Protection Of Marine Resources Research Articles

The protection and development of marine resources under the perspective of the sustainable development concept

PurposeIn this study, suggestions on the protection and development of marine resources, sea area use and management, improvement of laws and regulations, monitoring of marine resources and impact assessment of marine environment are put forward.Design/methodology/approachLiterature research method.FindingsA major factor contributing to the decline in fishery resources is excessive fishing. At present, there are many problems to be solved in the exploitation and utilization of marine mineral resources in China. The pollution problem of marine tourism resources is becoming increasingly serious. Overmining of coastal sea resources has led to planning and management failures.Originality/valueThis paper discusses the current situation of marine resource exploitation and protection in China and analyzes the reasons for excessive resource exploitation from three aspects of marine concept, laws and regulations and marine management.

The Qur'anic Perspective On Marine Resource Conservation: A Human Responsibility

The conservation of marine resources is an important issue in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and the sustainability of life on earth. The Qur'an provides clear guidance on human responsibility in protecting nature, including marine resources. This article seeks to reveal the messages contained in the Qur'an related to the ocean. The Qur'an emphasises the importance of maintaining the balance of nature (mizan) and prohibits destruction (fasad) on earth. QS. Al-A'raf [7:56] and QS. Al-Baqarah [2:30] emphasise the role of humans as khalifahs responsible for environmental sustainability. These principles include the protection of marine resources through conservation measures and sustainable management. Therefore, a friendly attitude towards the environment and sustainable utilisation is a shared responsibility. This research was conducted through a literature study using qualitative, descriptive methods, relying on deductive and inductive approaches and then analysed structurally and sociologically ethnographically. These findings underscore that marine resource conservation in Islam is not only an ecological obligation but also a rewarding act of worship. Implementing these principles in everyday policies and practices can help address global environmental challenges and ensure the sustainability of marine resources for future generations. The Qur'anic perspective on marine resource conservation emphasises human responsibility for maintaining the balance of nature and preventing damage. These principles are relevant to be applied in modern conservation efforts to achieve environmental sustainability

Bidirectional evaluation and differentiation analysis of marine economic resilience in China

With the continuous improvement of the marine economy, the role of marine economic resilience is becoming ever more prominent. This study evaluates China’s marine economic resilience based on a bidirectional evaluation index system, and analyzes spatiotemporal characteristics and regional differences. The results show that: (1) marine economic resilience is increasing in the system object dimension and the resilience attribute dimension in China. Strengthening the protection of marine resources and the environment is important for improving marine economic resilience; (2) the development of marine economic resilience among 11 coastal provinces is unbalanced, forming a three-polar pattern with Shandong as the core in the north, Shanghai as the core in the east, and Guangdong as the core in the south; (3) the difference between the northern marine economic circle and the southern marine economic circle is the main reason for the overall difference.

Mathematical model for managing marine ecosystem risks

The article presents the results of the research aimed at developing and verifying a mathematical model for managing the ecosystem risks of marine areas. The main purpose of the research is to create an effective tool for assessing and managing the risks arising from anthropogenic influence, climate change and other natural factors. The proposed model is based on the existing theory of sea ecosystem risks management and takes into account the relationship between natural and anthropogenic factors, condition of marine ecosystems, their vulnerability and ecosystem services. The model uses mathematical methods, in particular, differential equations, statistical analyses, simulation modeling and network analysis, allowing creation of detailed models that reflect marine ecosystems' dynamics and their response to external influence. Numerous experiments were conducted in order to verify the model. They demonstrate its ability to predict changes in the condition of marine ecosystems under influence of various factors. The results of the research show that the proposed model can be an effective tool for optimizing management strategies, minimizing ecosystem risks and improving sustainability of marine ecosystems. Practical recommendations developed on the basis of the results of the research include strategies for preventing, minimizing and adapting to potential threats, taking into consideration each region's and ecosystem's specifics. The proposed model helps to optimize management decisions, reducing risks and improving the condition of marine ecosystems affected by anthropogenic impact and climate change. It is a reliable tool for ensuring sustainability and preservation of marine ecosystems. This approach allows for evidence-based risk management that increases sustainability of marine ecosystems and their preservation for future generations. The model also considers key factors influencing marine ecosystems, including biological diversity, water quality, industrial fisheries, tourism and recreation, and allows evaluation of effectiveness of various management decisions in the context of such factors. The application of this model in ecosystem management practices allows making more informed decisions regarding protection and preservation of marine resources. It contributes to their sustainable development and provision of ecosystem services having critical importance for society.

Innovative Geotechnical Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Aim: To examine innovative geotechnical solutions for sustainable infrastructure development. Problem Statement: The advancement in the world urbanization together with high rise in global population has alarmed the need for new infrastructures with additional innovative research to be conducted with already existing assets. Thus, It is important that geotechnical engineering should include basic practices targeting resource-efficient and environment-friendly techniques in order to add to sustainable development. Significance of Study: This technical review critically examines the innovative geotechnical solutions for sustainable infrastructure development. The content presented in this manuscript will be beneficial to professionals in the area of geotechnical engineering. Methodology: Recent relevant published articles in the area of innovative geotechnical solutions for sustainable infrastructure development were consulted. These include journal articles, conference papers, Asian Development Bank articles and unpublished doctoral documents. Discussion: The six main environmental objectives of the Taxonomy Regulation to ensure the contours of an environmentally sustainable infrastructure were stated to include: (1) sustainable protection and use of marine and water resources (2) pollution control and prevention (3) switch to a circular economy (4) mitigation of climate change (5) restoration and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity and (6) adaptation of climate change. The three phase methods for sustainability infrastructure development in geotechnics were critically discussed. An imaginary excavation site in the municipality of Rozzano was referenced as a case study to reveal the application of the proposed methodology to the soil treatment systems. It was noticed that the adoption of an LCA introduces additional deep knowledge and the required quantitative analysis for sizing the assessment. Conclusion: The examined innovative geotechnical solutions were contributory to sustainable infrastructure development.

An LADM-based profile for marine geo-regulation: A case study of China

With the rapid development of the marine economy, the transfer, lease and other transactions of marine use right in China's coastal areas have emerged continuously. At the same time, to promote the effective protection of marine environment and resources, the establishment and reform of marine property rights system has become a very important part. To play the basic role of the market and environmental protection in the utilization of marine resources, it is very important to establish the corresponding property right registration system. In response, the central government has proposed the establishment of a unified registration system for real estate and natural resources nationwide, including in marine areas. Therefore, this study takes China's marine administration as the research object and constructs a conceptual model based on LADM, which serves as an important basis for the subsequent registration system development. Specifically, this study first summarizes the evolution process of China's marine administration system since the founding of China. Secondly, it puts forward the existing marine rights system. Then, based on the LADM standard and the instance-level diagram for marine administration activities, the corresponding LADM-based profile is developed. The core improvement of this model lies in the improved structuring of marine-related rights, restrictions and responsibilities (as well as related source documents), which is an important preparation for the expansion of land information infrastructure to the sea.

SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE LEISURE: RECREATIONAL MARITIME FISHING IN SPAIN

Recreational sea fishing is an important activity, both from a socio-economic and environmental point of view, as it is a source of wealth but also a threat to natural resources. For this reason, each autonomous community has developed a specific regulatory framework for its regulation, focusing on sustainability and the protection of marine resources. These regulations include restrictions on the volume of catches, the species permitted, and the prohibition of the commercialization of catches. The aim of this article is to provide an extensive comparison of some of them, showing their similarities and also their regulatory differences, as well as possible gaps and inconsistencies.

Indicators to assess temporal variability in marine connectivity processes: A semi-theoretical approach.

Oceanographic connectivity in an effective network of protected areas is crucial for restoring and stabilising marine populations. However, temporal variability in connectivity is rarely considered as a criterion in designing and evaluating marine conservation planning. In this study, indicators were defined to characterise the temporal variability in occurrence, flux, and frequency of connectivity in a northwestern Mediterranean Sea area. Indicators were tested on semi-theoretically-estimated connections provided by the runs of a passive particle transport model in a climatological year and in three years between 2006-2020, showing large deviation from the climatological year. The indicators allowed comparing the temporal variability in connectivity of four zones, highlighted differences in connectivity due to their locations and the mesoscale hydrodynamics, and identified areas that require further investigation. The three indicators also showed that the temporal variability in connectivity was influenced by the duration and depth of particle transport, although no consistent pattern was observed in the indicator variations of the compared zones. Provided that specific objectives will be given when parameterising transport models (i.e., selection of focus species and time period), indicators of temporal variability in connectivity have potential to support spatial conservation planning, prioritise the protection of marine resources, and measure the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, in line with a long-term vision of ocean management.

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.

Intelligent Detection of Marine Offshore Aquaculture with High-Resolution Optical Remote Sensing Images

The rapid and disordered expansion of artificial marine aquaculture areas has caused severe ecological and environmental problems. Accurate monitoring of offshore aquaculture areas is urgent and significant in order to support the scientific and sustainable management and protection of coastal marine resources. Artificial intelligence provides a valuable tool to improve marine resource monitoring. Deep learning methods have been widely used for marine object detection, but You Only Look Once (YOLO) models have not been employed for offshore aquaculture area monitoring. This study therefore evaluated the capacity of two well-known YOLO models, YOLOv5 and YOLOv7, to detect offshore aquaculture areas based on different high-resolution optical remote sensing imagery. Compared with YOLOv7 based on a satellite dataset, YOLOv5 increased the Precision value by approximately 3.29% (to 95.33%), Recall value by 3.02% (to 93.02%), mAP_0.5 by 2.03% (to 96.22%), and F1 score by 2.65% (to 94.16%). Based on the Google Earth dataset, YOLOv5 and YOLOv7 showed similar results. We found that the spatial resolution could affect the deep learning models’ performances. We used the Real-ESRGAN method to enhance the spatial resolution of satellite dataset and investigated whether super-resolution (SR) methods improved the detection accuracy of the YOLO models. The results indicated that despite improving the image clarity and resolution, the SR methods negatively affected the performance of the YOLO models for offshore aquaculture object detection. This suggests that attention should be paid to the use of SR methods before the application of deep learning models for object detection using remote sensing imagery.

Sonar Fish School Detection and Counting Method Based on Improved YOLOv8 and BoT-SORT

Fish object detection and counting in pelagic fisheries face many challenges in complex environments. Sonar imaging technology offers a solution because it generates high-resolution images underwater. In this paper, we propose a sonar-based fish object detection and counting method using an improved YOLOv8 combined with BoT-SORT to address issues such as missed detection, false detection, and low accuracy caused by complex factors such as equipment motion, light changes, and background noise in pelagic environments. The algorithm utilizes the techniques of lightweight upsampling operator CARAFE, generalized feature pyramid network GFPN, and partial convolution. It integrates with the BoT-SORT tracking algorithm to propose a new region detection method that detects and tracks the schools of fish, providing stable real-time fish counts in the designated area. The experimental results indicate that while focusing on maintaining a lightweight design, the improved algorithm achieved a 3.8% increase in recall and a 2.4% increase in mAP0.5 compared to the original algorithm. This significantly impacts scientific and rational fishery planning, marine resource protection, and improved productivity. At the same time, it provides important data support for marine ecological monitoring, environmental protection, and fishery management, contributing to sustainable fishery development and marine ecology preservation.

Analysis of the performance of Faster R-CNN and YOLOv8 in detecting fishing vessels and fishes in real time

This research conducts a comparative analysis of Faster R-CNN and YOLOv8 for real-time detection of fishing vessels and fish in maritime surveillance. The study underscores the significance of this investigation in advancing fisheries monitoring and object detection using deep learning. With a clear focus on comparing the performance of Faster R-CNN and YOLOv8, the research aims to elucidate their effectiveness in real-time detection, emphasizing the relevance of such capabilities in fisheries management. By conducting a thorough literature review, the study establishes the current state-of-the-art in object detection, particularly within the context of fisheries monitoring, while discussing existing methods, challenges, and limitations. The findings of this study not only shed light on the superiority of YOLOv8 in precise detection but also highlight its potential impact on maritime surveillance and the protection of marine resources.

A Lightweight Model of Underwater Object Detection Based on YOLOv8n for an Edge Computing Platform

The visual signal object detection technology of deep learning, as a high-precision perception technology, can be adopted in various image analysis applications, and it has important application prospects in the utilization and protection of marine biological resources. While the marine environment is generally far from cities where the rich computing power in cities cannot be utilized, deploying models on mobile edge devices is an efficient solution. However, because of computing resource limitations on edge devices, the workload of performing deep learning-based computationally intensive object detection on mobile edge devices is often insufficient in meeting high-precision and low-latency requirements. To address the problem of insufficient computing resources, this paper proposes a lightweight process based on a neural structure search and knowledge distillation using deep learning YOLOv8 as the baseline model. Firstly, the neural structure search algorithm was used to compress the YOLOv8 model and reduce its computational complexity. Secondly, a new knowledge distillation architecture was designed, which distills the detection head output layer and NECK feature layer to compensate for the accuracy loss caused by model reduction. When compared to YOLOv8n, the computational complexity of the lightweight model optimized in this study (in terms of floating point operations (FLOPs)) was 7.4 Gflops, which indicated a reduction of 1.3 Gflops. The multiply–accumulate operations (MACs) stood at 2.72 G, thereby illustrating a decrease of 32%; this saw an increase in the AP50, AP75, and mAP by 2.0%, 3.0%, and 1.9%, respectively. Finally, this paper designed an edge computing service architecture, and it deployed the model on the Jetson Xavier NX platform through TensorRT.

Expansion of Toxic Algal Blooms in Coastal and Marine Areas in the Philippines and Malaysia: Is It Climate Change Related?

This paper provides a review of toxic algal blooms in the Philippine and Malaysian coastal and marine systems, considering relevant available knowledge, including climate change dimension/s in the assessment of their recorded recent expansion. The first record of human toxicity in the Philippines associated with HABs/toxic algal blooms specifically was during the bloom of Pyrodinium bahamense in the Sorsogon, Samar, and Leyte waters in 1983. Since then, the species has been identified to occur and cause blooms in about 44 sites/areas in the country. Recent government reports, i.e., 2021, 2022, and 2023, have also identified other paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) causative organisms (Gymnodinium catenatum, Alexandrium spp.) in the country. New records indicate that the presence of PSP causative species has been reported almost year-round in the Philippines. In Malaysia, PSP caused by P. bahamense was initially confined in 1981 to the state of Sabah, Malaysia Borneo, but since then, blooms of this species have been reported almost annually at different scales across the coastal waters of Sabah. P. bahamense and other cyst-forming dinoflagellates could be transported naturally or through human activities. Other eco-physiological and environment factors from the field and the laboratory have been used to study the bloom dynamics and transport of PSP causative species in several areas in the Philippines and Malaysia. More recently, plastics and other marine litter have been considered potential vectors of invasion/transport or expansion of dinoflagellates with other microorganisms. ENSO events have been observed to be stronger since 1950 compared with those recorded from 1850 to 1950. The extreme phases of the ENSO phenomenon have a strong modulating effect based on seasonal rainfall in the Philippines, with extreme ENSO warm events (El Niño) often associated with drought and stresses on water resources and agriculture/aquaculture. In contrast, cold events (La Niña) often result in excessive rainfall. The La Nina Advisories from 2021 to 2023 (18 advisories) showed the persistence of this part of ENSO, particularly in regions with recurrent and new records of HABs/toxic algal blooms. More studies and monitoring of another type of toxic algal bloom, Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP), are recommended in tropical countries such as the Philippines and Malaysia, which have extensive reef areas that harvest and culture marine fish for local and export purposes, as accelerating reports of this type of poisoning have apparently increased and causative organisms have been identified in several areas. There is an urgent need to enhance HAB/toxic algal bloom research and monitoring, particularly those related to climate change, which has apparently impacted these blooms/occurrences directly or indirectly. Local researchers and managers should be made aware of the knowledge and tools already available for their utilization and enhancement to meet local conditions and challenges for potential recurrence and expansion of HABs/toxic algal blooms. Regional and international HAB research and collaboration should be further advanced for the protection of public health and marine resources.

Research on the Development Path of Green Marine Economy in the Era of Ecological Civilization

This article explores the development path of the green marine economy in the era of ecological civilization. It highlights the importance of developing a green marine economy and how it has become a global consensus. The article suggests that China should take proactive measures to optimize its marine industrial structure, promote marine scientific and technological innovation, strengthen marine resource protection and environmental governance, and enhance the competitiveness of the marine economy. The ultimate objective is to achieve sustainable development of the ocean, expand the blue economic space, and accomplish the goal of green marine economic development.

Research on Marine Target Detection and Recognition Based on YOLO Algorithm

Abstract Marine target detection is a crucial technology for developing and utilizing marine resources, and fast and accurate detection of marine organisms is of great research significance for sustainable development and protection of marine resources. In this paper, we first discuss the convolutional neural network and attention mechanisms in deep learning and then present the YOLO series of algorithms for target detection. Then, we take ResNeXt50 as the backbone network, introduce the global attention mechanism and ASFF module to establish the GA-YOLOv5s model for marine life target detection and recognition, and also design the training strategy of the model through migration learning. Simulation experiments are planned to verify the analysis after considering the feasibility of the GA-YOLOv5s model for marine target detection and recognition. The YOLO algorithm, based on multiple improved strategies, improves the mAP@0.5 of marine target detection and recognition by 5.68%. The detection speed of the model after incorporating the GAM module is 48.51FPS; the model using ASFF mAP@0.5 increased by 3.38%; and the average precision and recall of the model for marine target detection and recognition are 82.79% and 80.17%, respectively. Based on the YOLO algorithm, accurate detection and recognition of marine targets can be achieved, which provides reliable technical support for enhancing the exploitation and protection of marine resources.

TCNet: A Transformer–CNN Hybrid Network for Marine Aquaculture Mapping from VHSR Images

Precise delineation of marine aquaculture areas is vital for the monitoring and protection of marine resources. However, due to the coexistence of diverse marine aquaculture areas and complex marine environments, it is still difficult to accurately delineate mariculture areas from very high spatial resolution (VHSR) images. To solve such a problem, we built a novel Transformer–CNN hybrid Network, named TCNet, which combined the advantages of CNN for modeling local features and Transformer for capturing long-range dependencies. Specifically, the proposed TCNet first employed a CNN-based encoder to extract high-dimensional feature maps from input images. Then, a hierarchical lightweight Transformer module was proposed to extract the global semantic information. Finally, it employed a coarser-to-finer strategy to progressively recover and refine the classification results. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of TCNet in accurately delineating different types of mariculture areas, with an IoU value of 90.9%. Compared with other state-of-the-art CNN or Transformer-based methods, TCNet showed significant improvement both visually and quantitatively. Our methods make a significant contribution to the development of precision agricultural in coastal regions.

The Role of Integrated Coastal Management Approach in the Protection of Coastal and Marine Resources in the Eastern Coast of Tanzania

Abstract This scientific paper examines the role of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) approach in the protection of coastal and marine resources in Tanzania. It engages coastal resource users and practitioners in focus group discussions and interviews, and complements the data obtained with documented sources. A modified version of the Benefit Analysis Framework is adopted from Wenger et al. (2011) to analyze the extent to which ICM yields a wide range of benefits that may potentially promote the protection of coastal ecosystem and enhance the commitment of communities that live adjacent to the coastal strip to manage mangroves, fisheries, coral reefs, and coastal land in a sustainable manner.

Influence of FDI on China's Green Marine Economy

China attaches great importance to the protection of Marine resources, the development of Marine economy and the construction of a maritime power. FDI is highly concentrated in China's coastal areas and accompanied by space spillover, which affects the development speed and quality of Marine economy. Does FDI improve the efficiency of China's Marine green economy? Based on the panel data of 11 coastal provinces and cities in China from 2004 to 2020, the "efficiency evaluation system of Marine green economy" is constructed from the dual perspective of environmental constraints and resource conservation, considering the unexpected output and measuring the efficiency of Marine green economy with the ultra-efficiency SBM model. Then, under the geographical weight and economic geographical weight, the FDI spatial index is constructed to study its influence on the efficiency of Marine green economy. The results show that FDI space can improve the efficiency of Marine green economy in China. FDI has a negative effect on the efficiency of Marine green economy, but after considering the spatial factors, the FDI spatial index has a positive promotion effect on the improvement of the efficiency value, and the promotion effect is more significant under the weight of economic geography and space.

UNCLOS and its contributions to the development of international law: An editorial note

This is an editorial note for the special issue: UNCLOS and Its Contributions to the Development of International Law. This special issue contains 11 papers focusing on both UNCLOS and more general developments of the international law of the sea. The papers can be roughly categorized into four topics: the development of UNCLOS by stakeholder contributions, the application of UNCLOS and its relations with general international law; marine environmental protection and sustainable development of marine resources; and emerging legal issues confronting the human community.