Marine Policy最新文献

{"title":"Incorporating equity in policy analysis: The case of the Nova Scotian lobster fishery and COVID-19","authors":"Yulan Kim,&nbsp;Rebeca de Buen Kalman","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>COVID-19 constituted an acute shock—a sudden, exogenous event that caused significant disruptions to the fisheries sector. The urgency of the pandemic required rapid government responses, making it difficult to fully consider the equity implications of the policies implemented. We argue that it is essential for governments to enhance their preparedness against acute shocks by centering equity in their policy decisions. Based on the case of the Nova Scotian lobster fishery and COVID-19, this short communication presents an equity-oriented policy analysis of the economic vulnerability of Nova Scotian lobster fishers to acute shocks. We analyze potential policy options the Government of Nova Scotia could have implemented during the pandemic to mitigate these vulnerabilities. We find trade-offs between the effectiveness and equity of policy options. Additionally, we find that the policy options fare differently against different equity dimensions, suggesting the need for a multi-dimensional approach to assessing equity. Most importantly, we demonstrate how equity can be positioned as a central criterion in policy analysis, supporting the development of resilient fisheries that are better able to withstand acute shocks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 106748"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vietnamese fishers' perceptions on the effects of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear and their willingness to participate in retrieval efforts","authors":"Quach Thi Khanh Ngoc ,&nbsp;Alena Mychkova ,&nbsp;Nguyen Thi Ngan ,&nbsp;Pham Quoc Hung ,&nbsp;Thomas Potempa ,&nbsp;Max Patrick Ehleben","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) is a global challenge, that adversely impacts both marine ecosystems and the livelihood of fishers. This study explores the fishers’ perceptions and concerns regarding ALDFG consequences, and investigates how these concerns shape their willingness to participate in retrieval efforts. Data were collected through a survey of 525 fishers in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Using ordered logit and binary logit analyses, our results indicate that Vietnamese fishers' concerns about ALDFG are significantly influenced by their perceptions of the broader consequences of marine litter. These heightened concerns subsequently lead to a greater willingness among fishers to engage in retrieval efforts. Additionally, our findings suggest that fishers who have experienced direct economic or operational losses due to ALDFG, such as damages to their catch or gear, are more inclined to take part in retrieval activities. It is recommended that targeted awareness campaigns, incentive programs, and waste management systems should be implemented to address not only the environmental impacts but also enhance the economic benefits of retrieval efforts, thereby encouraging greater participation among fishers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106765"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can Marine Economic Development Demonstration Zones (MEDDZs) achieve a sustainable balance between economic development and ecological protection: Evidence from Chinese coastal cities","authors":"Fuzhu Li,&nbsp;Yuge Zhang,&nbsp;Shuochen Luan","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Resolving the dilemma of marine sustainable development requires seeking a balance between economic growth and ecological protection. This study treats the policy of Marine Economy Development Demonstration Zones (MEDDZs) as a quasi-natural experiment, relying on data from 47 coastal cities in China from 2004 to 2022. A difference-in-differences (DID) model is constructed to evaluate whether the policy of MEDDZs can achieve a balance between coastal economic development and ecological protection. The findings indicate that the policy of MEDDZs not only drives economic growth in coastal areas but also improves ecological quality, this result holds after considering the validity, endogeneity and robustness of the model. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that, compared to the eastern and southern marine economic circle, there is still considerable room for optimization of the policy effects in the northern marine economic circle. Moreover, synergies with environmental regulation policies can amplify the balancing effects. Mechanism analysis shows that green innovation is the core path for balancing economic development and ecological protection in the MEDDZs, and the green collaborative innovation mechanism performs better than the green independent research and development mechanism. Cost analysis suggests that, compared to implementing ecological protection, promoting economic transformation is the preferred solution for the MEDDZs to balance coastal economic development and ecological protection. Spatial analysis shows that, although the spatial spillover effects of the MEDDZs lead to Pareto improvements, they align with the requirements of regional coordinated development. This study concludes that, in the future, the MEDDZs must balance economic development and ecological protection to serve the fundamental goal of green and coordinated development of the marine economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106768"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence of illegal fishing of Octopus maya in the Campeche Bank, Southern Gulf of Mexico","authors":"Miguel Ángel Gamboa-Álvarez ,&nbsp;Jesús Miguel Soto-Vázquez ,&nbsp;Alicia Virginia Poot-Salazar ,&nbsp;Sebastián Caña-Hernández ,&nbsp;José Francisco Chávez-Villegas ,&nbsp;Saúl Pensamiento-Villarauz ,&nbsp;Cynthia Gutiérrez-Pérez ,&nbsp;R. Isaac Rojas-González ,&nbsp;Alfonso Aguilar-Perera","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Mayan octopus <em>Octopus maya</em>, endemic to the Campeche Bank (CB) in the southern Gulf of Mexico, sustains an important fishery in Yucatan, Mexico. Fishers recognize it as the “fishery of hope”, but this fishery is under threat due to the IUU fishing. The objective of this work was to document the first evidence of the IUU fishing of Mayan octopus during two months in the closed fishing season of 2023. From May to June 2023, we counted the number of vessels, which were extracting octopus through diving with compressor (illegal gear), Gareteo (legal gear during open season), and Camacheo (illegal). Out of 230 vessels sighted, 158 vessels used dive compressor off the coasts of Celestún and Sisal, Yucatán, with the highest concentration of vessels and 32 off the Campeche coast. We estimated an average daily catch of nearly 6 ton of octopus, including all catches with three fishing techniques, extracted mainly from areas where the octopus reproduce. We emphasize the urgency for the Mexican federal government to improve the fishery management to deter fishing octopus during the closed season. We propose traceability and eco-labelling tools, engaging all stakeholders in the fishery value chain, and incorporating a crime science approach, which could provide insights for prevention and detection of the IUU fishing. This approach could be essential for effective fishery management decisions and hopefully to guarantee the long-term sustainability and conservation of Mayan octopus in the CB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106767"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144089883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The development of the precautionary approach (PA) in international law and its implications for the management of fish stocks in Japan’s EEZ","authors":"Takeo Horiguchi","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106743","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article focuses on Japan’s national implementation of Art. 61 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to explore whether and to what extent Japan has adopted the precautionary approach (PA) for its domestic fisheries management, especially for its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) fish stocks. Since the mid-1990s, the PA has been widely endorsed by the international community to deal with uncertain risks of overexploitation and depletion of marine living resources. This paper first argues that Japan is now legally obliged to apply the PA and the relevant rules stipulated in the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UNCLOS (UNFSA), when it implements the obligation to properly conserve straddling and highly migratory stocks within its EEZ in accordance with Art. 61 of the UNCLOS. Even for other fish stocks such as those confined within Japan’s EEZ, it can be argued that the core concept of the PA articulated in the UNFSA and the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries must be applied or at least considered when it determines specific conservation measures. Despite this development of international norms for proper conservation of fish stocks, this study finds that the PA has not been consistently applied to the management of fish stocks in Japan’s EEZ under the original total allowable catch (TAC) System, which was established by the Act on the Preservation and Control of Marine Living Resources to implement Art.61 of the UNCLOS. However, the recently revised TAC system in the 2018 Amended 1949 Fishery Act may be indicative of a degree of shift in Japan’s stance towards the PA for the conservation of marine living resources in its EEZ, although Japan still faces significant challenges, especially for ensuring the effective “output control (restriction of catches)” of its domestic fisheries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106743"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fishing beyond the surface: Harnessing local ecological knowledge to improve local fisheries management and conservation","authors":"Marisa A. Gomes ,&nbsp;Catarina M. Alves ,&nbsp;Regina Neto ,&nbsp;Fábio Faria ,&nbsp;Jesus Troncoso ,&nbsp;Pedro T. Gomes","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In coastal regions undergoing substantial changes due to human activities and environmental shifts, the scarcity of data and resources poses a serious challenge for managing and conservating marine communities. Local ecological knowledge (LEK) from fishers can contribute in various ways, complementing limited scientific data and providing insights into species trends, habitat preferences, and fishing patterns, all of which are essential for effective management in data-scarce regions. Here, local ecological knowledge of fishers is applied to investigate temporal trends of key demersal and benthopelagic species in Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal. Through 88 interviews with professionals (n = 57) and recreational fishers (n = 31), the research explored the spatial distribution of fishing activity, target species, habitat preferences, and species interactions. This study aims to address gaps in regional ecological studies by providing fisheries and ecological data. The results provided valuable insights into the local fishery, such as distinct seabed preferences: 67 % of professional fishers favoured rocky seabeds, while 81 % of recreational fishers preferred mixed areas. Additionally, 98 % of professional fishers reported a decrease in <em>Octopus vulgaris</em>, compared to 58 % of recreational fishers. These findings highlight temporal species patterns—such as the observed declines in key species—and local perceptions of ecological changes. The study further identified areas of concentrated fishing activity, offering critical insights into the spatial dynamics of the Viana do Castelo fishery. These findings can inform management strategies, such as targeted conservation measures or habitat protection efforts, ensuring the sustainability of this vital regional resource. By integrating fishers' LEK into the research process, scientists and stakeholders can comprehensively understand the fishery in the study, facilitating the development of sustainable management strategies that balance conservation goals and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Ultimately, the LEK results contribute to a deeper understanding of the local fishery and ecosystem, providing a robust foundation for current and future research in fisheries and ecology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106763"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastic pollution in Costa Rican marine ecosystems: Origins, ecotoxicological impacts, and mitigation strategies","authors":"Juan M. Zúñiga Umaña ,&nbsp;Sergio A. Paniagua ,&nbsp;Rebeca Corrales Brenes ,&nbsp;José R. Vega Baudrit","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become ubiquitous worldwide, posing complex challenges for marine organisms, ecosystems, and human health. In Costa Rica alone, approximately 4000 tons of solid waste are generated daily, of which about 11 % is plastic. Nearly 600 million single-use plastic bottles are produced yearly, with ∼90 % not being collected. Consequently, reports of MPs in beaches, crustaceans, fishes, and bivalves are increasing on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Evidence suggests these plastic fragments can induce oxidative stress and inflammation in organisms, affect fundamental physiological processes (e.g., feeding, reproduction), and may even cross the blood–brain barrier. Recent policies in Costa Rica, including Law N°9786 (single-use plastics) and a proposed ban on MPs in cosmetics (Bill No. 23,694), mark progress. However, enforcement challenges remain—particularly given the country’s limited wastewater treatment coverage. This review discusses key sources of MPs (e.g., wastewater, synthetic fibers, tire wear), current sampling and characterization protocols, and ecotoxicological consequences for marine life and humans. We further analyze existing legislation, highlighting gaps and prospective solutions, and propose an integrated approach involving technological upgrades, biodegradable polymers, and microbial degradation strategies to mitigate plastic pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106772"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A balanced approach to the potential of octopus aquaculture","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106682","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106682"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital transformation of Egyptian marine fisheries: A pathway to sustainable fisheries management","authors":"Ibrahim Elsira ,&nbsp;Alexander Tilley ,&nbsp;Mohamed Samy-Kamal ,&nbsp;Walid Aly","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To effectively manage fisheries, timely data of fishing operations and landings are needed by various stakeholders to make decisions. Although many technologies exist for fisheries' monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), low- and middle-income countries are often under-resourced and lack the capacity to establish and maintain these systems. To guide the formation of an effective MCS system for Egypt’s Mediterranean fisheries, this study investigates the current challenges in the sector, reviews national, regional, and European Union fisheries legislation, and evaluates the successes and suitability of low-cost and scalable digital systems used elsewhere. Results highlight significant gaps in current practices, such as manual, paper-based logbooks for reporting, and tracking of fishing vessels. We describe the design of a proposed low-cost digital workflow integrating electronic reporting with tiered vessel tracking. Our approach builds on tested technologies and international best practices that enhance data accuracy and strengthen compliance with regional and international regulations. This integrated system offers a promising pathway towards improving data-driven decision-making, enhancing fisheries management, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Egypt's Mediterranean fisheries. This approach not only ensures regulatory compliance and promotes sustainable fisheries management, but also improves traceability, thereby strengthening adherence to standards and expanding market access.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106766"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The roles of ecology, legal structures, and threats in maintaining successful shellfish and river herring co-management in Maine","authors":"Sophia A. Chivers,&nbsp;Kenneth S. Cline,&nbsp;Christopher W. Petersen","doi":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper we examine the co-management of two small-scale fisheries in Maine: river herring and shellfish. Both fisheries are co-managed by municipalities and the state. The legal structures, ecology, threats to sustainability, and relationships between co-managers differ for each fishery. To better understand the factors impacting co-management effectiveness, we conducted a literature review, semi-structured interviews of 18 key stakeholders, and legal research.</div><div>We found that shellfish has a more robust and structurally resilient co-management model, with better communication and clearer rules and more shared responsibility across management levels. Despite this stronger model, the main species of shellfish co-managed in Maine is on the decline, while river herring populations are growing or holding steady. We attribute this disparity to external threats, such as climate change and predator introduction, that cannot be addressed at the local level. We also discuss how large-scale processes such as climate change may impact co-management arrangements going forward.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48427,"journal":{"name":"Marine Policy","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106751"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}