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Introduction: As global resource demands and environmental challenges intensify, China's vast marine resources present a significant opportunity for sustainable economic development. This study investigates the impact of financial development on high-quality growth in China's marine economy across 11 coastal regions from 2011 to 2020. Methods: We examine a mediation and moderation model linking financial development and marine economic quality in China, where the marine economy increasingly relies on financial support. This study proposes marine innovation output and industrial structure upgradation as mediators, with marine capital investment as a moderator. Results: Our findings reveal that financial development significantly promotes high-quality marine economic growth, albeit with regional heterogeneity. The strongest effect is observed in the Eastern Marine Economic Zone, while the Southern Marine Economic Zone shows the weakest impact. Marine scientific research and industrial structure upgrading serve as key mediating factors, with the former demonstrating a stronger intermediary effect. Notable, marine capital investment positively moderates the relationship between financial development and marine economic growth. Discussion: This study innovatively combines macro-finance and micro-finance indicators to construct a comprehensive financial development index system. It incorporates a multi-dimensional approach to measuring high-quality development in coastal regions, challenging one-size-fits-all models by highlighting regional variations. By providing insights into specific differences and underlying mechanisms, our study offers valuable guidance for policymakers in crafting region-specific strategies to leverage financial development for sustainable marine economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, in addition to green tides and red tides, outbreaks of Cnidaria (jellyfish organisms), Annelida (Urechis unicinctus Drasche, 1880), Mollusca (Philine kinglipini S. Tchang, 1934), Arthropoda (Acetes chinensis Hansen, 1919), and Echinodermata (Asteroidea organisms (commonly known as starfish), Ophiuroidea organisms, and Acaudina molpadioides Semper, 1867) not only damage marine resources, tourism, coastal industries, and navigation but also profoundly impact ecosystems near nuclear plants, beaches, and infrastructures, endangering human lives. This article suggests measures to mitigate future disasters, emphasizing enhanced monitoring and integration into China's marine ecological disaster monitoring system. This review is conducive to enhancing researchers' comprehension and reflection regarding biological disasters in marine ecosystems. Owing to global climate change or the ever-more frequent human activities in the offshore areas, it is highly probable that an imbalance in the offshore ecosystem has been induced. However, the importance of maintaining and protecting marine ecosystems' balance cannot be overstated. In recent years, various marine disasters have occurred frequently, such as harmful algal blooms (green tides and red tides), storm surge disasters, wave disasters, sea ice disasters, and tsunami disasters. Additionally, overpopulation of certain marine organisms (particularly marine faunas) has led to marine disasters, threatening both marine ecosystems and human safety. The marine ecological disaster monitoring system in China primarily focuses on monitoring and controlling the outbreak of green tides (mainly caused by outbreaks of some Ulva species) and red tides (mainly caused by outbreaks of some diatom and dinoflagellate species). Currently, there are outbreaks of Cnidaria (Hydrozoa and Scyphozoa organisms; outbreak species are frequently referred to as jellyfish), Annelida (Urechis unicinctus Drasche, 1880), Mollusca (Philine kinglipini S. Tchang, 1934), Arthropoda (Acetes chinensis Hansen, 1919), and Echinodermata (Asteroidea organisms, Ophiuroidea organisms, and Acaudina molpadioides Semper, 1867) in China. They not only cause significant damage to marine fisheries, tourism, coastal industries, and ship navigation but also have profound impacts on marine ecosystems, especially near nuclear power plants, sea bathing beaches, and infrastructures, posing threats to human lives. Therefore, this review provides a detailed introduction to the marine organisms (especially marine fauna species) causing marine biological disasters in China, the current outbreak situations, and the biological backgrounds of these outbreaks. This review also provides an analysis of the causes of these outbreaks. Furthermore, it presents future prospects for marine biological disasters, proposing corresponding measures and advocating for enhanced resource utilization and fundamental research. It is recommended that future efforts focus on improving the monitoring of marine biological disasters and integrating them into the marine ecological disaster monitoring system. The aim of this review is to offer reference information and constructive suggestions for enhancing future monitoring, early warning systems, and prevention efforts related to marine ecological disasters in support of the healthy development and stable operation of marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem‐based management (EBM) is promoted in scholarly literature and international policy as a way to improve marine ecosystem outcomes, through the integration of marine law and policies across sectors, communities, and scales. A legal and policy framework that supports EBM at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is fundamental to the successful deployment of EBM. However, marine management is typically fragmented and misaligned, with a range of laws, policies, governance institutions, and sectoral frameworks applying to different marine spaces and working on varying timescales. In this focus article, we draw on our comprehensive study of Aotearoa New Zealand's marine law and policy to analyze the challenges scale mismatches present for marine law and policy implementation, focusing on key policy areas across fisheries, environment, conservation, and Indigenous rights and interests. We identify key opportunities to better align marine law and policy to ecosystem scale dynamics, revealing critical lessons for the imperative of scale‐sensitive marine law and policy design, globally. This article is categorized under:Policy and Economics > Research and DevelopmentPolicy and Economics > Governance and RegulationClimate and Environment > Ecosystem Services [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of Marine Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) poses a significant threat to global marine biodiversity and ecosystems. To mitigate this risk, the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) was adopted by the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO), setting strict criteria for discharges of ballast water. However, the BWMC permits exemptions for shipping routes operating within a geographical area, known as a Same-Risk-Area (SRA). An SRA can be established in areas where a risk assessment (RA) can conclude that the spread of NIS via ballast water is low relative to the predicted natural dispersal. Despite the BWMC's requirement for RAs to be based on modelling of the natural dispersal of NIS, no standard procedures have been established. This paper presents a methodology utilizing biophysical modelling and marine connectivity analyses to conduct SRA RA and delineation. Focusing on the Kattegat and Øresund connecting the North Sea and Baltic Sea, we examine two SRA candidates spanning Danish and Swedish waters. We provide an example on how to conduct an RA including an RA summary, and addressing findings, challenges, and prospects. Our study aims to advance the development and adoption of consistent, transparent, and scientifically robust SRA assessments for effective ballast water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Comprehensive assessments of coastal biodiversity in complex coral communities are crucial but challenging, particularly under unfavorable conditions such as poor underwater visibility in urbanized and eutrophic environments. Here we aim to examine the scope of underwater diversity detection and community shifts across habitat transitions spanning different geographic regions in Hong Kong SAR, a highly urbanized coastal city with limited underwater visibility of 3.93 ± 1.25 m during the sampling period. We employ and compare two methods: 12S rRNA eDNA metabarcoding coupled with custom built reference database and simultaneous extensive underwater visual census (UVC) surveys. eDNA detected a higher species richness per site. Yet, each survey method featured a distinct species profile with associated trophic guilds, where 98 (32.3%) species found exclusively by UVC and 120 (39.6%) species detected only by eDNA. eDNA featured species from diverse habitats and evolutionary distances, including cryptic and large mobile fishes, offering enhanced prediction on local ecosystem functions. eDNA also recorded 90 putative species that had never been recorded in additional seven yearlong UVC dataset, with seven prospective new occurrence records to the territorial waters. UVC on the other hand was more efficient in documenting reef‐associated species. Both methods captured similar patterns of community spatial structure along the habitat transitions while only eDNA detected more large fish species in offshore compared to sheltered inshore environments, This may suggest inshore overfishing and incapability of UVC in surveying large mobile species in turbid environments. Considering the discrepancies between two methods, we highlight the importance of complementing both UVC and eDNA metabarcoding survey for a complete overview of local biodiversity under unfavored underwater conditions in an urbanized seascape.

As conservation and management actions facilitate the recovery of threatened and endangered marine species, and human populations expand in urbanizing coastal areas, people are increasingly coming into contact with marine wildlife. These increasing human-wildlife interactions can cause conflict, as has been the case with the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Since 2009, there have been at least sixteen documented monk seal killings by gunshot or head trauma. Drawing on interviews, surveys, and government and media reports, we explored the underlying drivers behind this conflict, examining how social construction of wildlife, levels of conflict, and ideas from risk communication inform these drivers. Across these sources, we found that most people on beaches where seals are present and other members of the public hold positive perceptions of monk seals and are not engaged in conflicts. Rather, conflict is driven by individuals who have strong feelings about seals and what they represent, which in some cases conflicts with their own values and sense of identity. Many monk seal recovery volunteers saw themselves as protectors of endangered seals, seeing the species as an innocent victim of human-caused environmental destruction. Some fishermen viewed seals as resource competitors, and there were those who also saw them as symbolic of federal government restrictions on access to natural resources. Native Hawaiians who disliked seals saw them as invaders in their native homeland, and perceived federal actions to protect seals as a continuation of colonial restrictions on their rights and access. Social media and other platforms also playan emerging role in escalating the conflict over monk seals. Natural resource managers have engaged in multiple intervention strategies to address conflict, including message framing, education and outreach, and efforts to increase public trust. However, these efforts have not always targeted the people most likely to interact with monk seals as populations recover. Ultimately, it is important for resource managers to articulate their own assumptions and values, and to work to understand the assumptions and values of those who may be affected by successful monk seal recovery efforts, to develop effective strategies that prevent and address conflict over this recovering endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migratory behavior of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post‐smolts in coastal waters is poorly understood. In this collaborative study, 1914 smolts, from 25 rivers, in four countries were tagged with acoustic transmitters during a single seasonal migration. In total, 1105 post‐smolts entered the marine study areas and 438 (39.6%) were detected on a network of 414 marine acoustic receivers and an autonomous underwater vehicle. Migration pathways (defined as the shortest distance between two detections) of up to 575 km and over 100 days at sea were described for all 25 populations. Post‐smolts from different rivers, as well as individuals from the same river, used different pathways in coastal waters. Although difficult to generalize to all rivers, at least during the year of this study, no tagged post‐smolts from rivers draining into the Irish Sea were detected entering the areas of sea between the Hebrides and mainland Scotland, which is associated with a high density of finfish aquaculture. An important outcome of this study is that a high proportion of post‐smolts crossed through multiple legislative jurisdictions and boundaries during their migration. This study provides the basis for spatially explicit assessment of the impact risk of coastal pressures on salmon during their first migration to sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The threat from novel marine species introductions is a global issue. When non‐native marine species are introduced to novel environments and become invasive, they can affect biodiversity, industry, ecosystem function, and both human and wildlife health. Isolated areas with sensitive or highly specialised endemic species can be particularly impacted. The global increase in the scope of tourism and other human activities, together with a rapidly changing climate, now put these remote ecosystems under threat. In this context, we analyse invasion pathways into South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) for marine non‐native species via vessel biofouling. The SGSSI archipelago has high biodiversity and endemism, and has historically been highly isolated from the South American mainland. The islands sit just below the Polar Front temperature boundary, affording some protection against introductions. However, the region is now warming and SGSSI increasingly acts as a gateway port for vessel traffic into the wider Antarctic, amplifying invasion likelihood. We use remote Automatic Identification System vessel‐tracking data over a 2‐year period to map vessel movement and behaviour around South Georgia, and across the 'Scotia Sea', 'Magellanic' and northern 'Continental High Antarctic' ecoregions. We find multiple vessel types from locations across the globe frequently now enter shallow inshore waters and stop for prolonged periods (weeks/months) at anchor. Vessels are active throughout the year and stop at multiple port hubs, frequently crossing international waters and ecoregions. Management recommendations to reduce marine invasion likelihood within SGSSI include initiating benthic and hull monitoring at the identified activity/dispersion hubs of King Edward Point, Bay of Isles, Gold Harbour, St Andrews Bay and Stromness Bay. More broadly, regional collaboration and coordination is necessary at neighbouring international ports. Here vessels need increased pre‐ and post‐arrival biosecurity assessment following set protocols, and improved monitoring of hulls for biofouling to pre‐emptively mitigate this threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine managers commonly use ecological indicators in planning and evaluations; however, few programs monitor social and cultural impacts of management. Practical approaches to identifying and monitoring social and cultural aspects of communities' relationships with their environment could assist many agencies in understanding the impacts of their efforts to achieve conservation goals. The Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) launched the Holomua Marine Initiative to collaborate and engage with communities to strengthen co-management efforts, which included integrating socio-cultural aspects into the planning and assessment of marine management. Our team, which included resource managers, Western and indigenous scientists, community leaders, students, agency, and university staff engaged in collaborative management efforts in Hawai'i, developed an approach to monitor the social and cultural impacts of DAR's management actions. Through online collaborative workshops with community members and non-profit leaders engaged in marine conservation in Hawai'i, we co-developed socio-cultural principles and indicators based on their reciprocal relationships with the nearshore environment. During the workshops, we used small group activities, snow cards, sorting, and categorization to generate nine fundamental principles, with associated indicators, to guide marine management in Hawai'i. Many of the principles and indicators are comparable to those developed in other parts of the Pacific, revolving around themes including the perpetuation of local and indigenous knowledge across generations, and access to land and natural resources. Participants also suggested themes less prevalent in other research, such as the need to evaluate impacts of tourism on community relationships with coastal areas. We offer recommendations for the development of socio-cultural principles and indicators in other place-based contexts, and emphasize the importance of on-going community collaboration. Developing a socio-cultural monitoring framework with community members impacted by marine management decisions could enable others engaged in collaborative efforts, including government agencies, to holistically understand and address impacts of their policies and actions. Monitoring layered sociocultural impacts of marine management on local and indigenous communities has the potential to shift management goals, and enhance long-term effectiveness and support for initiatives to protect coastal resources worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Developing large‐scale monitoring strategies for marine habitats with appropriate temporal and spatial resolution is challenging logistically and economically. We compare potential DNA metabarcoding infaunal identification methods with traditional morphological assessment of marine intertidal biodiversity across two protected sites of contrasting anthropogenic impact on the south coast of England. We show that all the methodologies are effective at distinguishing the distinct communities present at each site. While morphological methods provide community abundance and biomass information, data derived from 18S metabarcoding of sediment scrapes showed the strongest discriminations between sites with contrasting anthropogenic pressures. This difference is due to the inclusion of more taxa from a wider spectrum of biodiversity in this dataset. However, 18S OTU abundance was a poor predictor of morphological taxa abundance and biomass. Examination of the presence or absence of taxa at the more or less impacted sites allows us to identify potential indicator taxa for future surveys, such as families in the phyla Ascidiacea, Cnidaria, Nematoda, and Platyhelminthes; taxa which are not traditionally incorporated into morphology‐based assessments due to the difficulty and expense of identification. DNA metabarcoding tools provide a more comprehensive snapshot of marine biodiversity compared to morphological surveys, and therefore an opportunity to assess the responses of more organisms to environmental stressors and develop novel metrics for habitat assessment. This could greatly benefit future monitoring programs and the assessment of management impacts in marine habitats.

Abstract The threat from novel marine species introductions is a global issue. When non‐native marine species are introduced to novel environments and become invasive, they can affect biodiversity, industry, ecosystem function, and both human and wildlife health. Isolated areas with sensitive or highly specialised endemic species can be particularly impacted. The global increase in the scope of tourism and other human activities, together with a rapidly changing climate, now put these remote ecosystems under threat. In this context, we analyse invasion pathways into South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) for marine non‐native species via vessel biofouling. The SGSSI archipelago has high biodiversity and endemism, and has historically been highly isolated from the South American mainland. The islands sit just below the Polar Front temperature boundary, affording some protection against introductions. However, the region is now warming and SGSSI increasingly acts as a gateway port for vessel traffic into the wider Antarctic, amplifying invasion likelihood. We use remote Automatic Identification System vessel‐tracking data over a 2‐year period to map vessel movement and behaviour around South Georgia, and across the ‘Scotia Sea’, ‘Magellanic’ and northern ‘Continental High Antarctic’ ecoregions. We find multiple vessel types from locations across the globe frequently now enter shallow inshore waters and stop for prolonged periods (weeks/months) at anchor. Vessels are active throughout the year and stop at multiple port hubs, frequently crossing international waters and ecoregions. Management recommendations to reduce marine invasion likelihood within SGSSI include initiating benthic and hull monitoring at the identified activity/dispersion hubs of King Edward Point, Bay of Isles, Gold Harbour, St Andrews Bay and Stromness Bay. More broadly, regional collaboration and coordination is necessary at neighbouring international ports. Here vessels need increased pre‐ and post‐arrival biosecurity assessment following set protocols, and improved monitoring of hulls for biofouling to pre‐emptively mitigate this threat.

Anthropogenic carbon emissions and associated climate change are driving rapid warming, acidification, and deoxygenation in the ocean, which increasingly stress marine ecosystems. On top of long‐term trends, short term variability of marine stressors can have major implications for marine ecosystems and their management. As such, there is a growing need for predictions of marine ecosystem stressors on monthly, seasonal, and multi‐month timescales. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability to make reliable predictions of the surface ocean physical and biogeochemical state months to years in advance, but few studies have investigated forecast skill of multiple stressors simultaneously or assessed the forecast skill below the surface. Here, we use the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Seasonal to Multiyear Large Ensemble (SMYLE) along with novel observation‐based biogeochemical and physical products to quantify the predictive skill of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved oxygen, and temperature in the surface and subsurface ocean. CESM SMYLE demonstrates high physical and biogeochemical predictive skill multiple months in advance in key oceanic regions and frequently outperforms persistence forecasts. We find up to 10 months of skillful forecasts, with particularly high skill in the Northeast Pacific (Gulf of Alaska and California Current Large Marine Ecosystems) for temperature, surface DIC, and subsurface oxygen. Our findings suggest that dynamical marine ecosystem prediction could support actionable advice for decision making. Plain Language Summary: Human‐driven climate change is rapidly altering the global ocean, with strong warming, increasing acidity, and declining oxygen trends. On top of long‐term trends, short term variations can lead to rapid changes that can have major effects on marine ecosystems. There is a growing need to predict these short‐term changes in order to better inform marine fisheries managers. In this study, we use a climate model designed to predict changes in the real world months‐to‐years in advance to better determine our ability to forecast changes. Previous studies with similar goals have been limited by sparse observations of acidity and oxygen. We utilize brand new observational products that estimate acidity and oxygen levels in the subsurface ocean for the first time to analyze subsurface forecasts. Our results demonstrate a high potential to predict warming, acidity, and oxygen levels in key marine ecosystems with this climate model. These results suggest that there is potential for eventual operational forecasts of marine ecosystems to better inform marine managers. Key Points: Community Earth System Model Seasonal to Multiyear Large Ensemble (SMYLE) forecasts variations in multiple marine stressors up to a year in advance and outperforms statistical persistenceNovel observation‐based products allow for the first skill analysis of subsurface carbon and oxygenAnalysis of predictability from the SMYLE reconstruction reveals high potential to gain additional temperature and oxygen forecast skill [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Anthropogenic carbon emissions and associated climate change are driving rapid warming, acidification, and deoxygenation in the ocean, which increasingly stress marine ecosystems. On top of long‐term trends, short term variability of marine stressors can have major implications for marine ecosystems and their management. As such, there is a growing need for predictions of marine ecosystem stressors on monthly, seasonal, and multi‐month timescales. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability to make reliable predictions of the surface ocean physical and biogeochemical state months to years in advance, but few studies have investigated forecast skill of multiple stressors simultaneously or assessed the forecast skill below the surface. Here, we use the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Seasonal to Multiyear Large Ensemble (SMYLE) along with novel observation‐based biogeochemical and physical products to quantify the predictive skill of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved oxygen, and temperature in the surface and subsurface ocean. CESM SMYLE demonstrates high physical and biogeochemical predictive skill multiple months in advance in key oceanic regions and frequently outperforms persistence forecasts. We find up to 10 months of skillful forecasts, with particularly high skill in the Northeast Pacific (Gulf of Alaska and California Current Large Marine Ecosystems) for temperature, surface DIC, and subsurface oxygen. Our findings suggest that dynamical marine ecosystem prediction could support actionable advice for decision making.

To preserve natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, there is a need to anticipate future ecosystem changes through better understanding of underlying drivers and assembly processes determining community composition. Assembly processes can be understood as a set of filters acting at different spatio‐temporal scales that jointly define the structure and composition of communities. Here, we explore the underlying assembly processes shaping marine fish species distribution and composition, using the heavily exploited North Sea. Our aims are to study 1) the relative importance of the different assembly processes shaping marine fish communities, 2) the key environmental drivers determining species distributions and composition, and to 3) quantify the role of traits in determining species niches and responses to the environment. Specifically, we fit a joint species distribution model (JSDM) using 31 years of standardized scientific bottom trawl survey data for 67 fish species. We use a set of environmental variables and species' traits representing morphology, life history, reproduction and diet, while also accounting for phylogenetic relationships of species. Environmental variables, primarily related to temperature, explained over one third of the variance in species occurrence, while spatial effects explained half of the variability across species. This shows that environmental filtering and spatially‐structured processes are the main drivers shaping the community assembly. Furthermore, among the total variance of individual species occurrences, 12.5% could be explained by traits, which improve the mechanistic understanding on species responses to environmental change. Hence, model predictions from JSDMs accounting for traits, environmental niches and potential interactions among multiple species can provide relevant simulations and forecasts with the potential to inform spatial management and conservation efforts aiming to preserve biodiversity and its associated services vital for human well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community members have interests in the development of marine industries such as characterise the blue economy agenda. One of these interests is levels of personal and community wellbeing. Governments, local authorities and marine industries are frequently confronted with conflicting values and interests when making decisions about marine industry development. Yet it is not clear how decisions can be made in ways that also focus on community members' wellbeing. Assessing wellbeing is substantively different from other aspects of development assessment as it comprises (i) subjective and (ii) relational aspects as well as (iii) material aspects. We applied this three-fold wellbeing lens to investigate the connections people make between marine places and their personal wellbeing and how people perceive changes to marine places (industry development) affects this connection. We discuss three key findings: (i) people's subjective and relational experiences of personal wellbeing in relation to marine places were more important than experiences of material aspects; (ii) the specific quality of the marine environments and the values associated with the physical environment strongly influenced people's subjective and relational wellbeing experiences; and (iii) the development of marine industries may negatively influence people's experience of wellbeing in marine places if not done in ways that are sympathetic to their connections with these marine places. We discuss these findings with respect to the marine industry development and suggest that conceptualising and assessing wellbeing using only material concepts and measures in expanding marine industries will risk missing critical information in the development of sustainable local blue economies. • Subjective and relational wellbeing experiences were more important than material. • Values influenced subjective and relational wellbeing experiences. • Local blue economy development must be sympathetic to place connections. • Subject and relational wellbeing is critical in blue economy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine managers commonly use ecological indicators in planning and evaluations; however, few programs monitor social and cultural impacts of management. Practical approaches to identifying and monitoring social and cultural aspects of communities’ relationships with their environment could assist many agencies in understanding the impacts of their efforts to achieve conservation goals. The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) launched the Holomua Marine Initiative to collaborate and engage with communities to strengthen co-management efforts, which included integrating socio-cultural aspects into the planning and assessment of marine management. Our team, which included resource managers, Western and indigenous scientists, community leaders, students, agency, and university staff engaged in collaborative management efforts in Hawaiʻi, developed an approach to monitor the social and cultural impacts of DAR’s management actions. Through online collaborative workshops with community members and non-profit leaders engaged in marine conservation in Hawaiʻi, we co-developed socio-cultural principles and indicators based on their reciprocal relationships with the nearshore environment. During the workshops, we used small group activities, snow cards, sorting, and categorization to generate nine fundamental principles, with associated indicators, to guide marine management in Hawaiʻi. Many of the principles and indicators are comparable to those developed in other parts of the Pacific, revolving around themes including the perpetuation of local and indigenous knowledge across generations, and access to land and natural resources. Participants also suggested themes less prevalent in other research, such as the need to evaluate impacts of tourism on community relationships with coastal areas. We offer recommendations for the development of socio-cultural principles and indicators in other place-based contexts, and emphasize the importance of on-going community collaboration. Developing a socio-cultural monitoring framework with community members impacted by marine management decisions could enable others engaged in collaborative efforts, including government agencies, to holistically understand and address impacts of their policies and actions. Monitoring layered socio-cultural impacts of marine management on local and indigenous communities has the potential to shift management goals, and enhance long-term effectiveness and support for initiatives to protect coastal resources worldwide.

Using social media, we collect evidence for how nearshore fisheries are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai’i. We later confirm our social media findings and obtain a more complete understanding of the changes in nearshore non-commercial fisheries in Hawai’i through a more conventional approach— speaking directly with fishers. Resource users posted photographs to social media nearly three times as often during the pandemic with nearly double the number of fishes pictured per post. Individuals who fished for subsistence were more likely to increase the amount of time spent fishing and relied more on their catch for food security. Furthermore, individuals fishing exclusively for subsistence were more likely to fish for different species during the pandemic than individuals fishing recreationally. Traditional data collection methods are resource-intensive and this study shows that during times of rapid changes, be it ecological or societal, social media can more quickly identify how near shore marine resource use adapts. As climate change threatens additional economic and societal disturbances, it will be necessary for resource managers to collect reliable data efficiently to better target monitoring and management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Good modelling practice requires appropriate spatial resolution environmental data. • Unpredictability of the MAUP bias in ecological modelling. • Use of lower resolution data leads to an oversimplification of modelled extent. • Inappropriate spatial resolution can lead to ineffective management decisions. • Challenges of real-world decision making where data is not at a suitable resolution. Effective management of marine ecosystems requires informed decision-making based on accurate, comprehensive and appropriate data. Mapping habitats can form an important part of these processes so that decision makers can ensure the pressures exerted by human activities can be assessed while considering the sensitivity of the environment. Predictive models can be utilised to understand the distribution of species and habitats (e.g. biotopes) without incurring the expense of wide scale surveys. If predictive models are used in decision-making care must be taken in interpreting model results. The spatial resolution at which habitat modelling is conducted can greatly influence the decision outcomes. Whilst national resolution habitat maps serve as valuable resources for informing overarching policy making, for development level decisions fine resolution habitat information is needed. This paper explores the importance of spatial resolution modelling in marine management decision-making processes, using four spatial resolutions (50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 500 m) to model the presence of a protected habitat, maerl beds, within the Fetlar-Haroldswick Marine Protected Area in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Outputs were compared for model performance between the resolutions and area of modelled maerl bed coverage. Simulations of real-world marine activities, explore the magnitude of overlap attributable to varied spatial resolution models, with an emphasis on the presumed 'need' for management. This study shows the importance of considering spatial resolution in modelling outputs and highlights the challenges associated with using models to guide decision-making, direct pressures on protected habitats, and cumulative impacts. It carries significance for maximising economic opportunity while safeguarding marine features. For real-world applications coarse resolution data may suffice for strategic, large-scale decisions, but finer resolutions are imperative for consenting or managing individual marine activities. By emphasising the need for appropriate spatial resolution modelling, these findings contribute to the development of sustainable management strategies that are appropriate to the scale of the decision. Addressing the complexities of real-world decision-making and understanding the magnitude of spatial resolution required for the marine environment are a crucial principle that can also enhance and be applied to other disciplines including, terrestrial ecology, urban planning and the assessment of potential climate change impacts. Failing to model appropriately means that real-world pressures and impacts occurring on a finer scale then the available data may have their impacts over or underestimated, hindering effective governance. Whilst we are striving to meet our national and international obligations and objectives through effective marine governance, this paper highlights the challenges of real-world decision-making where data is not yet available at a suitable resolution to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sponges play vital roles in the ecosystem function of the deep sea. Some species, such as the birds' nest sponge Pheronema carpenteri , can form highly structured and dense habitats (i.e., aggregations), which contribute to the increase of nearby biodiversity. Climate change is expected to have a pronounced impact on the deep sea, particularly on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems such as those formed by the glass sponge Pheronema carpenteri. These ecosystems are especially vulnerable to climate change and other anthropogenic activities since they are formed by sensitive species with slow growth rates and limited dispersal capability, which can hinder their adaptive capability and recovery after disturbance. The impact that climate change will have on Pheronema carpenteri remains unclear, although it is expected to influence the species' available suitable habitat and distribution range. The aim of this study was to predict the distribution of the glass sponge Pheronema carpenteri both for present day and under several future climate scenarios in the North Atlantic. An ensemble modelling approach was employed, combining Maximum Entropy, Generalized Additive Models and Random Forest techniques. Changes in available suitable habitat were projected to present day and to three future climatic scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). Depth, temperature and dissolved oxygen were identified as the key predictor variables of habitat suitability, which patterns suggest a strong influence of the Mediterranean Outflow Water in shaping the present day distribution of the species, particularly in the eastern North Atlantic. Our results indicate a potential expansion of available suitable habitat in the northernmost region of the study area, with a contraction at lower latitudes, more prominent in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Under the worst-case scenario (RCP 8.5), the area of suitable habitat will likely double compared to present, occupying approximately 6% of the total study area. The management and conservation of areas where Pheronema aggregations can occur should be articulated between different countries, particularly in the Northeast Atlantic since, cumulatively, most of Pheronema's climate refugia occurs within their EEZs. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of the species' climate refugia is located in areas within the High Seas (i.e., Rockall plateau). • P. carpenteri suitable habitat may increase up to 2 times under climate change. • Suitable habitat likely shifts towards higher latitudes. • 74.7% of climate refugia falls within EEZs. • The largest reduction in suitable habitat may occur in the Azores archipelago. • Management and conservation of this species will require concerted international efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam is a country with strengths in marine resources and economy. The coast provides habitats and livelihoods for millions of households but is in decline due to economic activity and climate change. This study’s purpose is to evaluate the awareness of people in the central coastal provinces of Vietnam about marine environmental values and their willingness to pay for the management and improvement of marine environmental quality. The study applied a binary random assessment model and surveyed 980 households in 4 coastal provinces to evaluate community payments. The results show that people have good awareness of tangible environmental values, associated with life and livelihood. They also highly agree with protecting marine environmental values and emphasize passing these values on to future generations. Community payment for sea environment management was estimated at 420 thousand/household/year in parametric model and 398 VND thousand/household/year in non-parametric model. Bid level, income and education are main factors affecting people’s ability to pay. The study also proposes implications for marine environmental management including strengthening community awareness and capacity, establishing financial mechanisms for community-led conservation at the local level, and integrating education marine environmental values for high school students to aim for sustainability in community awareness and behavior.

Abstract Background Management actions that address local-scale stressors on coral reefs can rapidly improve water quality and reef ecosystem condition. In response to reef managers who need actionable thresholds for coastal runoff and dredging, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies that explore the effects of sediment on corals. We identified exposure levels that ‘adversely’ affect corals while accounting for sediment bearing (deposited vs. suspended), coral life-history stage, and species, thus providing empirically based estimates of stressor thresholds on vulnerable coral reefs. Methods We searched online databases and grey literature to obtain a list of potential studies, assess their eligibility, and critically appraise them for validity and risk of bias. Data were extracted from eligible studies and grouped by sediment bearing and coral response to identify thresholds in terms of the lowest exposure levels that induced an adverse physiological and/or lethal effect. Meta-regression estimated the dose–response relationship between exposure level and the magnitude of a coral’s response, with random-effects structures to estimate the proportion of variance explained by factors such as study and coral species. Review findings After critical appraisal of over 15,000 records, our systematic review of corals’ responses to sediment identified 86 studies to be included in meta-analyses (45 studies for deposited sediment and 42 studies for suspended sediment). The lowest sediment exposure levels that caused adverse effects in corals were well below the levels previously described as ‘normal’ on reefs: for deposited sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 1 mg/cm2/day for larvae (limited settlement rates) and 4.9 mg/cm2/day for adults (tissue mortality); for suspended sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 10 mg/L for juveniles (reduced growth rates) and 3.2 mg/L for adults (bleaching and tissue mortality). Corals take at least 10 times longer to experience tissue mortality from exposure to suspended sediment than to comparable concentrations of deposited sediment, though physiological changes manifest 10 times faster in response to suspended sediment than to deposited sediment. Threshold estimates derived from continuous response variables (magnitude of adverse effect) largely matched the lowest-observed adverse-effect levels from a summary of studies, or otherwise helped us to identify research gaps that should be addressed to better quantify the dose–response relationship between sediment exposure and coral health. Conclusions We compiled a global dataset that spans three oceans, over 140 coral species, decades of research, and a range of field- and lab-based approaches. Our review and meta-analysis inform the no-observed and lowest-observed adverse-effect levels (NOAEL, LOAEL) that are used in management consultations by U.S. federal agencies. In the absence of more location- or species-specific data to inform decisions, our results provide the best available information to protect vulnerable reef-building corals from sediment stress. Based on gaps and limitations identified by our review, we make recommendations to improve future studies and recommend future synthesis to disentangle the potentially synergistic effects of multiple coral-reef stressors.

Due to various intergovernmental agreements, marine managers must establish marine conservation measures to prevent the destruction of conservation-relevant benthic habitats e.g. Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME). To aid this process, international “lists” of indicator species and habitats are created based on various conservation “criteria”. As these lists are both generalised and under development, there is a need to create comparable (management) regional lists to ensure regional relevance and to propose new international “list candidates”. This study provides a method to assess management region relevant (hereafter “regional”)/new benthic biotopes for conservation-relevance. Quantitative criteria-linked descriptors (e.g. species richness, predicted area occupancy, etc) are used to rank biotopes, enabling a comparison between listed and new biotopes. This highlights comparatively high-ranking new biotopes as potentially conservation-relevant. In a Norwegian case study, applied to the Barents Sea management region using data from the MAREANO programme, the criteria from three international frameworks (EBSA/Azores, FAO/VME, OSPAR/Texel Faial) are assessed with descriptors obtainable from existing or future baseline datasets (video survey data, biotope classifications, and predictive biotope maps). Here, the method correctly ranks existing listed biotopes highly but it also identifies, for example, a previously unlisted biotope as potentially conservation relevant (Cucumaria sea cucumbers, Eucratea bryozoans, and Thuiaria hydroids on coarse bottoms with highly variable conditions). This biotope is now accepted as having regional significance warranting national conservation attention. The dominant bryozoan has also since been listed as a FAO VME indicator within ICES/NEAFC. Although demonstrated in a region with an outstanding dataset, the method is transferable to anywhere with partial baseline data that can inform biotope classification.

Using social media, we collect evidence for how nearshore fisheries are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai’i. We later confirm our social media findings and obtain a more complete understanding of the changes in nearshore non-commercial fisheries in Hawai’i through a more conventional approach—speaking directly with fishers. Resource users posted photographs to social media nearly three times as often during the pandemic with nearly double the number of fishes pictured per post. Individuals who fished for subsistence were more likely to increase the amount of time spent fishing and relied more on their catch for food security. Furthermore, individuals fishing exclusively for subsistence were more likely to fish for different species during the pandemic than individuals fishing recreationally. Traditional data collection methods are resource-intensive and this study shows that during times of rapid changes, be it ecological or societal, social media can more quickly identify how near shore marine resource use adapts. As climate change threatens additional economic and societal disturbances, it will be necessary for resource managers to collect reliable data efficiently to better target monitoring and management efforts.

Globally, marine protected area (MPA) objectives have increasingly shifted from a primary focus on maintaining ecosystems through prohibiting extractive activities, to more equitable approaches that address the needs of both people and nature. This has led to MPAs with a diverse array of fisheries restrictions and recent debate on the type of restrictions that contribute to achieving biodiversity goals. Here we use a global dataset of 172 MPAs (representing 31 nations) alongside nine detailed case study MPAs (from Australia, Belize, Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Madagascar, Solomon Islands, and United States of America), including partially protected areas that allow regulated fishing, to illustrate the many diverse pathways that some MPAs have adopted to protect biodiversity and safeguard the rights and well-being of resource-dependent coastal communities. We group MPAs based on their restrictions and explore four key insights emerging from these groupings using our nine case studies: (i) MPAs use highly diverse approaches to regulate fisheries; (ii) partially protected areas can address gaps in regional fisheries management; (iii) devolving resource management rights to communities influences the chosen fisheries restrictions; and (iv) state-governed MPAs can use highly tailored fisheries restrictions to increase equity in access. We find that partially protected MPAs can offer effective and equitable pathways for biodiversity conservation if tailored to local context. Rather than focusing primarily on fully protected areas for achieving new global MPA targets, we recommend countries use a blend of locally-appropriate protection levels – from fully protected areas to partially protected MPAs to achieve positive biodiversity outcomes.

We relied on local knowledge of fishers in five coastal communities in Ghana to investigate ecological factors that affect fishing for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and the changes in the abundance of sharks and rays from 1980 to 2020. We gathered data using participant observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisal techniques. The results revealed fisher's understanding of six main ecological conditions, which have been applied over the years to improve fishing and maximize fisher catch: season and weather conditions, lunar phase, bait type, presence of seabirds and fish movement, the color of seawater, and sea current. Most elasmobranch species were abundant in 1980 but became severely depleted as of 2020, except Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) and Devil rays (Mobula spp.), shared by the fishers. We found fishers' local ecological knowledge consistent with scholarly knowledge and call for its inclusion in research, decision-making, and management interventions by biologists and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the 250-person community of Tristan da Cunha announced the establishment of the fourth largest fully-protected MPA in the world: the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone (MPZ). The MPZ protects 91 % of the 750,000 km2 EEZ in the South Atlantic, which is home to numerous endemic and endangered species reliant on the healthy marine environment. After legal gazettement in 2021, the next challenge is to build strong foundations for the MPZ that will support it in perpetuity. The Tristan da Cunha community and its partners are rising to this challenge by developing and implementing a programme of work focused on three core areas for MPZ success: effective management, research and monitoring, and community stewardship. Alongside assistance in MPZ management from the UK Government Blue Belt Programme and the establishment of a conservation endowment fund, the RSPB, Blue Nature Alliance, and Tristan da Cunha Government are providing dedicated support for the community for the first years of the MPZ. The partnership is supporting the establishment of monitoring programmes and citizen science initiatives, providing mentorship opportunities, facilitating global knowledge exchanges, strengthening the community's cultural connection to its marine environment and enhancing the global identity of the Tristan da Cunha community as 'Atlantic Guardians'. Providing support for the MPZ that is adaptive, flexible and community led, beyond the moment of designation is essential for the longevity of the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of farmed fish is increasing worldwide and in areas which have traditionally not had large scale farming, specifically regions of high sea temperature. This research presents a methodology to assess the impacts of these developments on water quality and to manage them in the context of other discharges into the marine environment. Kuwait Bay, in Kuwait, is used as a case study for these types of environments, where the impacts of finfish farms are assessed regarding their location by implementing a 3D coupled hydrodynamic–biogeochemical model. The model was validated against a monthly climatology of field data for hydrodynamics and biogeochemical parameters. Results show that the impact of a farm size with an average historical production is minimal, with a slight increase in nutrient concentrations (0.4%) and in chlorophyll-a and oxygen (less than 1%) compared to the baseline (no farm). When the farm was located outside the bay, at the southern coast, the impact was even smaller. This suggests that the flushing conditions of the location are a prime consideration and can help mitigate the impacts of larger farm sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With climate heating, Aotearoa New Zealand is expected to experience more marine heatwaves (MHW) in the coming decades. These extreme events are already impacting the island nation's marine and coastal environments and marine industries at a variety of scales. There will potentially be substantial benefits in developing an early warning system–specifically ocean seasonal forecast tools. This near-term 2,030 horizon scan reviews studies supporting the development of this capability and notes work needed to enable stakeholders to benefit from this knowledge. Review findings congregate around six themes; (1) MHW impacts, (2) mechanistic understanding, (3) observational basis, (4) seasonal forecast tools, (5) supporting Te Tiriti (The Treaty of Waitangi) and Māori aspirations, and (6) end-user engagement. The primary recommendation is a cross-institutional, cross-sector MHW Taskforce that would address, in a coordinated and effective fashion, the real, multi-faceted challenges associated with the committed pathway of warming. A range of sub-recommendations follow that connect with the United Nations Ocean Decade initiative.

Background: Management actions that address local-scale stressors on coral reefs can rapidly improve water quality and reef ecosystem condition. In response to reef managers who need actionable thresholds for coastal runoff and dredging, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies that explore the effects of sediment on corals. We identified exposure levels that 'adversely' affect corals while accounting for sediment bearing (deposited vs. suspended), coral life-history stage, and species, thus providing empirically based estimates of stressor thresholds on vulnerable coral reefs. Methods: We searched online databases and grey literature to obtain a list of potential studies, assess their eligibility, and critically appraise them for validity and risk of bias. Data were extracted from eligible studies and grouped by sediment bearing and coral response to identify thresholds in terms of the lowest exposure levels that induced an adverse physiological and/or lethal effect. Meta-regression estimated the dose–response relationship between exposure level and the magnitude of a coral's response, with random-effects structures to estimate the proportion of variance explained by factors such as study and coral species. Review findings: After critical appraisal of over 15,000 records, our systematic review of corals' responses to sediment identified 86 studies to be included in meta-analyses (45 studies for deposited sediment and 42 studies for suspended sediment). The lowest sediment exposure levels that caused adverse effects in corals were well below the levels previously described as 'normal' on reefs: for deposited sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 1 mg/cm2/day for larvae (limited settlement rates) and 4.9 mg/cm2/day for adults (tissue mortality); for suspended sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 10 mg/L for juveniles (reduced growth rates) and 3.2 mg/L for adults (bleaching and tissue mortality). Corals take at least 10 times longer to experience tissue mortality from exposure to suspended sediment than to comparable concentrations of deposited sediment, though physiological changes manifest 10 times faster in response to suspended sediment than to deposited sediment. Threshold estimates derived from continuous response variables (magnitude of adverse effect) largely matched the lowest-observed adverse-effect levels from a summary of studies, or otherwise helped us to identify research gaps that should be addressed to better quantify the dose–response relationship between sediment exposure and coral health. Conclusions: We compiled a global dataset that spans three oceans, over 140 coral species, decades of research, and a range of field- and lab-based approaches. Our review and meta-analysis inform the no-observed and lowest-observed adverse-effect levels (NOAEL, LOAEL) that are used in management consultations by U.S. federal agencies. In the absence of more location- or species-specific data to inform decisions, our results provide the best available information to protect vulnerable reef-building corals from sediment stress. Based on gaps and limitations identified by our review, we make recommendations to improve future studies and recommend future synthesis to disentangle the potentially synergistic effects of multiple coral-reef stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oceans are by far the largest carbon sink and are estimated to have absorbed roughly 40 percent of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions since the beginning of the industrial era. The climate services performed by the oceans can be described as an interaction between a physical and a biological carbon pump. Whereas the role of the physical carbon pump is well established, the full scale of the climate services provided by the biological carbon pump has only recently been understood. This pump is made up of services provided by different marine species, from microbes to marine mammals. Many of these species are managed under the international law of the sea and subject to the concept of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). Although the MSY concept has developed since its inception, maximum generation of fish for human consumption remains the core objective according to the law of the sea. Under MSY based management, states are not required to consider the climate services represented by different marine organisms, making this regime unable to balance the interest of maximizing fish as a product against the oceans’ role in carbon sequestration. In order to make optimal use of the carbon sequestering features of marine organisms, this perspective proposes five action points. Foremost, MSY should be complemented with a new management objective: maximum carbon sequestration (MCS). Although many aspects of climate-based fisheries management remain to be explored, it appears clear that this would imply allowing stocks to recover to maintain a larger amount of biomass, increasing conservation measures for species particularly efficient in providing negative emissions, differentiation of fisheries within species as well as a new approach to ecosystem management. Climate reforming international fisheries law could make an important contribution to the operationalization of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As a first step, international guidelines should be developed on how to integrate the concept of maximum carbon sequestration in fisheries management.

Modiolus modiolus (horse mussel) reefs are an example of marine biodiversity hotspots of high conservation importance. Due to historical destruction and slow rates of recovery, the habitat is considered threatened and/or declining under the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic 1992, and therefore incorporated into the conservation legislation of several countries. An analysis of genetic connectivity and diversity of nine M. modiolus reefs across Scotland, both within and outside of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), was undertaken using 12 newly developed microsatellite markers. Analyses indicated moderate to high levels of genetic connectivity between all populations and significantly low genetic variance among populations. Generally, a lack of spatial genetic structure was determined though several populations were highlighted as potentially genetically separated. Structure and connectivity results were largely corroborated by network visualization which additionally identified several potentially key populations. All populations showed departure from Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) and positive inbreeding coefficients, suggesting reduced genetic diversity and/or reflecting the high frequency of null alleles observed across populations. However, allelic richness was uniformly high across all reefs compared to previously reported results for the habitat. Results broadly suggest that an open system of M. modiolus populations exists in Scottish waters and align with conclusions from prior larval dispersal modeling. Findings highlight that neither M. modiolus populations nor the MPAs where they are found should be considered discrete, independent entities and support the protection of features within MPAs in concert with non-designated areas and across varying spatial scales. It is proposed that potential for greater protection exists if all relevant Scottish MPAs, i.e., both those where M. modiolus reefs are a designated feature and those that host M. modiolus reefs, had statutory restrictions on all activities that cause damage to the sea bed. Such protection may facilitate the support of vulnerable populations by more resilient populations, particularly under climate change. Furthermore, given that a large number of unprotected M. modiolus populations may be important components in the interdependent system of reef populations, supplementary genetics studies informed by larval dispersal modeling are recommended to identify further key populations for safeguarding.

Artificial reefs (ARs) are being increasingly deployed in the marine environment. Many deployments fail to achieve management goals, which can result in negative ecological, environmental and socioeconomic consequences. AR performance is influenced by characteristics of the reef design and deployment location. To ensure the success of AR deployments in achieving set goals, risk evaluation of AR failure is necessary. Traditional risk assessments evaluate risks from the perspective of the activity impacting the surrounding environment and the associated organisms. Here we propose a new approach to risk evaluation, where we consider the risks that may influence the likelihood of the artificial reef deployment failing to achieve set goals. AR deployments commonly occur in areas exposed noise pollution, remain poorly understood and regulated. Applying a systematic literature review, this study has summarised and evaluated the known impacts of coastal noise and light pollution on fish and invertebrates. This data informed the development of a novel risk assessment to evaluate the likelihood of achieving AR deployments which successfully function as marine habitats when exposed to these pollutants. Risk mitigation strategies have also been explored to provide managers with the best practice advice when determining deployment location. The presented risk assessment can be employed for both planning and regulating purposes. It provides an efficient, repeatable assessment of the risks that can lead to AR failure and sets a defensible ecological standard for management decisions. [Display omitted] • Pollution exposure increases risk of failure of artificial reefs (ARs). • Impacts of light and noise pollution are rarely considered for AR deployments. • A risk assessment matrix for ARs exposed to ALAN and noise pollution was developed. • 35% of cases reported severe consequences for fish exposed to ALAN. • Distance, depth and engineering approaches were explored as mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scientific research and media coverage has led to some legislation and policy changes in relation to the plastic pollution problem, in general these developments have been uncoordinated. In 2022 the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution to end plastic pollution became the first legally binding provision to address the problem; it includes a requirement for multi-level stakeholder action agendas. In this research, we examine how key stakeholders with management responsibilities within a coastal area on the south coast of the United Kingdom view the issue of coastal microplastics. We find that stakeholders are susceptible to the same influences as the public and are focussed on the global rather than the local issues of plastic pollution. We also find that visitors to these coastal areas appear to be unconcerned about the potential threat caused by MP either due to a lack of awareness or assessment of risk. The research also highlights the management priorities amongst the stakeholders and makes recommendations for a more localised approach to implementing management policies in the future. • The first international resolution towards ending plastic pollution calls for multi-stakeholder engagement. • Our analysis of key stakeholders highlights a lack of focus on local issues. • We find there is a lack of concern about the environmental implications and health risks associated with microplastics. • Increasing our understanding of the issues and raising awareness within coastal communities remains critical. • We recommend a more localised approach to policy management to maximise the effectiveness of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China possesses extensive maritime assets that offer substantial blue economic potential. However, balancing marine development and sustainability continues to pose governance challenges. This study introduces a novel framework to quantify marine economic security across China's regional marine sectors, identifying priorities to inform strategic governance reforms. We develop an original multi-dimensional index system encompassing industrial, technological, ecological, and administrative dimensions. Advanced modeling derives composite indicators to evaluate security levels across major marine zones. Key findings show China's marine economic security rose overall from 2006 to 2018 across three core zones but saw fluctuations owing to external jolts like the global crisis. The northern zone exhibited steady industrial security yet relatively slower tech advancements. The eastern zone experienced declines in industrial security due to export dependence, despite strong innovation ecosystems. The southern zone rapidly improved, harnessing strategic location and resources, though starting from a low baseline. Across all regions, ecological security rose, reflecting expanding sustainability, while administrative security stayed more constant. However, regional gaps persist, requiring tailored strategies based on local contexts. This study expands the scope of national economic security and offers tailored reform recommendations for more resilient, equitable, and efficient ocean development in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean use has always been risky because of uncertain and dramatic ocean conditions and modern businesses continue to experience risk due to environmental extremes. A changing physical environment due to anthropogenic climate change and increased frequency of extreme events such as marine heatwaves makes past experience less valuable. This risk can be reduced by utilising seasonal forecasts that provide early warning of climate events several months ahead of time. However, to benefit from a forecast, a marine business will need to be agile to respond to changing information and response options. We define a set of seven attributes that can influence and enhance this management agility; leadership, social expectations, signal strength, system manipulation, regulatory environment, market forces, and value of the operations. The management agility of different marine businesses in fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism can influence their ability to use seasonal forecast information effectively, and potentially modify the usual negative relationship between resilience and the frequency of the stress event, thus reducing the impact of extreme events. Engagement between forecast developers and marine users can also improve responses, while at the same time, improving the agility of businesses can enhance overall resilience to extreme events and lower their risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]