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Abstract Analysis that link hydrological processes with oceanographic dispersion offer a promising approach for assessing impacts of land-based activities on marine ecosystems. However, such an analysis has not yet been customised to quantify specific pressures from mining activities on marine biodiversity including those from spillages resulting from tailing dam failure. Here, using a Brazilian catchment in which a tailing dam collapsed (Doce river) as a case study, we provide a modelling approach to assess the impacts on key ecosystems and marine protected areas subjected to two exposure regimes: (i) a pulse disturbance event for the period 2015–2016, following the immediate release of sediments after dam burst, which witnessed an average increase of 88% in sediment exports; and (ii) a press disturbance phase for the period 2017–2029, when impacts are sustained over time by sediments along the river's course. We integrated four components into impact assessments: hydrological modelling, coastal-circulation modelling, ecosystem mapping, and biological sensitivities. The results showed that pulse disturbance causes sharp increases in the amount of sediments entering the coastal area, exposing key sensitive ecosystems to pollution (e.g. rhodolith beds), highlighting an urgent need for developing restoration strategies for these areas. The intensity of impacts will diminish over time but the total area of sensitive ecosystems at risk are predicted to be enlarged. We determined monitoring and restoration priorities by evaluating and comparing the extent to which sensitive ecosystems within marine protected areas were exposed to disturbances. The information obtained in this study will allow the optimization of recovery efforts in the marine area affected, and valuation of ecosystem services lost. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • We linked hydrological and ocean circulation model. • We assessed the immediate and long-lasting impacts from tailing dam failure. • Average monthly sediment export from the river might have increased 180-fold. • Coral reefs, seagrasses, and rhodolith beds were predicted to be affected. • We determined monitoring and restoration priorities, even within marine reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Here, we clarify the events described on a recent paper by Soares & Lucas in Marine Policy 93 (2018) that resulted in the establishment of large marine protected areas (MPAs) in Brazil. We describe crucial aspects of the planning process that were not addressed by the authors, particularly: (i) top-down changes on the original design that left the most diverse, unique and vulnerable ecosystems poorly protected; (ii) the permission of fishing activities within no-take areas; and (iii) shortfalls in using these MPAs for quantifying progress towards the Aichi Target 11. The spatial configuration of MPAs was modified by the government in a typical top-down scenario that received neither public nor scientific input. We call for a ban on fishing activities around the islands and on mining activities within all MPAs. We emphasize the need for reconciling qualitative aspects of Aichi Target 11 when establishing new MPAs as a strategy for enhancing conservation outcomes. The establishment of these large MPAs should not divert attention from actions needed for the protection of priority sites based on scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is an approach to ocean management with an increasingly global reach. However, existing evaluation strategies have yet to ascertain the extent to which MSP achieves social, ecological, and economic goals to benefit coastal environments and human communities. Here, we experiment with a theory-based approach as a means of overcoming long-standing obstacles to MSP evaluation. We developed and applied an eight-step evaluation protocol to five diverse cases of MSP, focusing on the evaluative feasibility of the protocol as we moved from identifying objectives to assessing the sustainability of outcomes. We found evidence that theory-based evaluation (operationalized via theories of change) can bridge quantitative outcome and qualitative process evaluations, two essential approaches that on their own produce incomplete pictures of MSP. Our work suggests that a theory-based approach can enhance opportunities to incorporate diverse knowledge sources and data types into outcome evaluations and thus better capture complex social, political, and historical dimensions that are difficult to quantify but critical to MSP success. We also uncovered likely challenges to implementing theory-based evaluation for MSP, including the apparent data- and time-intensive nature of the approach. We found that applying theory-based evaluation is difficult for plans lacking well-defined goals, objectives, and intended outcomes and that increased documentation of planning motivations and the planning process are needed to rigorously evaluate MSP. Ultimately, we join others in the marine conservation and management fields who are optimistic about theory-based evaluation. Our evaluation protocol provides a first step towards a practical guide to accelerate the use of this assessment approach. • Marine spatial planning (MSP) is expanding despite unknowns about its effectiveness. • Common evaluation approaches are less suited to the complexity and diversity of MSP. • The adaptation of theory-based evaluation to MSP shows promise and feasibility. • Theory-based evaluation can holistically integrate process and outcome evaluations. • Theory-based evaluation can provide insight into MSP attribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal fishing is a growing threat to aquatic biodiversity and as a result, marine protected areas (MPAs) have arisen as a suitable alternative for the protection of imperiled biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to map out and analyze the movements of illegal fishing vessels which operate within Área de Proteç ão Ambiental Costa dos Corais (APACC), the largest Brazilian coastal MPA. A dataset from the National Program for Tracking Fishing Vessels by Satellite (PREPS) was used to detect the fishing vessels navigating the waters within the APACC over the period 2013–2020. We performed spatial density analysis with the aim of finding the most widely recorded hotspot regions of illegal fishing and also evaluated whether the illegal lobster-fishing occurred within or outside the fishing seasons. We found that there were 62 fishing vessels operating within the APACC and that 19 of them were engaged in some form of fishing activity in this area. Over the years 2013 and 2020, there were a total number of 15,353 detections (63.9% of the detections were identified as being potentially illegal). Fishing activities were defined as illegal when they occurred during the closed season, within an area where fishing is prohibited, or within less than 4 nautical miles from the coast. These fisheries mainly affect species with economic value, such as lobsters, snappers and groupers, and often involve the use of diving air compressors as a fishing technique. It is thus necessary to design better monitoring systems of these fishing fleets to prevent any conflicts over their operations and ensure an effective conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As marine spatial planning (MSP) continues to gain global prominence as an approach to ocean governance, planners and other stakeholders are eager to evaluate its social and ecological outcomes and to better understand whether plans are achieving their intended results in an equitable and cost-efficient manner. While a plan's outcomes for marine environments and coastal communities may be of particular interest, these results cannot be separated from planning processes. The field has yet to fully develop the guidance necessary for this critical consideration of how features of an MSP process and external factors interact with plan performance and outcomes. To fill this gap we used a literature review and expert discussions to identify 19 enabling or disabling conditions of MSP within four major categories: Plan Attributes, Legal Context, Plan Development and Social Context, and Integration. We propose semi-quantitative scoring and the development of narratives to operationalize the framework as part of a comprehensive methodology for MSP outcome evaluation. Applying the framework can add depth to quantitative MSP evaluation, shed light on questions of outcome attribution, and inform plan adaptation. Evaluating MSP outcomes in the explicit context of the enabling or disabling conditions identified here can stimulate discussion around what works in MSP and provide a path forward for assessing the benefits and costs of MSP worldwide. By identifying conditions instrumental to effective MSP, and alternatively, conditions hindering a plan, the framework can be used to guide plan adaptation and promote learning across the wider MSP community. • A literature review identified 19 conditions that enhance or undermine MSP. • The conditions were organized in a framework for academics and practitioners. • The framework represents a bridge between MSP process and outcome evaluations. • Using the framework can help address challenges to MSP evaluation and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We examined the integration of connectivity and climate change in marine planning. [•] Connectivity and climate change have rarely been supported by ecological evidence. [•] We found a wide range of joint approaches for connectivity and climate change. [•] We present and discuss a framework to help formulate conservation objectives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fish conservation in estuaries is complex because there are diverse social values and interests associated with estuarine ecosystems and multiple ecological processes (e.g., nursery, connectivity, and population dynamics). Furthermore, ontogenetic shift has an important role in determining fish habitat use (e.g. pelagic vs benthic environments), and consequently, critical implications for conservation. Here, we develop a prioritisation approach to create conservation zones in an estuarine system that considers fishery costs while also integrating pelagic and benthic habitats for different life history stages (from eggs to adults), and multiple conservation objectives. We applied our approach to the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri in the Patos Lagoon estuary (Brazil) and tested four scenarios based on different objectives, zone types and targets. In this study, we used Marxan and Marxan with Zones and accounted for 41 conservation features (including habitat type, vegetation and seasonal distribution of whitemouth croaker within the estuary). Overall, we found two important results. First, spatial priorities for the no-take and partially protected zones did not change substantially and were very robust to variation in uncertain parameters. Second, an integrated conservation plan with multiple zones requires less area to be designated as no-take zone than a traditional conservation plan with a single zone. A well-designed conservation plan based on multiple life stages may help to ensure the recruitment, persistence and management of important estuarine resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides the first preliminary assessment of the potential impact from the recent oil spill in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Using information on the occurrence of oil patches along the Brazilian coast, we quantified potential exposure of marine coastal habitats (estuaries, mangroves, beaches, seagrass meadows, tidal flats, and coral reefs) to oil-related disturbances. We also evaluated which threatened species in the coastal zone may have been impacted and the magnitude of the impacts on socioeconomic activities (i.e. artisanal fisheries and local tourism). Estuaries, mangroves, and seagrass meadows had the highest footprint among the habitats assessed. A total of 27 threatened coastal species occur within the area impacted by the oil residue. Approximately 870,000 people, employed in both artisanal fisheries and local tourism, appear to have been affected by the oil spill. We pinpointed priority areas for monitoring of contamination and accumulation in marine biota. Coral reef habitats exposed to the oil spill event of 2019 in the northeastern coast off Brazil. Photographic credit: Diego Nigro. Unlabelled Image • We overlaid map of marine habitats and information on the occurrence of oil patches. • We listed threatened coastal species within the area affected by the oil spill. • We estimated the magnitude of the impacts on artisanal fisheries and tourism. • Three geographic areas on the eastern coast are critical for monitoring biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Systematic conservation planning (SCP) has increasingly been used to prioritize conservation actions, including the design of new protected areas to achieve conservation objectives. Over the last 10 years, the number of marine SCP studies has increased exponentially, yet there is no structured or reliable way to find information on methods, trends, and progress. The rapid growth in methods and marine applications warrants an updated analysis of the literature, as well as reflection on the need for continuous and systematic documentation of SCP exercises in general. To address these gaps, we developed a database to document SCP exercises and populated it with 155 marine SCP exercises found in the primary literature. Based on our review, we provide an update on global advances and trends in marine SCP literature. We found accelerating growth in the number of studies over the past decade, with increasing consideration of socioeconomic variables, land-sea planning, and ecological connectivity. While several studies aimed to inform conservation decisions, we found little evidence of input from practitioners. There are important gaps in geographic coverage and little correspondence with areas most threatened. Five countries lead most studies, but their networks suggest potential for capacity building through collaborations. The varying quality and detail in documentation of studies confirmed the limited opportunities to develop and assess the application of best practice in conservation planning. A global database to track the development, implementation, and impact of SCP applications can thus provide numerous benefits. Our database constitutes an important step towards the development of a centralized repository of information on planning exercises and can serve several roles to advance SCP theory and practice: it facilitates assessing geographic coverage and gaps; scientists and practitioners can access information to identify trends in the use of data, methods, and tools; reviewers and editors of journals can assess whether studies have covered important literature and developments; donors and non-government organizations can identify regions needing further work; and practitioners and policy-makers can learn from previous plans. Highlights • The number of marine conservation planning studies is growing exponentially. • Socioeconomics, land-sea planning and connectivity are current key research areas. • Studies have limited geographic coverage and correspondence with threatened areas. • A few countries with extensive international collaboration networks lead marine SCP. • A global database to track development, implementation and impact of SCP is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]