Search

This study assessed the performance of widely used aquatic vegetation indices and introduced a novel index – the normalized difference aquatic vegetation enhancing index (NDAVEI). The NDAVEI was used to map seaweed resources in Pakistan along the 1,050 km long Karachi coast, and the results were compared with those obtained from other vegetation indices. Due to their widespread use in food, cosmetics and industrial goods, seaweed resources have great economic potential. They also play a significant role in aquaculture and fish breeding. Many sea species rely on seaweeds for their shelter and food requirements. The conservation of marine biodiversity needs seaweeds' systematic monitoring and mapping to maintain the dependent species' vital biological associations. Despite rich seaweed stock, these resources remain largely unmapped in Pakistan. Given these precious coastal resources' significant economic and ecological importance, there is a pressing need to preserve and map seaweed sites in Pakistan. Traditionally, marine scientists have used sampling methods to describe shallow intertidal water marine habitats, but these methods are time intensive. Remote sensing (RS) data and geographical information system (GIS) tools are efficient and less time-consuming for mapping and classifying marine resources. This study compared the effectiveness of commonly used indices and NDAVEI to extract and map seaweed resources using high-resolution WorldView-2 satellite data. The results were verified through site observations. The NDAVEI can potentially improve the effectiveness and efficiency of seaweed mapping efforts. When combined with object-based image analysis (OBIA), it provides more precise area estimation than other indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Namibia, fisheries are important for food security and protein provisioning, income generation and trade; but they are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Not only does climate change impact the marine living resources crucial to fisheries; but changes in weather, currents and storminess are affecting the safety and effectiveness of fishing. Here we ask: What are the key risks from climate change to the eight large-scale fishery sectors of Namibia, and for the recreational and small-scale (artisanal) fisheries? For each fishery sector, we assessed three main risk components: (1) climate hazard exposure; (2) fish species sensitivity; and (3) socio-economic vulnerability. In combination, these three risk components are then used to calculate the overall climate risk for each fishery. Climate hazard exposure was assessed as highest for the small-scale, recreational, and rock lobster fisheries. Species sensitivities were highest for the rock lobster and crab fisheries, followed by monkfish trawlers, hake liners and hake trawlers. Socio-economic vulnerability was highest for the small pelagic fishery (linked to the collapse of pilchard). The overall climate risk emerged as greatest for the rock lobster fishery, followed by the (highly marginalised) small-scale artisanal fishery. The key risks by sector emerging from this assessment, informed five stakeholder workshops held across Namibia in 2023, attended by representatives of each sector and aimed at exploring options for climate adaptation. Based on these, we discuss potential adaptation measures that could reduce risk and minimise consequences, in support of improved climate resilience in Namibian fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid fluidization is a promising method for the development of marine hydrate resources. The back pressure makes it difficult to backfill the separated sand to the well bottom, resulting in a decrease in separation performance and serious failure of hydrocyclone. This study is intended to study the effect of underflow diameter on the performance of the hydrocyclone by computational fluid dynamics method. The results show that with the increase of back pressure, the split ratio basically decreases linearly, and the LAVV gradually increases. Under the same back pressure, the underflow diameter is larger, the pressure drop is smaller. No matter how large the underflow diameter is, the hydrocyclone may fail once back pressure exceeds 60 kPa. Under the same back pressure, the larger the underflow diameter is, the higher the desanding efficiency is, while the purification efficiency is opposite. When back pressure exceeds 60 kPa, the desanding efficiency drops sharply, while the purification efficiency remains basically unchanged. This study is applicable to downhole in-situ separation for solid fluidization of marine hydrate. The purpose of this study is to guide the structure design of hydrocyclone and the optimization of hydrate production process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review explores the escalating environmental crisis of ocean acidification, primarily driven by anthropogenic carbon dioxide molecule (CO2) emissions. In this study, we employed a systematic methodology to collect and analyze literature relevant to ocean acidification. Our research involved an exhaustive search of databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Mendeley to gather pertinent studies published up until 2024. In addition, we consulted secondary sources, including expert panel reports, to enhance the depth of our analysis. Socio-economic ramifications are profound, particularly for fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities that rely heavily on marine resources. This research underscores the potential for substantial exacerbates in these sectors, emphasizing the need for targeted policies and management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of ocean acidification. By addressing these critical areas, the study informs stakeholders and supports the development of adaptive measures that can sustain local economies and preserve biodiversity in affected regions. The economic consequences could be substantial, exacerbating global social and economic disparities. Speculative considerations highlight the potential for significant global impacts and the urgent need for proactive, coordinated action. This review emphasizes the importance of continued research and monitoring to develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, underscoring the critical role of global cooperation and innovation in environmental management. This review aims to serve as a call to action, highlighting the urgency to preserve marine ecosystems and their services to humanity in the face of this growing environmental challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal upwelling plays a vital role in the support and maintenance of productive marine ecosystems throughout the California Current System (CCS). Here, we evaluate upwelling forecast skill using ∼30 years of seasonal reforecasts from four global climate models contributing to the North American Mulitmodel Ensemble (NMME). The models skillfully predict upwelling intensity throughout much of the CCS in boreal winter, and in the South‐Central CCS in spring/summer. The models also skillfully predict various aspects of upwelling phenology, including the timing of the spring transition, as well as the total vertical transport integrated over the course of the upwelling season. Climatic sources of forecast skill vary with season, with contributions from the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation in winter‐spring, and the North Pacific Oscillation and the North Pacific Meridional Mode in the winter‐summer. Our results highlight the potential of seasonal climate forecasts to inform management of upwelling‐sensitive marine resources. Plain Language Summary: Upwelling—the process of drawing cold, nutrient rich ocean waters toward the surface—plays a vital role in supporting vibrant and diverse biological populations throughout the California Current System (CCS). Here, we assess whether four global climate models can forecast seasonal upwelling 1–12 months in advance. We show that for much of the year (winter through summer), models can predict anomalous upwelling intensity several months in advance. We also show that the models can predict the timing of the "spring transition" (i.e., the start of the upwelling season) for much of the CCS. The model skill is related to large‐scale climate modes, including the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, the North Pacific Oscillation, and the Pacific Meridional Mode. These climate modes alter the strength of the surface winds along the U.S. west coast from winter‐summer, giving rise to predictable patterns of upwelling. Our results highlight the potential of seasonal climate forecasts to inform management of upwelling‐sensitive marine resources. Key Points: Global climate models skillfully predict upwelling in the California Current System in winter‐summerModels also skillfully predict timing of spring transitionWinter skill is linked to the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and North Pacific Oscillation, summer skill with the Pacific Meridional Mode [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Optimizing node deployment in the underwater Internet of Things (UIoT) poses significant challenges due to the complex and dynamic nature of underwater environments. This research introduces the adaptive long short‐term memory‐based egret swarm optimization algorithm (ALSTM‐ESOA), a novel approach designed to enhance network coverage and performance efficiently. Unlike traditional methods, ALSTM‐ESOA incorporates cognitive learning capabilities from long short‐term memory (LSTM) and dynamic adaptation strategies inspired by the hunting behaviors of egrets. The algorithm's effectiveness was tested through extensive simulations in MATLAB, demonstrating notable improvements over existing models: network throughput increased by up to 55.56%, deployment time decreased by 88.89%, and energy efficiency improved significantly. These enhancements are critical for robust, real‐time data collection and monitoring in underwater settings, providing substantial benefits for marine research and resource management. The findings suggest that ALSTM‐ESOA significantly outperforms conventional algorithms, offering a promising new tool for the advancement of UIoT applications. After being implemented in MATLAB, the suggested ALSTM‐ESOA model for the node deployment optimization in UIoT is examined. The proposed ALSTM‐ESOA in terms of network throughput is 55.56%, 38.89%, 36.11%, and 11.11% better than CNN, LSTM, ARO‐RTP, and IGOR‐TSA, respectively. Similarly, the proposed ALSTM‐ESOA with respect to deployment time is 88.89%, 81.82%, 75%, and 50% better than CNN, LSTM, ARO‐RTP, and IGOR‐TSA, respectively. For the purpose of exploring marine resources, monitoring underwater environments, and conducting marine scientific investigation, the research's findings are extremely valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is important to fisheries in Northeastern Brazil. To restore stocks in Rio Grande do Norte, cobia were stocked and the fishery was monitored over 4 years. We evaluated effects of stocking on cobia size composition in this data‐limited fishery to understand stocking limitations and explore possibilities for future projects. Total length of cobia was significantly shorter after stocking than before stocking, with mostly small fish caught mainly by nets, an unusual pattern for cobia. Total length also varied significantly among bottom types. Most of the cobia harvested were below the size at first maturity, which suggests that stocking increased the catch, but most fish harvested were immature, thereby potentially hindering stock recovery. For future projects, we recommend against the use of plastic tags for tagging hatchery cobia and propose releases that emulate natural spawning dynamics, alongside releasing fish at older ages. Further, we recommend robust post‐stocking fishery monitoring, and management strategies, such as a release of net‐caught cobia in the initial 2 years and incorporating validated fisher knowledge into decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing novel, efficient, and safe peptide drugs from sea anemones has aroused great interest in countries around the world today. Sea anemones contain complex protein and peptide toxins, which determine the diversity of their biological activities. In this study, a variety of activities were assessed for crude venom extracted from five species of South China Sea anemones, including hemolytic, enzyme inhibition, anticancer, insecticidal, analgesic and lethal activities. The most toxic sea anemone was found to be Heteractis magnifica , which has high lethal activity in mice with an LD50 of 11.0 mg/kg. The crude venom of H. magnifica also exhibited a range of the most potent activities, including hemolytic, trypsin inhibitory, cytotoxic activity against U251 and A549 cells, insecticidal and analgesic activities. In addition, the crude venom of Stichodactyla haddoni was the most effective inhibitor of pepsin, and the crude venom of Heteractis crispa was extremely strong toxicity to HepG2 cells. These findings are of great significance for exploring the potential and application of South China Sea anemone resources, and are expected to provide new directions and possibilities for the development of novel anticancer drugs, analgesics and biopesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater target detection technology is very important for Marine resources detection and underwater environment perception. The problems of low-quality underwater images, a large amount of calculation, and low accuracy of target detection models still need to be solved. Firstly, a new underwater image enhancement algorithm based on multi-scale fusion is proposed. The algorithm combines the improved white balance algorithm and the improved CLAHE (Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization) and realizes the multi-scale fusion strategy by introducing different weight maps, aiming to improve the visual effect and quality of underwater images. Secondly, to further improve the accuracy and efficiency of underwater target detection, an improved YOLOv5s lightweight underwater target detection algorithm is proposed. The algorithm combines the Ghost convolution module, EMA(Efficient Multi-Scale Attention) mechanism, and CARAFE (Content-Aware ReAssembly of FEatures) up-sampling mode. The comparison on the URPC(Underwater Robot Perception Challenge) public dataset shows that the proposed algorithm has achieved significant improvement in terms of model size, parameter amount, calculation amount, and mAP@0.5. Thirdly, to verify the effectiveness of the image enhancement algorithm and underwater target detection algorithm proposed in this paper, the ROV(Remote Operated Vehicle) is used to conduct experiments in the experimental pool. By designing underwater target detection experiments before and after image enhancement, the results show that the enhanced image significantly improves the detection ability of underwater targets. Finally, underwater target detection software is developed to provide strong support for the application of underwater-related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sustainable resource circulation, preparation of reactive species from stable compounds is unavoidable. Chlorine chemistry is an eco-friendly methodology to address this demand. Chlorine is industrially produced from sodium chloride (NaCl), an abundant natural resource in oceans. Chlorine provides various chemical products, including polymers, through chlorination and subsequent conversion reactions. In these reactions, the byproducts are usually hydrogen chloride, which is commercially utilized as hydrochloric acid and is finally neutralized to NaCl after use. Therefore, chlorine chemistry enables fine chemical production from NaCl with almost no wastage. This review provides an overview of the synthesis of fine chemicals and polymers using chlorine chemistry and discusses them from the perspective of sustainability. To achieve sustainable resource circulation, preparation of reactive species from stable compounds is needed, and chlorine chemistry is an eco-friendly approach to address this need. Here, the authors provide an overview of the synthesis of fine chemicals and polymers using chlorine chemistry, with emphasis with regards to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep‐sea equipment is generally made of lightweight and pressure‐resistant materials in order to meet the requirements of the actual work. In order to explore marine resources better, it is necessary to research lightweight buoyancy materials for loading on mining equipment. These buoyancy materials contribute not only to providing adequate buoyancy to the mining equipment but also to reducing economic expenses. In this paper, hollow glass microspheres reinforced epoxy hollow spheres (HGMSs‐EHSs) were prepared by the rolling ball method using expanded polystyrene (EPS), epoxy resin (EP), and HGMS as raw materials. Epoxy syntactic foam (ESF) was manufactured by blending EP, curing agent, HGMS, and HGMS‐EHS with molding method. Basalt fiber (BF) reinforced ESF was fabricated by adding BFs to form a fiber network inside the syntactic foam. The results revealed that the density and compressive strength of ESF increased progressively with the number of HGMS‐EHS layers. The density and compressive strength of ESF decreased prospectively with the increase of the stacking volume fraction of HGMS‐EHS. The density and compressive strength of ESF increased gradually with the enlargement of the length and content of BF. In the range of influencing factors mentioned above, the density of ESF remains around 0.3 g/cm3, which has a low density. When the number of layers of HGMS‐EHS was two, the stacking volume fraction was 90%, the length of BF was 12 mm, the content of BF was 4%, the density of BF‐ESF was 0.316 g/cm3, and the compressive strength was 6.93 MPa. The compressive strength of prepared buoyancy material can meet the pressure resistance requirements for operations in waters of a certain depth. With a density of only 0.316 g/cm3, it provides sufficient buoyancy to balance the gravity of the equipment. Compared with the current study, in this paper, BFs were used as the reinforcing phase to prepare solid buoyancy foam with low density and high compressive strength. The experimental results demonstrate that this economical fiber material can effectively improve the compressive strength of buoyancy materials. This buoyancy material may be suitable for loading on small equipment for extracting marine resources. This work provides a reference for the preparation of low‐density solid buoyancy materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-synuclein (ASyn) is a protein that is known to play a critical role in Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its propensity for misfolding and aggregation. Furthermore, this process leads to oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals that cause neuronal damage. In this study, we have utilized a biomimetic approach to design new peptides derived from marine natural resources. The peptides were designed using a peptide scrambling approach where antioxidant moieties were combined with fibrillary inhibition motifs in order to design peptides that would have a dual targeting effect on ASyn misfolding. Of the 20 designed peptides, 12 were selected for examining binding interactions through molecular docking and molecular dynamics approaches, which revealed that the peptides were binding to the pre-NAC and NAC (non-amyloid component) domain residues such as Tyr39, Asn65, Gly86, and Ala85, among others. Because ASyn filaments derived from Lewy body dementia (LBD) have a different secondary structure compared to pathogenic ASyn fibrils, both forms were tested computationally. Five of those peptides were utilized for laboratory validation based on those results. The binding interactions with fibrils were confirmed using surface plasmon resonance studies, where EQALMPWIWYWKDPNGS, PYYYWKDPNGS, and PYYYWKELAQM showed higher binding. Secondary structural analyses revealed their ability to induce conformational changes in ASyn fibrils. Additionally, PYYYWKDPNGS and PYYYWKELAQM also demonstrated antioxidant properties. This study provides insight into the binding interactions of varying forms of ASyn implicated in PD. The peptides may be further investigated for mitigating fibrillation at the cellular level and may have the potential to target ASyn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, fisheries and livelihoods on the coasts of Washington and Oregon have been severely impacted by the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that produce domoic acid, a neurotoxin that accumulates in shellfish and endangers public health. Among others, recreational razor clams and commercial Dungeness crab fisheries along the Pacific Northwest (PNW) have been negatively affected, jeopardizing the economies of coastal communities that depend on tourist revenues and income generated through visits of harvesters in the region. The PNW HAB Bulletin, launched in 2008, publishes forecasts on incoming HAB events, which has enabled managers to increase toxin monitoring in high-risk locations and proceed with selected harvesting at safe beaches and delays or closures of fishing seasons, as required. In light of the value of the HAB Bulletin to local managers and communities and the occasional challenges of securing sufficient resources to ensure its continuation, this study attempts to assess the value of information (VOI) for the predictions provided by the Bulletin. Results of the study show that ongoing financial support of the Bulletin is economically justifiable. The value of HAB forecast is positively related to three primary factors: the frequency of HAB events, the precision of forecast, and the number of social and economic sectors benefiting from the forecast. The expected increase in HAB frequency and intensity due to climate change, coupled with advancements in forecasting accuracy through technological development, is anticipated to enhance the value of the forecast program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual depletion and limited mining of inland river sand resources, the supply of sand is far from meetingthe demand for construction sand in the market, and the supply -demand contradiction is becoming increasingly serious. Seasand resources as a substitute for river sand are gradually becoming a trend. The construction of sea sand mining is an importantstage and step in the development and utilization of sea sand resources. Jet sand mining uses vacuum suction technology tomine and transport sea sand to the sand mining vessel for sand washing before being transported to the unloading area. It hasthe characteristics of a large underwater excavation depth and a high yield. Based on the construction process of ajet sandmining vessel, the hydraulic principle, sand washing and sorting, and overflow pipe tailings discharge process of the jet pumpsand suction were analyzed in detail. The research results provide practical engineering experience for the development andutilization of sea sand resources in China, and can also provide reference for the formation of relevant specifications forsubsequent jet sand mining construction technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rich marine resources along the western coast of Spitsbergen (Svalbard) have given rise to colonies of breeding seabirds, which likely represent an important vector of nutrient transport from marine to terrestrial environments. These seabirds may also supply additional nutrients to lakes via their droppings, while bathing and/or when being attacked by other birds during flight to their nest sites. To study the importance of such droppings in the diet of freshwater fish, we sampled Arctic charr by gillnetting during a three-week period in the oligotrophic Lake Arresjøen in northwestern Svalbard. Marine fish and invertebrates made up more than 12% of the dry weight of the stomach contents of Arctic charr larger than 24 cm captured in the littoral zone. This suggests that the seabird transport of marine organisms contributes directly to the diet of Arctic charr in coastal High-Arctic lakes, but this contribution may also give a higher load of mercury and polychlorinated compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of fishery resources significantly impacts the ratio of fishing effort to harvest. However, traditional statistics of fishery catches or commonly used catch per unit effort (CPUE) metrics cannot accurately capture the complexity of resource abundance in the ocean. To address this issue, we propose here a novel approach that integrates the actual fishery catch from vessel logs with fishing duration obtained through automatic identification system (AIS) positioning. This combined analysis eliminates confounding factors and introduces a novel metric called "catch efficiency (CE)" to evaluate fishing operations more accurately, thereby reflecting resource abundance in a more reasonable way. In this study, we focus on the CE of squid in the Oyashio Extension region in the Northwestern Pacific. Our analysis reveals significant temporal and spatial variations of CE, manifesting in both intensity and distribution patterns. Moreover, our findings establish a close relationship between CE and background water mass distribution, chlorophyll‐a concentration, and micronekton biomass. This implies that the resource abundance of squid can be inferred by considering the varying environmental factors within the fishing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have intensified in frequency, duration, and severity over recent decades. These events, defined by unusually warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), can cause significant ecological impacts. This is particularly so for Pacific Island countries, such as Vanuatu, where communities rely on marine resources for their food and livelihoods. A common ecological response to MHWs is the movement of oceanic species to cooler waters. Predicting such shifts through monitoring SST isotherms can help identify thermal boundaries that marine species favor. This study explores the connection between MHWs, SST isotherm movement, and tuna abundance in Vanuatu. The displacement of the 28 °C isotherm was analyzed across three major MHW events (2008–2009, 2016, and 2021–2022). It was found that MHWs with longer duration and greater intensity caused more significant isotherm displacement. Additionally, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation had an important influence on MHW formation and isotherm movement. The effects of these displacements on tuna distribution varied between events. The ability to monitor MHWs and SST isotherm movement could be an effective instrument for the prediction of areas of suppressed or abundant tuna activity and can be used to aid in the proactive management of food security and fishery sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying how species respond to system drivers such as weather, climate, habitat, and resource availability is critical for understanding population change. In coastal areas, the transfer of nutrients across the marine and terrestrial interface increases complexity. Nesting populations of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) along the Pacific coast of North America, although terrestrial, are largely dependent on marine resources during the breeding season and therefore represent a good focal species for understanding the linkages of nutrients between terrestrial and marine systems. Due to their location, coastal eagle populations are susceptible to a variety of climate‐induced perturbations, from both land and sea. The northeast Pacific Marine Heatwave (PMH) of 2014–2016 had wide‐ranging impacts on the marine ecosystem and provided an opportunity to explore how marine conditions can impact terrestrial wildlife populations. We used a spatially explicit multistate occupancy modeling framework to analyze >30 years of bald eagle nest occupancy data collected in four large national parks along a coastal interior gradient in Alaska, USA. We assessed occupancy state in relation to weather conditions, salmon abundance, access to alternate prey resources, and the PMH event to help elucidate the factors affecting bald eagle occupancy dynamics over time. We found that occupancy probability was higher in areas where prey resources were concentrated (e.g., near seabird colonies, where bears facilitate access to salmon carcasses). We also found that the probability of reproductive success was higher during warmer, drier springs with higher‐than‐average salmon abundance. After the onset of the PMH, success declined in the areas most dependent on non‐salmon marine resources. These findings confirm the importance of spring weather conditions and access to salmon resources during the critical chick‐rearing period, but also reveal that marine heatwaves may have important secondary effects through a reduction in the overall quantity or quality of prey available to bald eagles. Given ongoing warming at high latitudes and the expectation that marine heatwaves will become more common, our findings are useful for understanding ongoing and future changes in the transfer of nutrients from marine to terrestrial ecosystems and how such changes may impact terrestrial species such as bald eagles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing human activities and climate change have resulted in significant changes in net primary production (NPP) of the marginal sea in the past several decades. The Bohai Sea (BHS) is a shallow semi‐enclosed marginal sea of North China, the knowledge of the relative impacts of human activities and climate change on the NPP in the BHS remains limited. This study primarily aimed to elucidate the interannual variability of NPP and its influencing factors in the BHS during the 2002–2021 period by synthesizing four widely‐used global NPP models, namely the vertically generalized production model (VGPM), the Eppley‐VGPM, the size‐fractioned phytoplankton pigment absorption‐based model (SABPM), and the carbon, absorption, and fluorescence euphotic‐resolving model (CAFE). The multi‐model average NPP showed significant interannual variation, with an increasing trend from 2002 to 2012 and a decreasing trend from 2012 to 2021. The concentration of DIN in the BHS was primarily affected by atmospheric nitrogen deposition. The structural equation model demonstrated that chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) concentration, influenced by DIN concentration, had an important effect on NPP. In brief, atmospheric nitrogen deposition impacted the DIN concentration and thus controlled the Chl‐a concentration and NPP change in the BHS. Furthermore, atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the BHS have potential ecological impacts on the red tide features. These findings hold valuable implications for future marine resource planning and marine ecological management in the BHS. Plain Language Summary: Marine net primary productivity (NPP) plays an important role in regulating marine ecosystem processes. Nearly half of the global photosynthesized carbon in ocean and the marginal sea account for 20%–30% of the total ocean productivity. The Bohai Sea is a shallow marginal sea in the northwest Pacific Ocean, strongly impacted by human activities, supporting high primary and fishery productivity. Using four widely‐used global NPP models, we observe the interannual variability of NPP and its influencing factors in the Bohai Sea during the 2002–2021 period. We found the NPP in the Bohai Sea showed an increasing trend from 2002 to 2012 and a decreasing trend from 2012 to 2021. The concentration of DIN in the Bohai Sea was primarily affected by atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Moreover, atmospheric nitrogen deposition impacted the DIN concentration and thus controlled the chlorophyll‐a concentration and NPP change of the Bohai Sea. The red tide features in the Bohai Sea seemed to be potentially related to the atmospheric nitrogen deposition. These findings provide valuable insights into the interannual trend of NPP in the Bohai Sea and its underlying mechanisms, and highlight the significant impact of human activities on the Bohai Sea environment. Key Points: The net primary production (NPP) in the Bohai Sea clearly shows the interannual‐decadal trendsThere is an increasing trend in the NPP from 2002 to 2012 and a decreasing trend from 2012 to 2021Atmospheric deposition controls the interannual variation of NPP by affecting the DIN concentration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin, known as the largest organ of the body, is essential for maintaining physiological balance and acts as a barrier against the external environment. When skin becomes damaged and wounds appear on the skin's surface, a complex healing process, involving multiple types of cells and microenvironments, take place. Selecting a suitable dressing for a wound is crucial for accelerating healing, reducing treatment costs, and improving the patient's overall health. Starting from natural resources such as perch skin (P. fluviatilis), this article aims to develop biocompatible materials for regenerative medicine from collagen in the form of gels/gelatines. The extracted gels were physical/chemical and structurally analyzed. In order to obtain collagen scaffolds for wound healing, the extracted collagen gels from perch skin were further freeze-dried. The ability of these scaffolds is essential for controlling moisture levels during wound healing; therefore, it was necessary to investigate the samples' ability to absorb water. The assessed collagen-based scaffolds were microbiologically tested, and their biocompatibility was investigated by incubating human adult dermal fibroblasts. The outcomes reveal an innovative path for the production of biomaterials used in wound healing, starting from collagen derived from marine sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has impacted ocean biogeochemistry and physical dynamics, causing increases in acidity and temperature, among other phenomena. These changes can lead to deleterious effects on marine ecosystems and communities that rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. To better quantify these changes, an array of floats fitted with biogeochemical sensors (BGC‐Argo) is being deployed throughout the ocean. This paper presents an algorithm for deriving a deployment strategy that maximizes the information captured by each float. The process involves using a model solution as a proxy for the true ocean state and carrying out an iterative process to identify optimal float deployment locations for constraining the model variance. As an example, we use the algorithm to optimize the array for observing ocean surface dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations (pCO2) in a region of strong air–sea gas exchange currently being targeted for BGC‐Argo float deployment. We conclude that 54% of the pCO2 variability in the analysis region could be sampled by an array of 50 Argo floats deployed in specified locations. This implies a relatively coarse average spacing, though we find the optimal spacing is nonuniform, with a denser sampling being required in the eastern equatorial Pacific. We also show that this method could be applied to determine the optimal float deployment along ship tracks, matching the logistics of real float deployment. We envision this software package to be a helpful resource in ocean observational design anywhere in the global oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern coasts of Korea (ECK) and Japan (ECJ) are located at the southernmost limit of walleye pollock distribution in the Northwest Pacific. Following the climate regime shift (CRS) in the late 1980s, pollock catches in these regions have declined sharply, with different trends emerging. This study examined the relationship between environmental factors, such as sea surface temperature (SST) and habitat suitability, and changes in pollock catches from the late 1980s to 2022. From the late 1980s to the late 1990s, El Niño and positive Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) phases dominated, increasing SST in the ECK and ECJ habitats and rapidly decreasing catches. Although spawning grounds (SGs) have maintained high habitat suitability, nursery ground (NG) suitability has declined. From the late 1990s to 2022, La Niña and negative PDO phases prevailed, with SST continuing to rise along the ECK, further reducing catches. SG suitability remained high, but NG suitability declined. Along the ECJ, SST decreased after the late-1990s CRS, stabilizing catches. After the mid-2010s, the SST increased along the ECJ, reducing pollock catches, although SG suitability remained high. This study elucidates SST changes during early life stages and their effects on pollock catch, habitat, and resources in future marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is essential for optimizing marine resources allocation and resolving conflicts in sea use, but it is challenged by the complex and multifunctional nature of maritime resources. This study utilizes participatory methods, inductive reasoning, and overlay analysis to explore both theoretical and practical aspects of compatible marine utilization models. The paper begins by clarifying the logic of compatible sea use through marine functional zoning and identifying its core characteristics: quantity, spatial conflict, and impacts on natural attributes. Building on China's national territorial spatial planning reforms and practical experiences, the paper introduces three major categories of compatible marine use models: development sequencing compatibility, spatial coexistence compatibility, and functional synergy compatibility. A compatibility discrimination matrix is developed to assess these models across different marine functional areas. Combined with the compatibility discrimination results, taking the marine and coastal spatial planning of Yantai City in China as a case study, the paper analyzes the compatibility demands and planning strategies within various marine functional areas. Finally, it evaluates the risks associated with each compatibility model and proposes targeted control strategies tailored to the specific features of each model and characteristics of sea use activities. The research findings highlight the positive role of compatible sea use models in promoting marine economic development, enhancing spatial efficiency, and mitigating sea use conflicts. However, these models also present varying potential risks, necessitating differentiated control strategies aligned with legal frameworks and specific sea use activities. The study offers valuable insights for MSP and contributes to the efficient utilization of marine resources and the advancement of marine spatial governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of maritime transport and the gradual increase in the number of ports, ships and shipping routes can produce direct economic benefits for regional development, and a profound grasp of the actual situation of maritime transport makes it possible to make practical plans for economic development and thus rationally develop and use marine resources. However, there is a lack of research on maritime transport, so this study is based on the AIS, waterways, routes and ports data in the near-shore sea area of Guangdong Province. Using GIS spatial analysis technology and various mathematical models, we refer to the evaluation method of road traffic dominance. It analyses and proposes the evaluation indexes of maritime traffic advantages, such as the density of maritime traffic network and the proximity of ports. Based on the actual situation of the study regions, the indicators were quantitatively evaluated and analyzed. The economic development level of each region was also quantitatively evaluated using principal component analysis, and the study regions were classified based on the coupling-coordination model. The results show that the coastal area of Guangdong Province is divided into four types of zones according to the coupling-coordination type of zoning criteria. Corresponding development suggestions are put forward for different zones, and the research results provide certain practical guidelines for promoting the benign cycle development of maritime traffic and economy, and have important guiding significance and application value for the organization and safety of maritime traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFisheries science aims to understand and manage marine natural resources. It relies on resource-intensive sampling and data analysis. Within this context, the emergence of machine learning (ML) systems holds significant promise for understanding disparate components of these marine ecosystems and gaining a greater understanding of their dynamics. The goal of this paper is to present a review of ML applications in fisheries science. It highlights both their advantages over conventional approaches and their drawbacks, particularly in terms of operationality and possible robustness issues. This review is organized from small to large scales. It begins with genomics and subsequently expands to individuals (catch items), aggregations of different species in situ, on-board processing, stock/populations assessment and dynamics, spatial mapping, fishing-related organizational units, and finally ecosystem dynamics. Each field has its own set of challenges, such as pre-processing steps, the quantity and quality of training data, the necessity of appropriate model validation, and knowing where ML algorithms are more limited, and we discuss some of these discipline-specific challenges. The scope of discussion of applied methods ranges from conventional statistical methods to data-specific approaches that use a higher level of semantics. The paper concludes with the potential implications of ML applications on management decisions and a summary of the benefits and challenges of using these techniques in fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bay of Bengal has been at the heart of human civilisation and trade for many centuries. Accordingly, this oceanic space has seen influx of people from around the world including European traders who plundered natural wealth of this region for many years. Unabated exploitation of natural resources has been the primary reason for deterioration of environment of this part of the world. To add to this, supporting a growing population through unsustainable anthropogenic activities for decades is considered a primary cause for deterioration of marine life, habitats, coastal and marine ecosystems and numerous ocean ecosystem services of this oceanic space. Since the health of the oceanic space is critical for survival of life of Earth, a detailed study of the impacts of a growing population on the coastal environment of the Bay is considered important. Unfortunately, since the anthropogenic activities causing this deterioration are numerous, they cannot be covered in one paper. Hence, only a select few critical anthropogenic activities causing coastal erosion, resource degradation, and marine pollution are being analysed here. The study shows that as a result of increasing population, terrestrial activities such as increasing built up area, industries, land use activities, fisheries and aquaculture, and construction of shore protection structures have resulted in reduced coastal vegetation and increased pollution of the ocean. As a result the coastal landscape is witnessing increased coastal erosion, coastal flooding and inundation, loss of vegetation and faunal communities especially fishes. While local initiatives and projects reflect a positive commitment to address resource degradation and to create resilient coastal ecosystems, these efforts need to be transformed into achievements by dedicated and nuanced involvement of all stakeholders, especially the public, for the desired results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scale and connectivity of marine resources make them more complex than land resource management. Although digitization has been recognized as an organizational change process that can effectively improve resource efficiency and enhance network resilience, however, gaps remain in establishing the theoretical links between digitization and marine economic performance. Based on a panel fixed-effects model, this study evaluates the interrelationships and potential mechanisms of different firms with data from annual reports of listed firms in the marine economy in the eastern coastal region of China. The results indicate that there is a 'U-shaped' relationship between digitalization and enterprise efficiency in the maritime sector, and significant heterogeneity exists in the characteristics of these enterprises. Notably, firms' technological innovation capability can modulate the 'U-shaped' relationship through the interaction of economies of scale and economies of scope. This paper highlights how digitization mitigates the fragmentation and sectionalization of marine information and addresses the digital overload and productivity paradox that firms may face in the early stages of digitization. The study suggests that institutional diversity shapes resilience. Governments need to promote top-down regulation and industry collaboration, while marine enterprises need to coevolve collaboratively with them through bottom-up internal communication and external interaction to enhance the value chain of marine enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continual increase in global cheese consumption, rennet, the traditional milk coagulant, is unable to meet the growing demand in cheese production. Although several proteases from other sources have been used for cheese-making, they suffer various shortcomings. The ocean is home to a huge and diverse range of life forms, which represent a vast potential source of proteases. Marine proteases have been isolated from a number of marine species, including sponge, jellyfish, seaweed and marine animals, and some have been shown to be suitable as milk-clotting enzymes for cheese making. This review summarizes the latest studies on rennet substitutes from marine resources and their role in cheese-making. The emphasis of the review is on the isolation and purification of the marine proteases, the biochemical characteristics of these enzymes, especially their caseinolytic and milk-clotting properties, as well as their cleavage sites on casein. Some of the marine proteases have been applied as milk-clotting agent in cheese-making, with the resultant production of cheese with comparable characteristics, including sensory characteristics, to calf rennet cheese. The review concludes by highlighting the challenges and opportunities for future research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue economy has the potential to promote economic growth, improve livelihoods, and create jobs while protecting marine ecosystems. This research uses a comprehensive analysis of secondary data sources to assess various blue economy sectors, including maritime transport, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, marine tourism, marine biotechnology, and ocean mining. By examining the blue economy experiences of developed nations like the United States, Canada, Japan, Norway, and Australia, the study identifies the best SDG practices and strategic lessons applicable to Bangladesh. In the case of Bangladesh, the research focuses on the blue economy initiatives, opportunities, and challenges associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The blue economy and SDGs nexus in the context of Bangladesh demonstrates that out of 17 goals, 12 SDGs (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 16 and SDG 17) are linked with blue economy practices in Bangladesh. However, in the case of developed countries, only six SDGs (SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 14) are connected to the blue economy because of the diversity of blue economy practices across the countries. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has significant potential to utilize its marine resources for sustainable development. However, it faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, regulatory gaps, environmental risks, and limited technological advancements. The study thus emphasizes the need for integrated policy frameworks, stakeholder coordination, investments in sustainable infrastructure, public–private partnerships, technological innovation, and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new landmark BBNJ Treaty (Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement) emphasises applying the notion of ‘common heritage of humankind’ to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Existing regulatory gaps and loopholes in international law, biodiversity law, and intellectual property rights (IPR) hinder sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources (MGRs). Effective management of MGR-based patents and digital sequence information is essential for regulating access to and use of biological materials. To foster innovation and regulate bioprospecting, a sui generis IPR regime for inventions derived from ABNJ genetic resources is necessary, potentially including regulations on MGR discoveries. This article argues that IPR considerations significantly impact commercialisation, monetary benefit-sharing from MGR utilisation, as well as the regulation of digital sequence information, capacity-building, technology transfer, and marine scientific research in ABNJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen a sharp uptick in efforts to expedite resource extraction in, and expand biodiversity conservation to, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), the ~70% of oceans outside state space. In this symposium piece, we explore the co‐constitution of the parallel acceleration of biodiversity conservation and economic exploitation that is unfolding in ways unique to the high seas, but consistent with global patterns wherein this coupling encloses space for capitalist value extraction. These coupled tendencies are part of expanded ocean regulation and, in ABNJ, they form part of state‐capital advancement into one of the remaining world frontiers. We explore this extraction‐conservation nexus in two contemporary ABNJ negotiations: 1) the Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and 2) the International Seabed Authority's development of an exploitation regime for deep‐seabed mining in the Area. Our findings build on insights from agrarian political economy and political ecology that establish the co‐constitution – rather than incommensurability – of conservation and extractive activities in terrestrial spaces and draw out the arenas of this nexus in the ecologically complex, political‐economic grey zone that is the uninhabited (by humans), non‐state space of the planet. This work contributes to placing the high seas and the emergent blue economy within the critical scholarship that describes and explores the conservation‐extraction nexus and its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semantic segmentation of underwater fish images is vital for monitoring fish stocks, assessing marine resources, and sustaining fisheries. To tackle challenges such as low segmentation accuracy, inadequate real‐time performance, and imprecise location segmentation in current methods, a novel lightweight U‐Net model is proposed. The proposed model acquires more segmentation details by applying a multiple‐input approach at the first four encoder levels. To achieve both lightweight and high accuracy, a multi‐scale residual structure (MRS) module is proposed to reduce parameters and compensate for the accuracy loss caused by the reduction of channels. To improve segmentation accuracy, a multi‐scale skip connection (MSC) structure is further proposed, and the convolution block attention mechanism (CBAM) is introduced at the end of each decoder level for weight adjustment. Experimental results demonstrate a notable reduction in model volume, parameters, and floating‐point operations by 94.20%, 94.39%, and 51.52% respectively, compared to the original model. The proposed model achieves a high mean intersection over union (mIOU) of 94.44%, mean pixel accuracy (mPA) of 97.03%, and a frame rate of 43.62 frames per second (FPS). With its high precision and minimal parameters, the model strikes a balance between accuracy and speed, making it particularly suitable for underwater image segmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasts of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) provide essential information to stakeholders of marine resources in coastal ecosystems, such as the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), at management-relevant monthly-to-annual time scales. Diagnosing dynamical sources of predictability and the mechanisms differentiating skill among forecasts is required for verification and improvement in operational forecasting systems. Using retrospective forecasts (1982–2020) from a four-member subset of the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME), we evaluate the conditional skill of SSTA forecasts in the CCLME at monthly resolution for lead times up to 10.5 months. Forecasts from ensemble members with relatively small SSTA errors at shorter lead times retain higher skill at longer lead times, with the most substantial and long-lasting increases for forecasts initialized in the fall and early spring. The "best" low-error SSTA forecasts are characterized by increased skill in the prediction of North Pacific atmospheric circulation [sea level pressure (SLP) and 200-hPa geopotential height] the month prior to the evaluation of SSTA errors in the CCLME and exhibit more realistic progressions of anomalous SLP. The Pacific meridional mode (PMM) emerges as a diagnostic of skillful North Pacific atmosphere–ocean coupling, as forecasts that correctly simulate the PMM and its associated SLP variability increase the SSTA prediction skill in the CCLME in the fall through spring. Predictable coupled ocean–atmosphere modes provide a target for enhancing predictability with early detection of the onset of a deterministic progression emerging from stochastic atmospheric variability. Significance Statement: Global forecast systems provide near-term climate predictions that inform the management of marine resources, such as those of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. In this study, we probe the processes which lead forecasts to succeed or fail at predicting sea surface temperatures in the California Current at seasonal time scales among retrospective forecasts from the North American Multimodel Ensemble. We demonstrate that forecasts which best simulate sea surface temperatures at the earliest lead times sustain advantages in forecast skill and find that correctly simulating extratropical atmospheric circulation increases the predictive skill of sea surface temperatures in the northeast Pacific in the following lead times. Our results offer North Pacific atmospheric circulation as a target for forecast model improvement that would additionally enhance ocean forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many bioactive compounds are reported from marine organisms, which are significantly different from those found in terrestrial organisms regarding their chemical structures and pharmacological activities. Marine glycoproteins (MGs) have aroused increasing attention as a good nutrient source owing to their potential applications in medicine, cosmetics and food. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive study on MGs to help readers understand the current state of research on marine-derived glycoproteins. The current review compiles the recent progress made on the structures and functions of MGs with future perspectives to maximize their value and applications via bibliometric analysis methods for the first time. The current research on MGs appears mostly limited to the laboratory, with no large-scale production of marine glycoproteins developed. The sugar chains are bound to proteins through covalent bonds that can readily be cleaved leading to difficultly in their separation and purification. Health effects attributed to MGs include treatment of inflammatory diseases, as well as anti-oxidant, immune modulation, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-bacterial and anti-freeze activities. This review can not only deepen the understanding of the functions of MGs, but also lay an important foundation for the further development and utilization of marine resources. HIGHLIGHTS: Overview on isolation, structural and functional properties of marine glycoproteins (MGs) via bibliometric analysis methods for the first time. Marine glycoproteins (MGs) have various biological activities and potential health applications. glycoproteins from marine organisms (MGs) significantly enhanced anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longstanding negotiations on the status of marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdiction under a new UN treaty oscillated between the common heritage of mankind and the freedom of the high seas. The final text of the new Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty bridges the normative dissonance by crafting a freedom of marine scientific research juxtaposed with the common heritage of humankind. This article argues that the principle is a specific carve‐out from the freedom of scientific research in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), enumerated as one of the freedoms of the high seas. The principle of freedom of marine scientific research is best conceived as a property‐protected activity tethered to marine genetic resources where the scope and consequences of the activity demarcate the commons resource. It derives legitimacy and content from the common heritage regimes in UNCLOS as well as the operative elements of Part II of the BBNJ Treaty that address the equitable use of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources. As such, this element in the Treaty and the explanation set out here introduces a new and unprecedented constitutionalising norm in global biodiversity governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater optical communication (UOC) based on the novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) type photodetector has garnered substantial interest in the field of marine resource exploration and ocean investigation due to its strong operability, self‐powered capability, and large sensitive area in harsh underwater environments. To achieve high sensitivity, fast transmission speed, and broadband response characteristics, vertical‐GaS nanosheets‐based PEC photodetectors are prepared by chemical vapor deposition for UOC application. The GaS based PEC photodetector exhibits excellent self‐powered photodetection and a broad UV–vis photoresponse range as well as high stability performance in both Na2SO4 electrolyte and seawater. Notably, it also demonstrates an exceptional photoresponsivity of 11 mA W−1 coupled with a fast response and recovery time of 12.9 and 13 µs which are superior to those of 2D layered materials and conventional wide‐bandgap semiconductors. These improvements are mainly due to the large surface area, short diffusion length, as well as high carrier mobility of vertically‐oriented GaS nanosheets. Strikingly, the constructed GaS photodetector showcases a broad bandwidth exceeding the −3 dB cutoff frequency of 55.3 kHz during UOC testing, successfully enabling transmission and decoding of character information. This work establishes the groundwork for developing high‐performance, self‐powered UV–vis photodetectors adaptable to UOC using PEC technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Laot Customary Law Institution, led by a Panglima Laot, is a traditional institution that regulates the use and management of coastal and marine resources. This institution is responsible for implementing and supervising customary rules in the maritime sector which have been established and decided through customary deliberations of the sea handlers living in the area. The Aceh Sea area has many natural marine resources, both biological and non-natural, which makes it prone to illegal fishing. In addition, the Panglima Laot regulations state that fishermen are prohibited from bombing, poisoning, anesthetizing, electrifying, harvesting coral reefs, and other actions that could damage habitats and other biota. This research aims to analyze and study in depth the supervision of Panglima Laot Lhok in preventing illegal fishing. Primary and secondary data are the data sources used in the descriptive qualitative method. The research uses data obtained through interviews, observation, and documentation. Based on the results of research and findings in the field, the conclusion is that Panglima Laot Lhok always carries out supervision in preventing illegal fishing, either directly by Panglima Laot Lhok or by coordinating with fishermen who are at sea, however, the very large sea factor means that supervision does not occur properly and thoroughly, and sometimes illegal fishing occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the impact of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cage fish farming on the water quality in two selected bays of the Bukavu basin, Lake Kivu. Physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, dissolved oxygen, transparency) were measured in situ using a COMBO HI 98129 multi-parameter probe, PCE-PHD1 probe, and a Black and White Secchi disk. Water samples at different depths were collected using a Van-Dorn Sampler and phosphate, ammonia, nitrite, silicate, and chlorophyll-a were analyzed using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The results revealed that the pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, salinity, and transparency were significantly different (p = 0.05) between the bays with cages and at the control bay, which may be due to the low movement of water, and the density of fish inside the cages. The water nutrients such as phosphate, ammonia, nitrite, silicate, and primary productivity were significantly different (p = 0.05) within the bays with cages than at the control bay without cages. Overall, the results demonstrate that Tilapia cage culture contributes to the deterioration of water quality parameters accelerating the eutrophication process in Bukavu basin, Lake Kivu. Therefore, the study recommends relocating the cages to the bays not impacted by the anthropogenic activities from the catchment and regulating fish feeding according to the bioavailability of nutrients in the bays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral ornamental fish become potential fishery commodities, providing opportunities and challenges in managing fishery resources in Indonesia. This activity has long been done and has become one cause of damage to coral reefs in Indonesia. Changes in paradigm and technology currently applied in Indonesia are expected to provide a gradual regulatory and coral reef ecosystem improvement. The commercial trade of ornamental fish requires attention and rigorous regulation. The marine ornamental fish trade activity is expected to improve and drive the coastal communities' economy. The significant increase in exploitation is expected to be controlled with the right regulations. This regulation must refer to the concept of sustainable development established through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDGs number 14 concerning life underwater. The existence of reef fish is enough to provide economic movement, which continues to heat up, especially after the pandemic and the reopening of flights and export activities abroad. However, multi-stakeholders should ratify the concept of sustainability and environment-friendliness. Support from the government, academia, industry, and community groups must be aligned and in tune to achieve sustainable development goals. Providing accurate information related to the biological characteristics of reef fish is an essential contribution for researchers that can be used directly by the community. Thus, the exploitation of reef fish can align with efforts to conserve coral reef ecosystems closely related to global warming and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to find the most effective type of probiotic for the growth, survival, and stress resistance of L. vanamei. L. vanamei shrimp measuring PL 13 with a density of 2 fish/L of water were used as subjects for this research, which was conducted at the Poniang Beach Fish Seed Center from July 27 to September 24, 2023. This study was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) and consisted of four treatments and three repetitions, namely the operational standard, Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and a combination of Bacillus sp. and Lactobacillus sp. with a dose of 20 ml/kg mixed into feed containing 30% protein. The results of the study showed that the use of probiotics had no significant impact (p > 0.05) on the growth and survival of L. vanamei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of global changes, a foresight study is helpful to look into the future, anticipate possible scenarios and take appropriate decisions to face emerging risks for food and feed safety. Considering that an increased use of the ocean is expected for the next decades, it is essential to explore its possible impact on the safety of food and feed from the oceans. A scoping study was carried out to analyse drivers of change that may impact/promote the future uses of the ocean and its resources. From bibliographic search, different ocean uses were identified: coastal and open‐sea mining, marine aquaculture, sea transport and trade, energy production and related infrastructures, fisheries, ocean crops, saline farming, desalination, extraction of bioresources, marine protected areas and conservation of the ocean. Through the information gathered in the scoping study and the input of several experts, three key ocean uses were prioritised to proceed to a participatory foresight exercise: (i) coastal and open‐sea mining; (ii) marine aquaculture; and (iii) sea transport and trade. The foresight exercise produced three possible scenarios for 2050 for each prioritised use of the ocean. On the basis of these scenarios, possible implications and potential emerging issues for the safety of food and feed from the oceans were identified and characterised through bibliographic data. This document also provides a description of the methodology followed in the scoping study and in the foresight exercise, and recommendations that could help EFSA to prepare to the challenges posed by the future exploitation of ocean resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of marine resources is intrinsically linked to the utilization of various marine equipment. Among these, marine pipelines and cables are crucial for the exploitation of deep-sea oil and gas resources. Mooring cables, marine towed cables, marine umbilical cables, submarine cables, and marine pipelines are typical slender and flexible marine components. These slender marine flexible members present various dynamic challenges during laying, installation, and in-position operation. Facing these challenges, scholars from China and around the globe have explored theoretical, numerical, and experimental solutions to these challenges. The conclusions need to be condensed to improve their practical and academic value for engineering applications. This paper summarizes the explorations and provides general design methods and concepts of marine pipelines. Additionally, this paper looks forward to the future development trend of marine pipelines in engineering applications as well as theoretical research. The aim is to provide a reference for the research of underwater pipelines and cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the local knowledge, utilisation and consumption of seaweeds (lomotsy in Malagasy) among coastal communities in southwestern Madagascar. Primary data were collected in eight villages, through a survey questionnaire (with a total of 629 respondents) and daily focus group discussions, conducted between May and December 2022. The findings reveal widespread familiarity with seaweed, used predominantly for farming, cleaning fishing equipment, and shading fish during transport. A smaller proportion of respondents (9%) had experimented with seaweed as a food source, notably incorporating species like Kappaphycus alvarezii and Hydroclathrus clathratus into soups and sauces. Despite the coastal inhabitants' recognition of seaweed, the potential of the seaweed resource has not been fully developed, with utilisation restricted mainly to limited traditional practices. An interest in incorporating seaweed into a person's future diet or in seaweed cultivation was expressed by 58% and 45% of the respondents, respectively. This study underscores the importance of enhanced and sustainable use of the seaweed resource in Madagascar's coastal communities, presenting opportunities for economic development and ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering two-thirds of the ocean and half of the planet's surface, the high seas are increasingly the focus of commercial activity and conservation ambitions. Contrary to narratives of a lawless frontier, they are governed by a dense network of sectoral institutions for shipping, fisheries, and other industries, although these collectively deal with conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a fragmented and uneven manner. These gaps were the subject of nearly 20 years of negotiation, resulting in the adoption of the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in June 2023. The Agreement was designed to address access and benefit sharing associated with marine genetic resources; the establishment of area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, Environmental Impact Assessments, and capacity building; and the transfer of marine technology. Achieving coherence across public and private governance mechanisms will be a significant challenge as human activity increases on the high seas, but it is key to achieving ocean sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Güiña (Leopardus guigna), the smallest Neotropical feline, is found in central and southern Chile and western Argentina. This communication documents the first known instance of a güiña swimming in a marine environment. The observation, made in the remote Refugio Channel in Northern Patagonia, Chile, suggests that this elusive species may utilize marine environments during their search for food, particularly during winter when terrestrial prey is scarce. The Güiña (Leopardus guigna), the smallest Neotropical feline, inhabits central and southern Chile and western Argentina. This communication reports the first documented instance of a güiña swimming in a marine environment, observed in the Refugio Channel, which separates Refugio Island from the mainland in Northern Patagonia, Chile. In April 2023, a local resident recorded video footage of a güiña swimming near the eastern shore of the channel, emerging from the water, shaking off, and climbing a tree to groom itself. This observation suggests that the güiña might use the seacoast when searching for food, particularly during periods of low terrestrial prey availability during the winter. The ability of the güiña to adapt to such environments underscores the species' ecological flexibility, previously undocumented in this context, and highlights the need for integrating marine resources into the species' conservation strategies. The video's quality is limited due to the simplicity of the recording device, but it provides crucial visual evidence of this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonga's Special Management Areas (SMAs) have been widely supported by the people of Tonga as a successful approach to the comanagement of their fisheries and marine resources. However, due to the dominant focus on expansion of the program over recent years, challenges remain for the effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation needed to understand program impacts. This review compiles all known ecological, fisheries, and socio-economic monitoring and evaluation reports related to Tonga's Special Management Areas from 2010 onwards. A total of 25 projects with available reports were identified, with most examining ecological (42%) and socio-economic (42%) aspects of SMAs, whereas reporting on SMA fisheries data (e.g. catch) was limited to five available projects. Most studies also represented 'baseline' ecological and socio-economic surveys of SMAs during implementation. Only three studies have assessed the ecological impact of SMAs post intervention, and only one of these incorporated 'follow-up' surveys at a second time point. Among these, impacts remain mixed, with some SMAs resulting in larger and more abundant fish, but others showing no impact. Other monitoring challenges include no gender disaggregation of data, no monitoring of gleaning, haphazard monitoring by communities, and general concerns of cost, fit for purpose, and overinvestment. Although the limited available ecological data indicates that SMAs can increase fish size and abundance in some cases, rationalised, more efficient, and targeted monitoring is required to better understand and strengthen the functioning of SMAs and inform community and government management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal communities have long been at the periphery of human geography. Nonetheless, the coasts present a rich context to understand and deconstruct processes of displacement—enclosure, ocean grabbing, gentrification, and financialization—and the salience of adjacency claims as resistance. While scholars have theorized that the coast's spatial specificity may enable communities to raise adjacency claims, scholarship has not reconciled the degree to which coastal communities should benefit from marine resources and ocean spaces. This displacement-adjacency framework and research agenda provide a lens to study discourses, cases of contestation, and the potency of such protests of interrelated coastal displacement processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to protect and develop marine resources, it is essential to reinforce the calcareous sand foundation on coral reefs during engineering construction. This study proposes a novel approach that combines enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) with casein to solidify calcareous sand, which overcomes the issues of low calcium carbonate crystallization and insufficient cementation strength encountered in the pure EICP method. This study investigated the reinforcement effects and mechanisms of the combined method across various scales. Sonic time testing revealed an initial decline in sample density followed by a gradual increase, with the lowest density observed at 10% casein content. Sample strength depends on casein dosage and curing time. Overall, the trend in sample strength showed an initial decrease followed by a gradual increase, with 10% casein content again resulting in the lowest strength. The measured experimental groups achieved a minimum strength of approximately 1.17 MPa and a maximum strength of around 6.34 MPa. As casein concentration rises, the optimal curing time increases from 12–48 h. Microscopic experiments reveal casein expansion and dissolution in the EICP liquid, explaining UCS value changes with casein dosage and curing time. Combining scanning electron microscopy and microscopic experiments highlights the cementitious material's vital role in strengthening samples. In conclusion, combining EICP and casein for solidifying calcareous sand is technically feasible and highly effective with significant reinforcement effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on discrete, isolated attributes of the marine economy are often used in traditional marine economic research. However, as the focus of urban research shifts from internal static attributes to external dynamic linkages, the importance of marine economic network research is beginning to emerge. The construction of the marine economic network in China's coastal areas is necessary to change the flow of land and sea resources and optimize regional marine economic development. Employing data from headquarters and branches of sea-related A-share listed enterprises to construct the marine economic network in China, we use social network analysis (SNA) to discuss the characteristics of its evolution as of 2010, 2015, and 2020 and its governance. The following results were obtained. 1) In terms of topological characteristics, the scale of the marine economic network in China's coastal areas has accelerated and expanded, and the connections have become increasingly close; thus, this development has complex network characteristics. 2) In terms of spatial structure, the intensity of the connection fluctuates and does not form stable development support; the group structure gradually becomes clear, but the overall pattern is fragmented; there are spatial differences in marine economic agglomeration radiation; the radiation effect of the eastern marine economic circle is obvious; and the polarization effect of northern and southern marine economic circles is significant. On this basis, we construct a framework for the governance of a marine economic network with the market, the government, and industry as the three governing bodies. By clarifying the driving factors and building objectives of marine economic network construction, this study aims to foster the high-quality development of China's marine economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]