+, Cd2+, Hg2+, 4,4'-DDE, and PFNA were investigated in primary skin fibroblasts of green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, dugongs, Burrunan dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins. The general order of toxicity for all species was Hg2+> Cr6+ > Cd2+> 4,4'-DDE > PFNA, and significant differences in cytotoxicity were found between species for Cr6+, Cd2+ and PFNA. For Cd2+, in particular, cells from turtle species were less sensitive than mammalian species, and dugong cells were by far the most sensitive. The results from the cytotoxicity assay were then used in combination with published data on tissue contaminant concentrations to calculate risk quotients for identifying populations of each species most at risk from these chemicals. Cr, Cd and Hg were identified as posing risk in all six species. Dugongs were particularly at risk from Cd accumulation and dolphin species were particularly at risk from Hg accumulation. These results demonstrate the importance of using species-specific effect and accumulation data for developing chemical risk assessments and can be used to inform managers of priority contaminants, species, or populations. Development of additional in vitro endpoints, and improving links between in vitro and in vivo effects, would further improve this approach to understanding chemical risk in marine megafauna.

Stressed and slim or relaxed and chubby? A simultaneous assessment of gray whale body condition and hormone variability

Marine Mammal ScienceVolume 38, Issue 2 p. 801-811 NOTE Stressed and slim or relaxed and chubby? A simultaneous assessment of gray whale body condition and hormone variability Leila S. Lemos, Corresponding Author Leila S. Lemos leslemos@hotmail.com orcid.org/0000-0001-6324-0894 Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Correspondence Leila S. Lemos, Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365. Email: leslemos@hotmail.com Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, ​Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing - original draftSearch for more papers by this authorAmy Olsen, Amy Olsen orcid.org/0000-0002-2752-8337 Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorAngela Smith, Angela Smith Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorJonathan D. Burnett, Jonathan D. Burnett orcid.org/0000-0002-2519-8557 Aerial Information Systems Laboratory, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, Oregon State University, Oregon Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorTodd E. Chandler, Todd E. Chandler Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, MethodologySearch for more papers by this authorShawn Larson, Shawn Larson orcid.org/0000-0003-0376-1051 Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Resources, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorKathleen E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Hunt Department of Biology and Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Virginia Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorLeigh G. Torres, Leigh G. Torres orcid.org/0000-0002-2643-3950 Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, ​Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Visualization, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this author Leila S. Lemos, Corresponding Author Leila S. Lemos leslemos@hotmail.com orcid.org/0000-0001-6324-0894 Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Correspondence Leila S. Lemos, Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365. Email: leslemos@hotmail.com Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, ​Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing - original draftSearch for more papers by this authorAmy Olsen, Amy Olsen orcid.org/0000-0002-2752-8337 Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorAngela Smith, Angela Smith Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorJonathan D. Burnett, Jonathan D. Burnett orcid.org/0000-0002-2519-8557 Aerial Information Systems Laboratory, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, Oregon State University, Oregon Contribution: Methodology, Validation, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorTodd E. Chandler, Todd E. Chandler Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, MethodologySearch for more papers by this authorShawn Larson, Shawn Larson orcid.org/0000-0003-0376-1051 Conservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington Contribution: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Resources, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorKathleen E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Hunt Department of Biology and Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Virginia Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this authorLeigh G. Torres, Leigh G. Torres orcid.org/0000-0002-2643-3950 Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, ​Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Visualization, Writing - review & editingSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 September 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12877 Funding information NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Science and Technology Ocean Acoustics Program, Grant/Award Number: 2017; 50-27; Oregon Sea Grant Program Development Funds, Grant/Award Number: 2018; RECO-40-PD; Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. 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An Economic Perspective on Policies to Save the Vaquita: Conservation Actions, Wildlife Trafficking, and the Structure of Incentives

The Upper Gulf of California is a diverse and highly productive ecosystem supporting some of the most important fisheries in Mexico, yet a history of weak fisheries management and illegal fishing threaten the area’s biodiversity and undermine human well-being in the communities along its shores. The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is endemic to these waters and is on the brink of extinction due to incidental entanglement in gillnets used by small-scale fishers. The resurgence of an illegal gillnet fishery for totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), whose swim bladders are highly prized in Hong Kong and continental China, has accelerated the steep decline of the vaquita population. Vaquita is one of a growing number of cases linking illegal wildlife trade, organized crime, and biodiversity decline. This paper provides a summary of key reflections of a panel of fisheries economists gathered at the ninth forum of the North American Association of Fisheries Economists (NAAFE) to evaluate the policies implemented in the Upper Gulf through an economic lens and updated to reflect more recent developments. The panel recognized that poor fisheries management, lack of effective enforcement, distant demand for an illegal product, corruption, and few viable economic alternatives confound efforts to address vaquita bycatch. The complexity of these problems requires a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, combining top-down, direct regulation and bottom-up, participatory and incentive-based instruments. Addressing chronic deficiencies in enforcement, particularly in the very small area where the remaining vaquitas are found, is crucial to prevent imminent extinction. Equally crucial are sustained actions to support legal fishers able to make a good living – with a direct stake in healthy marine ecosystems – as key components of policies to address bycatch and reduce wildlife trafficking. The situation in the Upper Gulf of California is dire, yet similar threats to other marine mammals and wildlife trafficked species may benefit from the experience of the vaquita.

Low abundance of microplastics in commercially caught fish across southern Australia

Plastic pollution has increased significantly in the past decades and is now a major global environmental issue. Plastic objects enter the ocean and are broken down into smaller pieces, while wastewater and runoff also carry microplastics (plastics <5 mm) into the ocean. Plastic has been found in over 700 different species of marine wildlife but little research has examined fish sold for human consumption. We determined the microplastic abundance in nine commercially important, wild-caught fish species purchased from seafood markets across 4000 km of Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales). For microplastic quantification, fish gastro-intestinal tracts were chemically digested and the amount and type of microplastic identified under a microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Across all states, an average of 35.5% of fish samples had at least one piece of microplastic in their gastro-intestinal tract. South Australia had the highest percentage of fish with plastic (49%) and Tasmania the lowest (20%). The average microplastic load was 0.94 piece per fish but ranged from 0 to 17 pieces, with polyolefin identified as the dominant polymer group. Overall, the ingestion of microplastic was widespread across species, locations, diets and habitat niches of fish species investigated, but the average plastic ingestion was less than other similar global studies. This study provides novel insights on the use of fish species from seafood markets to assess environmental contamination by microplastic, as well as an important perspective of the potential for microplastic contamination to enter the human food chain.

Observations of marine species from whale watching vessels suggest that anthropogenic disturbance decreases biodiversity in the Pelagos Sanctuary

The Pelagos Sanctuary is a marine biodiversity hotspot, as well as a busy zone for vessel traffic. Long term research on cetaceans has been important in guiding management of this protected area; however, non-cetacean species have received less attention. For this study, we included cetacean and non-cetacean species in an assessment of biodiversity and the potential for anthropogenic disturbance to cause ecosystem stress, indicated by a decline in species richness or evenness. We analyzed sightings of marine wildlife collected on whale watching vessels operating from Imperia and Genova, Italy, using 95% minimum convex polygons to quantify survey area in each region. Our analysis indicated similar levels of species richness in both areas, however Genova had lower Simpson and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices than Imperia. This suggests that Genova has lower species evenness, with the community being more dominated by common species, while rare species are more elusive. Disturbance was quantified based on vessel traffic and fishermen long lines. Genova exhibited significantly higher levels of vessel traffic, but there was no evidence of a difference in disturbance from long lines. These results suggest that anthropogenic disturbance in Genova may result in more ecosystem stress than Imperia. Consequently, management programs should prioritize reducing the impact of vessel traffic on marine life in the northwest Mediterranean Sea.

Long-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins Have Reached the Arctic

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) were analyzed in marine wildlife from Greenland, Iceland, and the Swedish west coast. CPs up to C29 were detected in the samples from the Arctic, indicating long-range transport of an industrial chemical group with a 2-million-ton annual production volume. CP concentrations were generally higher in biota from the Swedish west coast. The Sweden/Arctic concentration ratios for very-short-chain (vSCCPs, C<10), short-chain (SCCPs, C10–13), medium-chain (MCCPs, C14–17), and long-chain CPs (LCCPs, C>17) in cetacean and bivalve species were in the range of 3.6–150, 5–29, 3–11, and 11–450, respectively. For the first time, fetal accumulation of four CP classes was found, whereby concentrations were 3.4 to 4.5 times lower in the fetus relative to the pregnant female minke whale. Cetacean blubber contained a higher proportion of higher chlorinated CPs compared to muscle tissue, while muscle contained higher lipid-normalized concentrations of longer chain CPs than blubber tissue. LCCPs predominated (52% of total CPs) in the muscle of a killer whale from Swedish waters, which is the first report where concentrations of LCCPs surpassed those of other CPs in marine mammals. This study shows that, like other CP classes, LCCPs are Arctic contaminants that may adversely affect biota in this remote region.

Where are they now? Tracking the Mediterranean lionfish invasion via local dive centers

Invasive species are globally on the rise due to human-induced environmental change and are often a source of harm to their new ecosystems. Tracking the spread of invaders is crucial to better manage invasive species, and citizen science is often used to collect sighting data. However, this can be unreliable due to the general public's limited expertise for accurate identification and a lack of clear absence data. Here, we introduce a refined method of citizen science by tracking the spread of the invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea using dive centers' expertise on local marine wildlife. We contacted 1131 dive centers on the Mediterranean coast via email and received 216 responses reporting whether or not lionfish were present in their area and, if present, the year they were first sighted. Currently, lionfish sightings are observed in the eastern half of the Mediterranean, though the front is continuing to move west with the furthest sighting as far as Corfu, Greece (19.939423°E, 39.428017°N). In 2020, lionfish also expanded their invasive range north on the Turkish Aegean coast to Karaburun (26.520657°E, 38.637033°N), showing that the invasion is ongoing. We found that the invasive range is now exceeding previous invasion models, highlighting the need for additional research on lionfish biology to inform management efforts. Continuous monitoring of invasive fronts based on dive center reports and a better understanding of what makes lionfish so invasive is crucial to creating effective management strategies and mitigating their negative impact on native ecosystems.

Vessels and their sounds reduce prey capture effort by endangered killer whales (Orcinus orca)

Vessel traffic is prevalent throughout marine environments. However, we often have a limited understanding of vessel impacts on marine wildlife, particularly cetaceans, due to challenges of studying fully-aquatic species. To investigate vessel and acoustic effects on cetacean foraging behavior, we attached suction-cup sound and movement tags to endangered Southern Resident killer whales in their summer habitat while collecting geo-referenced proximate vessel data. We identified prey capture dives using whale kinematic signatures and found that the probability of capturing prey increased as salmon abundance increased, but decreased as vessel speed increased. When vessels emitted navigational sonar, whales made longer dives to capture prey and descended more slowly when they initiated these dives. Finally, whales descended more quickly when noise levels were higher and vessel approaches were closer. These findings advance a growing understanding of vessel and sound impacts on marine wildlife and inform efforts to manage vessel impacts on endangered populations.

Global Causes, Drivers, and Prevention Measures for Lost Fishing Gear

Abandoned, Lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) comprises a significant part of global marine plastic pollution, with adverse consequences for fishers, the seafood industry, and marine wildlife and habitats. To effectively prevent and reduce ALDFG at source, an understanding of the major causes of and drivers behind fishing gear losses is required. We interviewed 451 fishers from seven countries around the world (Belize, Iceland, Indonesia, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, and the United States of America) representing five key fishing gear types (gillnets, purse seine nets, trawl nets, longlines, and pots and traps) about why and under what circumstances they lose their gear. We also asked them their views on the most effective interventions to reduce gear losses. Across all major gear types and countries where interviews were undertaken, bad weather was the most common cause of gear loss, followed by interactions with wildlife (identified as a cause for loss by 81% and 65% of all fishers interviewed, respectively). Snagging gear on a bottom obstruction was a major cause of loss for gears that contact the seafloor, along with conflicts with other fishers, often via gear and vessel interactions, for gillnet and pot and trap fishers. Operational and behavioral characteristics such as gear type, trip length, and the party responsible to pay for gear repairs and replacements all significantly influenced gear losses. Gear maintenance was the most effective gear loss prevention measure across all gear types and countries reported by fishers, followed by training crew in gear management (identified as an effective prevention measure by 95% and 82% of all fishers interviewed, respectively). Actions available to fishers, managers and port operators to effectively prevent fishing gear losses include: gear maintenance; reducing active gear interactions with wildlife; reducing financial and administrative burdens for port reception facilities; reducing trip lengths; and targeting education and gear stewardship programs to fishers with limited ALDFG awareness, particularly those in low income fisheries and countries.

Controversy over beach access restrictions at an urban coastal seal rookery: Exploring the drivers of conflict escalation and endurance at Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla, CA

Coastal urbanization and the recovery of many marine species has caused human interactions with marine wildlife to become more common, sometimes resulting in conflict. In La Jolla, CA, the increasing presence of Pacific harbor seals at Children’s Pool Beach (CPB) resulted in a 25 year conflict over appropriate beach use. Drawing on archival analysis, stakeholder interviews, and beach-goer surveys, we present a history of the conflict and explore the drivers that have enabled the conflict’s escalation and endurance. Many factors influence people’s polarized views about seals at CPB, including personal values and sense of identity, differing perceptions of what is “natural” at CPB, the threat of change and loss of beach access, and underlying inter-personal conflict. Politicization and inaction during the early stages of the conflict also precluded conflict resolution and contributed the conflict’s escalation. While overt conflict has decreased in recent years, polarized views about seals at CPB and legal challenges continue. In order to prevent conflict escalation and persistence, it is important that coastal managers work to address conflict over marine wildlife early and decisively. We present suggestions regarding minimally controversial management measures that could be undertaken early in a conflict, and suggest that managers prioritize commonly held values to facilitate stakeholder dialogue. While it may not be possible to generate solutions that appeal to all stakeholders, understanding the values and cultural frameworks driving conflict is an important first step toward understanding and generating workable solutions to conflict over wildlife.

Challenges and conservation potential of shark-diving tourism in the Macaronesian archipelagos

Macaronesia is formed by some of most isolated oceanic islands of the Atlantic Ocean. This region is typically heavily exploited by fisheries; however, in recent years, marine wildlife tourism has become popular and a shark-diving industry has emerged, potentially presenting an alternative for the sustainable use of sharks. Combining a literature review with interviews with dive operators conducting shark encounters in the Macaronesian archipelagos, we provide an overview of the challenges and conservation potential of shark-diving tourism for these territories. Owing to the regular presence of important shark species for tourism and the growth of the scuba-diving industry, shark-diving has potential to expand over the region. Yet, the overlap between European industrial fishing pressure and shark populations, coupled with the unregulated recreational and artisanal fishing sector in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, may jeopardize the sustainability of the shark-diving industry. However, the economic benefits for local communities directly and indirectly produced by shark-diving tourism suggest local benefits, fostering stronger shark conservation in Macaronesia.

Beneath the Waves: Experiences of Beginner SCUBA Divers and Sensorium

Background: The experience of Recreational SCUBA Diving (RSD) is unique and exciting because participants can feel innermost and special sensations. Aim: By exploring the role of the senses in RSD This paper seeks to illustrate the complex, kaleidoscopic and inter-relational connections beginner SCUBA divers make with aquatic environment within the sensorium experience for the first time. Methods: The present research draws upon the qualitative inquiry away from the positivist approaches to capture insider views, meanings, and interpretations. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 12 undergraduate students who had experienced a first-time SCUBA diving through Discover SCUBA Diving (DSD) Program were transcribed and thematically analyzed. A thematic analysis was performed with the Nvivo 11 Plus software package program. Results: Analysis illustrated that both positive and negative emotions are experienced due to (a) Diver Dimension of Marine Wildlife Touching, (b) Diver Dimension of Marine Wildlife Viewing, and (c) Diver Dimension of Marine Wildlife Hearing. Conclusion: The opportunity to experience aquatic environment for the first time during active leisure reflects participants’ ability, which offers encouragement, enthusiasm, well-being, and satisfaction. In unravelling the negative diving experience, as experienced by divers, we argue some physical and psychological distress and difficulty arise due to chemical and physical properties of aquatic environment, however. Keywords: Active Leisure, Aquatic, Sensorium, SCUBA Diving, Well-being.

Mapping marine debris encountered by albatrosses tracked over oceanic waters

Anthropogenic marine debris is a threat to marine organisms. Understanding how this debris spatially distributes at sea and may become associated with marine wildlife are key steps to tackle this current issue. Using bird-borne GPS- and video-loggers on 13 black-footed albatrosses Phoebastria nigripes breeding in Torishima, Japan, we examined the distribution of large floating debris in the Kuroshio Current area, western North Pacific. A total of 16 floating debris, including styrofoam (n = 4), plastic pieces (n = 3), plastic sheet (n = 1), fishery-related items (rope or netting, n = 4), and unidentified debris (n = 4), were recorded across the 9003 km covered by nine birds. The debris was concentrated in the southern area of the Kuroshio Current, where the surface current was weak, and the albatrosses were foraging. The albatrosses displayed changes in flight direction towards the debris when at a mean distance of 4.9 km, similarly to when approaching prey, and one bird was observed pecking at a plastic sheet; indicating that albatrosses actively interacted with the debris. This paper shows the usefulness of studying wide-ranging marine predators through the use of combined biologging tools, and highlights areas with increased risk of debris exposure and behavioral responses to debris items.