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Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is one of the most important fishery resources and a valuable fish species for aquaculture programmes. It is found in almost all waters and is widely dispersed. Several natural populations of this species have been impacted by genetic pollution despite their significant economic relevance. Understanding population structure is a crucial first step in protecting this species in its native habitats as well as in choosing which wild stocks to use in hatchery initiatives. To demonstrate the genetic-population structure of this species, genetic differences among three geographically secluded populations of O. niloticus were investigated utilizing mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene sequences. The results were used to estimate the levels of genetic variability within and among the populations. The 56 cyt b (821 bp) sequences analysis revealed 21 haplotypes, with a nucleotide diversity of 0.0510 and a haplotype diversity of 0.881. In each of the populations, seven (7) singleton variable sites and 19 informative-parsimony sites, genetic diversity could be identified and few population haplotypes were found, indicating a minor genetic distinction between them. For the purpose of conservation and/or Nile tilapia breeding programmes, this information would assist in choosing the fish populations that maintain greater genetic variation in O. niloticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal fungal species that parasitizes vertebrates and is associated with the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. The development of sensitive, rapid detection methods, particularly DNA-based techniques, is critical for effective management strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of DNA extraction and a portable PCR device in a mountable field laboratory setup for detecting Bd near the habitats of three critically endangered Atelopus toad species in Ecuador. We collected skin swabs from Atelopus balios, A. nanay, and A. bomolochos, and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from streams in Andean and coastal regions of Ecuador. For eDNA, a comparison was made with duplicates of the samples that were processed in the field and in a standard university laboratory. Our findings revealed Bd detection in eDNA and swabs from 6 of 12 water samples and 10 of 12 amphibian swab samples. The eDNA results obtained in the field laboratory were concordant with those obtained under campus laboratory conditions. These findings highlight the potential of field DNA-based monitoring techniques for detecting Bd in amphibian populations and their aquatic habitats, particularly in remote areas. Furthermore, this research aligns with the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Ecuadorian Amphibians and contributes to the global effort to control this invasive and deadly fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the state of women's empowerment in fishing communities in the Bicol Region, the Philippines. Using the Alkire-Foster (AF) methodology, the results revealed that the ability to participate in making decisions related to productive resources (e.g. boat, fishing gear, fish processing equipment) and having access to and control over such resources were the key factors that contribute to women's disempowerment in the study area. Furthermore, women were found to be in a less favourable position due to lower levels of formal education, large household size, limited sources for livelihood diversification, patriarchal norms shaping household headship, and meagre share in household income. On a positive note, control over household income and leadership in the community emerged as sources of women's empowerment. Drawing on these findings, efforts to empower women should focus on providing them more access to formal and informal education, social infrastructure, microfinance services, and labour-saving technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whale watching is considered a form of green tourism, but can affect marine ecosystems, impacting cetaceans' behavior and potentially increasing acoustic pollution. A more sustainable whale-watching practice should employ a comprehensive approach involving all stakeholders, but whale-watching operators are rarely involved. We propose a method to assess whale–watching operators' perceptions regarding the possible effects of their activity on marine fauna and preferred mitigation solutions, by means of online questionnaires and website communication strategies. Results from Canadian whale-watching operators show that they observe regulations regarding distance to whales but only partially perceive general vessels' impacts on fauna. Three recognized whale-watching experts identify the need for continuous training targeted at operators, which should include the impacts on marine ecosystems. A continuous training framework is proposed that targets whale-watching operators in addition to tourists, and involves scientists in several steps of the approach. This study serves as a starting point to involve operators' in order to advance towards a sustainable whale-watching tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Boat traffic is recognized as a major contributor of underwater noise. Increasing presence of boats in coastal habitats is predicted to have important repercussions on the communication of marine mammals. In Costa Rica, the waters of the Caño Island Biological Reserve are an important breeding area for humpback whales from the Breeding-Stock G (BSG). Their predicted and abundant presence has fueled the development of whale watching activities as an important component of the local economy, and while the country has norms of conduct for this activity, whales often interact with multiple boats at the same time. The lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study the potential impacts of noise associated with boat traffic on the singing activity of humpback whales. Objective: Determine whether noise levels and boat acoustic presence around Caño Island Biological Reserve changed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and if it did, what is the impact on song detection of BSG humpback whales. Methods: Acoustic recordings were made using a bottom-mounted autonomous underwater recorder for 30 days in September 2019, 2020, and 2021, resulting in a total recording effort of 480 hours. Results: Our results show that broadband underwater noise levels (dBRMS) during pre-lockdown were significantly higher, particularly at frequencies below 1kHz, than during and post-lockdown. This is likely due to a decrease in the proportion of boat acoustic presence during the lockdown. Although the proportion of whale songs detected did not vary among years, whale songs were detected similarly throughout the day during the lockdown, compared to pre-and-post lockdown where the proportion of whale song presence decreased during hours when more boats were present. Conclusions: This study shows a clear change in underwater noise levels during the COVID-19 lockdown, likely due to a decrease in boat presence. The study also highlights the potential impact of noise associated with boat traffic on humpback whale singing activity. The results of this study can inform the Conservation Areas of Osa (ACOSA) in charge of managing Caño Island Biological Reserve, to develop and implement mitigation measures to regulate underwater anthropogenic noise associated with tour boats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe the distribution of ocean sunfishes (family Molidae) in the greater Dyer Island ecosystem off the southwest coast of South Africa. Between 2014 and 2022, local whale watching vessels operating under Dyer Island Cruises conducted 3 227 trips which resulted in 274 trips with Molidae sightings, with a total of 300 individuals sighted. Molidae sightings showed a significant correlation to sea surface temperature and a strong seasonal pattern. Sightings in the greater Dyer Island area increased significantly after 2016, suggesting a correlation with the decline of white shark Carcharodon carcharias sightings, with further increases in 2021. This suggests that the greater Dyer Island ecosystem has become a more favoured habitat for species of Molidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harbor porpoises are typically seen in small groups of 1–3 individuals, with aggregations of 20+ individuals treated as rare events. Since the 1990s, the harbor porpoise population in the Salish Sea has seen a significant recovery, and an increased number of observed aggregations that exceed the more usual small group sizes has been observed in recent years. By combining the observational data of United States and Canadian research organizations, community scientists, and whale watch captains or naturalists, we demonstrate that harbor porpoise aggregations appear to be more common than previously known, with 160 aggregations documented in 2022 alone. Behavioral data also indicate that foraging behaviors are common and social behaviors, like mating, are seen more often during these encounters compared to small groups. Other behaviors that are considered to be rare or unknown were also observed during these encounters, including cooperative foraging and vessel approach. These aggregations are likely important foraging and social gatherings for harbor porpoises. This holistic approach integrating data from two countries and multiple sources provides a population level assessment that more effectively reflects the behavior of harbor porpoises in this region, which do not recognize the socio-political boundaries imposed upon the natural world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the evolving landscape of environmental litigation, focusing on both traditional and nontraditional cases. Traditional cases involve pollution, endangered species, and climate change, while nontraditional cases center around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) lawsuits. The article provides examples of ongoing cases and court rulings, highlighting the expanding scope of environmental litigation and its impact on industries and corporate behavior. Recent lawsuits include claims against fast-food chains for PFAS in food packaging, a gas company for misleading marketing, and companies for environmental and social governance issues. Activist plaintiffs are also targeting industries with claims related to fair trade, labor inequities, animal welfare, and diversity. Despite some dismissals, environmental litigation is expected to continue increasing across various sectors. [Extracted from the article]

Whether producer cooperatives could serve as a stepping stone leading to socialism is a much debated issue in Marxian scholarship. It has now been recognized that producer cooperatives might possess paradoxical potentials of promoting egalitarian economy and democratic management whilst at the same time constructing class hierarchies. So far, agrarian scholars have already identified how pre‐existing social differentiation facilitated privileged members to exploit the marginal non‐members. However, they have not explored how members exercise their agency in challenging the class division. In summer 2013, at the height of China's cooperatization movement, I embarked on a project of "engaged anthropology" to mobilize shrimp farmers in South China to establish a cooperative so as to challenge agribusinesses that squeeze farmers' returns, but members ended up hiring outside labour. However, members tried hard to bridge the hierarchy between investors and workers as well as between managers and labourers in order to expand its membership and build the village's reputation. This paper traces how cooperative members deal with the dilemmas between profit maximization and egalitarian distribution, highlighting the importance of class analysis for a pro‐poor cooperative movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant fisheries and marine potential in Cilacap Regency, which is geographically located in southern coast of Java, has not been able to make traditional fishermen in Cilacap Regency live prosperously. Therefore, a study is needed to study the indicators that affect the income of traditional fishermen in Cilacap Regency, especially at TPI Lengkong and TPI Menganti Kisik. This study examines the factors that affect the income of traditional fishermen in Cilacap Regency, especially at TPI Lengkong and TPI Menganti Kisik. Primary data collection using purposive sampling was carried out in July to October 2020 by distributing as many as 90 fishermen with boat sizes under 5 GT. Characteristics of fishermen the age of respondents the most in the age range of 35-40 years TPI Lengkong as much as 42.22 % while in TPI Menganti Kisik as many as 16 people 35.56 %. Fishermen's education is mostly elementary school education (SD) which is 86.67 % of fishermen respondents at TPI Lengkong while at TPI Menganti Kisik as much as 60 %. The number of family members of fishermen respondents in both TPI was equally dominant with three to four people in TPI Lengkong 71.11% while in TPI Menganti Kisik as much as 89.89 %.The results of the regression analysis showed that the factors of age, last education and number of family members of fishermen did not have a significant effect on the income of traditional fishermen in Cilacap Regency. The results of this study are expected to provide actual information in determining government policies in improving the welfare of traditional fishermen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humpback whales in the western North Pacific are considered endangered due to their small population size and lack of information. Although previous studies have reported interchanges between regions within a population, the relationship between the geographic regions of a population in Japan is poorly understood. Using 3,532 fluke photo IDs of unique individuals obtained from four areas in Japan: Hokkaido, six IDs (2009–2019); Ogasawara, 1,477 IDs, from two organizations (1) Everlasting nature of Asia (1987–2020) and (2) Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, (1990–2020); Amami, 373 IDs (1992–1994, 2005–2016); Okinawa, 1,676 IDs (1990–2018), interchanges were analyzed. The ID matchings were conducted using an automated system with an 80.9% matching accuracy. Interchange and within-region return indices were also calculated. As a result, number of matches and interchange indices follow locations, Hokkaido-Okinawa (3, 0.31), Amami-Ogasawara (36, 0.06), Amami-Okinawa (222, 0.37), and Okinawa-Ogasawara (225, 0.08), respectively. Interchange indices among Japanese areas were much higher than the indices between Ogasawara/Okinawa and Hawaii (0.01) and Mexico (0.00) reported in previous studies, indicating that the Japanese regions are utilized by the same population. At the same time, the frequency of interchanges among the three breeding areas vary, and the high within-region return indices in respective breeding areas suggest the site fidelity of the whales in each area at some level. These results indicate the existence of several groups within the population which are possibly be divided into at least two groups based on geographical features: one tend to utilize Ogasawara and the Mariana Archipelago; the other utilize Amami, Okinawa, and the Philippines, migrating along the Ryukyu and Philippine Trench. The matching results also suggest that Hokkaido is possibly be utilized as a corridor between northern feeding areas and southern breeding areas at least by individuals migrating to Okinawa area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-finned pilot whales and killer whales are widely distributed across the North Atlantic, but few studies have reported their occurrence in Icelandic coastal waters. Here, we use sightings data from research platforms and whale watching tours in six regions of Iceland from 2007 to 2020 to show that the occurrence of long-finned pilot and killer whales varied with region and season. Killer whales were regularly encountered in the south of Iceland during summer and west of Iceland during winter/spring. Long-finned pilot whales were only seen during the summer and were most often encountered in the south, west, and northwest of Iceland. Long-finned pilot whale occurrence in the south of Iceland appeared to increase during the study period but killer whale occurrence showed no noticeable changes. Long-finned pilot whales were sighted often in the areas that were also frequented by killer whales and interspecific interactions were commonly observed when both species co-occurred. Interactions appeared to be antagonistic, with killer whales often avoiding long-finned pilot whales and sometimes fleeing at high speed, similar to what has been described elsewhere in the North Atlantic. In the majority of interactions observed (68%), killer whales avoided long-finned pilot whales by moving away, but in 28% avoidance was at high speed with both species porpoising. This variability in the type of behavioural responses indicates that interactions may be more complex than previously described. We discuss regional trends in long-finned pilot whale and killer whale sightings and potential drivers of the observed interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals from cetacean populations regularly using inshore waters can be more vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures than those living in offshore areas. The monitoring of Good Environmental Status within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires assessing demographic parameters of these local populations. Therefore, a two-step framework was developed for this monitoring and applied to a long-term photo-identification database of short-finned pilot whales in the inshore waters of Madeira. First, a standardized method to identify site fidelity structures based on K-means analysis was used to determine the local population, i.e., individuals with higher site fidelity. Then, demographic parameters were estimated over 15 years using a robust design model. Finally, the effect of increasing whale watching boats as a potential threat was tested. The results revealed no temporary emigration, showing that the site fidelity methodology could accurately identify the local population. Adult survival rates were high and abundance estimates were stable. Therefore, these results should be used as a baseline for future MSFD cycles. No negative effect of whale watching was found on demographic parameters for adult individuals. However, young animals, which could be more vulnerable to local pressures, were not fully included in the analysis, and potential effects on reproduction output were not studied. Therefore, an adverse effect of whale watching on the local population cannot be ruled out. This monitoring framework should be applied to other species and study areas to confirm its wide application to help management decisions reaching better conservation status for cetacean species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whale watching has long been marketed as a whale conservation-oriented form of sustainable tourism. However, inappropriate management practices are endangering whales, the marine environment, and the tourist experience. This situation highlights the need for more responsible and sustainable actions to reconcile whale protection with the various demands of tourists. This paper analyses consumers' preferences for socially responsible and green solutions for sustainable whale-watching management in tourism. A discrete choice experiment and a latent class segmentation are utilised to evaluate heterogeneity in tourists' preferences regarding the implementation of various measures of responsible sustainability by the whale-watching firm. Results show that there are two groups of tourists with different preferences and economic values for sustainability policies: sustainability-oriented (34.96%) and consumption-oriented tourists (65.04%). The group of sustainability-oriented tourists have a greater preference for full corporate social responsibility and technologically innovative solutions for locating whale populations, thereby reducing the ecological and environmental impacts. The group of consumption-oriented tourists is more in line with traditional preferences, focusing on the enjoyment of the whale-watching experience through the effective management of crowding effects. Although the sustainability-oriented tourist segment has a smaller market share, the results suggest that there is market potential for increasing responsible sustainability practices in the whale-watching tourism activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution of species across jurisdictional and physical boundaries poses a challenge to management and research, and these transboundary species tend to suffer more-severe population declines from fisheries exploitation. Large pelagic sharks like the porbeagle shark, Lamna nasus , are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures due to their life history characteristics and their highly migratory behaviour. However, limited knowledge of their precise spatio-temporal movements is particularly challenging for management in situations where jurisdictional boundaries change over small spatial scales. We used satellite tags to demonstrate that porbeagle sharks tagged in the northern Northeast (NE) Atlantic (n = 3), display inter-individual variation in behaviour. Tagged sharks undertook rapid horizontal movements (up to 100 km per day) while transiting through multiple physical habitats and management jurisdictions in a matter of days along different paths. The spatial scale of these movements is important now that the population is deemed in recovery and a new catch advice for porbeagle sharks has been issued by ICES for the first time since 2009 in the NE Atlantic. These movement data highlight the value of existing, and need for continued, regional collaboration to inform sustainable fisheries and conservation management. This is achieved by maximising research impact through cross border funding mechanisms to fill knowledge gaps of species' life-history and ecology, and, in turn, improve respective outcomes for vulnerable and highly mobile shark species. • Tagged porbeagle sharks in the Northeast Atlantic undertook rapid movements of up to 100 km per day. • These sharks crossed multiple jurisdictional, national, and physical boundaries over the course of the 4–12 months tracks. • Double tagging individuals using PSAT and SPOT tags helps better define vertical and horizontal space use of individuals. • Transboundary movements support the need for cross-border research to fill in knowledge gaps and inform management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Milky seas" are massive swaths of uniformly and steadily glowing ocean seen at night. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by luminous bacteria, but details of milky sea composition, structure, cause, and implications in nature remain largely uncertain. Between late July and early September 2019, specialized low-light satellite sensors detected a possible bioluminescent milky sea south of Java, Indonesia, spanning >100,000 km². Upon learning of these findings, crew members of the yacht Ganesha reached out to confirm and share details of their personal encounter with this same event. Here, we document Ganesha's experience as recalled by the crew, compare their course to satellite data, and assess their photography of this milky sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social-ecological change in the Arctic is accelerated by the multifaceted effects of climate change and globalization. Among other things, this means changing human-ecosystem dynamics through altered availability, co-production, and governance of ecosystem services (ES). A group of species illustrative of this change are whales, migratory species that have played an important part in the culture and subsistence of Arctic communities for millennia. This study explores the changing human-nature interactions and whale ES governance by combining ES and interactive governance theories. A multi-method approach is applied to assess qualitatively the qualitative governability of whale ES in three Arctic coastal locations: Húsavík in Iceland, Andenes in Norway, and Disko Bay in Greenland. Based on a literature review, stakeholder mapping, observations, and analysis of 54 semi-structured stakeholder interviews, the study finds that whale ES governance involves multiple actors with differing preferences and values and that much of it happens outside of formal institutions, necessitating inclusive approaches to improve it. The study reveals some whale ES governance deficiencies and potentials, such as a mismatch between governance scales and a need for more formal governance practices based on scientific research and stakeholder inputs. Governance frameworks were present for provisioning whale ES related to whaling, but they were lacking for non-consumptive whale ES, such as whale watching. Addressing these issues can help to direct marine resource management toward sustainability by making it more inclusive, adaptive, and reflective of stakeholder needs and values. This goal could be advanced by applying the governance principles that view humans as an integral part of social-ecological systems, e.g., ecosystem stewardship and ecosystem-based management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child labor and child work conditions are analyzed in Cozumel and Valle de Bravo, both major tourist destinations in Mexico, where critical situations of minors employed in tourism-related activities were identified. Theoretically, local development considers child labor as a variable that increases the vulnerability of children and impedes their well-being. Qualitative methodology that included interviews and direct observation was used. The main finding was that poverty-related factors are the main drivers of child labor, compromising education, health, and therefore the future of minors. Nevertheless, several other factors intervene in child work, therefore public policies ought to focus on the context of each of the areas where these types of tourism-related work prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Blue Economy' is often framed as a revolutionary and transformative approach to marine and fishery development. However, scholars increasingly critique the Blue Economy in hopes that equity‐related concerns can become more prevalent. While these efforts are important, historical materialist perspectives can more deeply challenge the assumptions and limits of economistic thinking. In that vein, Racial Capitalism posits that capitalist markets promote, solidify and rely on racial hierarchy to secure differential value accumulation. This study applies a Racial Capitalist analysis to illustrate how the expansion of capitalist social relations corresponded the re‐solidification of white supremacy to (re)produce systemic inequality in Black maritime labour, and specifically fisheries labour, on the U.S. eastern seaboard. In this case, which occurred across several states and in a critically important marine‐fishery system, the expansion of market relations corresponded with labour exploitation, naturalization of hierarchy and inequitable distribution of socioeconomic harm for Black workers. I identify three lessons from this case that Blue Economy and fisheries scholars should heed; specifically, be wary of market utopianism, technological innovation is not inherently progressive, and systemic exploitation still matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing language learners' needs has been abundantly studied by a large number of researchers interested in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Needs Analysis (NA). However, task-based language needs of the students of marine (maritime) engineering have not been well-investigated, to the date. A qualitative research method was used. We collected the data through structured interviews with 20 participants selected through purposive sampling. The findings revealed that 17 tasks are needed by the students of marine engineering at the present situation. Moreover, 24 task-based language needs are mostly done by marine engineering students in the target situation. To conclude, maritime engineering students need to be proficient in receptive and productive language skills to accomplish required tasks in present academic and target situations. ESP educators, university administrators, and the other stakeholders, policymakers and administrators of marine engineering can employ the findings to improve the maritime students and stakeholders' English proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved public understanding of the ocean and the importance of sustainable ocean use, or ocean literacy, is essential for achieving global commitments to sustainable development by 2030 and beyond, and so we also developed an ocean literacy toolkit (Fig. The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This special issue is intended as a contribution towards this process of creating both shared visions and pathways for action, as part of the UN Ocean Decade. The Preface articulates how their group knows the ocean and the non-human beings within it, highlighting that how we know the ocean leads us to the actions we take, how to "be" with the ocean, and what is considered ethical or not in terms of our interactions with the ocean. [Extracted from the article]

We are from Greenland, Finnish coastal communities, Indigenous Taiwanese peoples, New Zealand Maori, Haida Nation, and Quandamooka Country and Trawlwoolway Pakana (both Australia). The Ocean we know: a look at traditional maritime governance systems Indigenous leader Sutej Hugu from Taiwan has called Indigenous and traditional maritime communities Indigenous and Community-conserved Areas - ICCA. Haida Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, who is a lawyer and a singer of her people, has recently highlighted the "female supernatural beings" of Haida Gwaii and made visible the numerous powers and guardians of the Indigenous life in her nation. Introduction: meeting the Ocean [for the first time] I On the 20th March 2017 the New Zealand government enshrined into law that the Whanganui River is a legal entity, having rights and responsibilities just as a human person. i This was perceived as a massive victory for Maori in getting their understanding of the river recognized in a contemporary Common Law system, and points to the central question of this preface - who is the Ocean from Indigenous and traditional viewpoints?. [Extracted from the article]

The oceans face a range of complex challenges for which the impacts on society are highly uncertain but mostly negative. Tackling these challenges is testing society's capacity to mobilise transformative action, engendering a sense of powerlessness. Envisaging positive but realistic visions of the future, and considering how current knowledge, resources, and technology could be used to achieve these futures, may lead to greater action to achieve sustainable transformations. Future Seas (www.FutureSeas2030.org) brought together researchers across career stages, Indigenous Peoples and environmental managers to develop scenarios for 12 challenges facing the oceans, leveraging interdisciplinary knowledge to improve society's capacity to purposefully shape the direction of marine social-ecological systems over the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). We describe and reflect on Future Seas, providing guidance for co-developing scenarios in interdisciplinary teams tasked with exploring ocean futures. We detail the narrative development for two futures: our current trajectory based on published evidence, and a more sustainable future, consistent with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which is technically achievable using existing and emerging knowledge. Presentation of Business-as-usual and More Sustainable futures—together—allows communication of both trajectories, whilst also highlighting achievable, sustainable versions of the future. The advantages of the interdisciplinary approach taken include: (1) integrating different perspectives on solutions, (2) capacity to explore interactions between Life Under Water (Goal 14) and other SDGs, and (3) cross-disciplinary learning. This approach allowed participants to conceptualise shared visions of the future and co-design transformative pathways to achieving those futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) being cosmopolitan and highly migratory animals. Topics include found in all ocean basins and annually migrating between low-latitude waters; and growing evidence of humpback whales feeding during typical migration months being reported for non-migrant individuals.

Successful marine spatial planning relies on understanding patterns of human use, with accurate, detailed, and up-to-date information about the spatial distribution of fishing effort. In commercial vessels, tracking systems like the vessel monitoring system (VMS) or the automatic identification system (AIS) have helped to maintain and enhance the biodiversity of areas by generating large sources of positional data that served for commercial marine spatial planning. However, there is no regulation regarding location systems such as VMS or AIS for marine recreational fishing boats. Obtaining spatial data on marine recreational fishing can be difficult and time-intensive given the widespread and variable nature of the fleet. Remote cameras and computer vision systems are increasingly used to overcome the cost limitations of these conventional methods. Here we show a novel high-resolution and low-cost tracking system based on photo time-lapses and state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms, including deep learning, to automatically classify and obtain precise trajectories of fishing and cruising boats in coastal areas. Our method contributes to the automatic surveillance of marine protected areas by providing an image-based tool for automatic, real-time monitoring. Our method also allows for determining the intensity and spatial-temporal distribution of recreational fishing effort, important to defining the sustainability of the activity and coastal areas. We finally discuss the opportunities and limitations of computer vision tools applied to marine recreational fisheries spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papua New Guinea has seen some improvements in health indicators over the past years, but the pace of improvements is not as robust as expected. The Health Services Plan for Braun District Hospital redevelopment identified the importance of reflecting the hospital's role in the broader health system, particularly in upgrading the services to service a bigger population. In August 2020, the hospital was upgraded from a health centre-level 3 to a district hospital level 4. The need for assessing human resources for health requirements for this level of care was thus necessary.Methods: The National Department of Health approved the use of the workload indicators of staffing need as the best tool to support in estimating staff requirements for the newly upgraded hospital. The focus was on clinical and non-clinical staff. Using already developed workload components and activity standards by the expert working groups for level 4 facilities, we visited the facility and collected data through interviews with the Lutheran Health Services representative, hospital management and staff. The technical task force reviewed daily registers, monthly reports and the data in the electronic national health information systems. The information collected was analysed using the workload indicators of staffing need software and interpreted.Results: There were staffing shortages among the clinical staff like the medical officers, nursing officers, health extension officers, pharmacists, radiology staff unit and in the laboratory staff. Shortages among the non-clinical staff were recorded by the cashiers, security officers, drivers and boat skippers. The results showed that the facility lacks a medical laboratory technologist, pharmacists and a medical imaging technologist. The community health workers in this facility are utilized in all the areas where shortages are registered to multitask.Conclusion: The results from this WISN study provide evidence for basing staffing decisions on. The WISN results from Braun District Hospital show that the facility requires a total of 33 inpatient nurses against the existing 21 inpatient nurses thus giving a staff gap of - 12 and a WISN ratio of 0.67. It is thus recommended that the hospital management prioritizes recruitment of nurses or if no resources, reassign one of the outpatient nurses to alleviate the pressure among the inpatient nurses or the extra theatre nurses to offer some services in the inpatient wards. WISN results can help managers make decisions such as change of health facility status from a health centre to a district hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) being distributed throughout the world's oceans. Topics include immature whales of both sexes living in matrilineal social groups throughout warm temperate to tropical waters; and bonding with the matrilineal group weakening and associating in bachelor groups distributed in temperate and polar waters.

Senior tourism is increasingly expanding. This quantitative and exploratory study aims to understand the motivations that drive elderly travellers to visit the Azores. The Senior Tourists Motivation Scale (STMS) was applied to 470 participants. Collected data were submitted to nonparametric tests. The results showed that: i) STMS items' scores differ according to the type of tourist (national or foreign); ii) scores obtained in the three factors of the STMS differ between the two types of tourists, different age groups and levels of income perception. These findings may contribute in the future to the identification of market niches so that decision-makers can develop activities that suit these tourists' needs and desires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding why sharks bite humans is essential for developing strategies to prevent these incidents. Here, we use bite wound characteristics and eye witness descriptions of shark behavior to determine the likely motivation for several bites perpetrated by an oceanic whitetip (OWT) shark Carcharhinus longimanus on an adult female snorkeler off Moorea island (French Polynesia) in October 2019. The victim was snorkeling with others in pelagic waters as part of an organized whale‐watching tour when the shark—without any warning behavior—bit her at least three times resulting in severe injuries with substantial loss of soft tissue from the chest and both forearms. The victim survived these injuries thanks to rapid and effective first aid provided by her companions. The sudden, unprovoked and repeated bites with substantial tissue removal are consistent with predatory behavior although the dominance hypothesis cannot be fully ruled out. This would be the first case of a predatory shark bite ever documented in French Polynesia in over 70 years of data collection. Given the routine association of OWT sharks with cetaceans, in‐water whale watching activities should adopt appropriate risk management strategies in regions hosting this species of shark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PHOTO (COLOR): A woman handles coconuts in Monte Alto, San Marcos, a coconut-producing region of Costa Chica, Guerrero, Mexico. Atoyac and coconuts helped root the genealogy of popular resistance in Costa Grande, but Costa Chica remained largely absent from the history of Guerrero's unions and social movements. Hernández is an Afromestizo coconut grower in Monte Alto, a major coconut-growing part of San Marcos, Costa Chica, a coastal region in the Mexican state of Guerrero. This May Contain Coconut Oil: In coastal Guerrero, coconut-producing afro-Mexican communities navigate long histories of environmental injustice and erasure. [Extracted from the article]

Population dynamics, movement patterns and migratory routes of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the North Atlantic are not yet fully understood. Small-scale movements of minke whales within Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland, were analysed and discussed in relation to population dynamics in the North Atlantic. Local distribution and abundance of minke whales were investigated on both individual and population basis. Data were obtained through continuous sighting surveys from 2005 to 2018, conducted by trained volunteers using whale watching vessels as opportunistic research platforms. Variations in abundance might reflect a species distribution shift to higher latitudes. Competition for prey and the general movement of several species from different taxonomic groups support a potential range shift. For the first time, habitat use of minke whales in Skjálfandi Bay was revealed through spatial analysis, as well as small-scale site-tenacity, proven through modelling of distances between individual and random relocations. To improve the status of the declining minke whale population around Iceland we suggest recognition of separate minke whale management units using different areas. Additionally, we encourage the protection of different feeding grounds which will reduce local anthropogenic stressors and likely improve minke whales' coping with climate change and shifts in prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term sustainability of South Africa's boat-based whale-watching (BBWW) industry requires any desired growth to be achieved within sustainable parameters. Given that advertising is often the first point of exposure for potential tourists, transparency regarding permit regulations that support sustainable tourism and manage tourist expectations is important. To assess transparency, textual information and photographic content from 17 South African government permitted BBWW company websites were analysed. Regulation-related information in textual content was low across all websites (5-28% of sentences extracted); 91% of photographs containing whales, and 55% containing dolphins, appeared non-compliant for distance of vessel to animal. These results demonstrate that misleading advertising may result in tourist expectations that conflict with legal requirements for a sustainable industry and can place operators under pressure to provide the experiences as advertised. Solutions to address this problem and promote ecological sustainability in the industry include clearer advertising guidelines in permit regulations, standardised resources supplied to industry for advertising and tourist education, and greater awareness of advertising effects and how to positively promote regulations in website content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]