Exploring concepts of fisheries ‘dependency’ and ‘community’ in Scotland

There is a growing argument that the biological priorities of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy – to halt the depletion of commercial fish stocks – are not a straightforward solution to the problems currently facing international fisheries management and that social objectives need to be incorporated into policy. However, existing notions of fisheries ‘dependency’ and ‘community’ remain poorly understood and leave decision-makers struggling to address social and cultural issues. By investigating further concepts of ‘dependency’, ‘community’ and some of the social issues facing Fisheries Dependent Areas in Scotland, this research explores the complex shape of coastal fishing communities and the conditions of dependency on fishing that coastal areas face. In this paper preliminary findings from an in-depth case study of Fraserburgh in the north east of Scotland are presented to explore the potential meaning and justification of social objectives in fisheries policy.     

Hatschek’s pit and origin of pituitary gland

Pituitary gland, or pituitary for short, is characteristic of all vertebrates. As a “master gland” controlling a multitude of important functions in the body, its evolutionary origin has been an object of investigations of evolutionary biology for two centuries. Previous morphological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies suggested the homology of the Hatschek’s pit of amphioxus and vertebrate pituitary. Developmental genetics study showed that the development of Hatschek’s pit and vertebrate pituitary is both subject to regulation by the common genes such as Pit1, Lhx3 and BMP3b. Our recent studies demonstrated that the Hatschek’s pit is able to secrete growth hormone (GH)-like hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-like hormone that both play functions similar to vertebrate GH and TSH. We thus think that the emergence of Hatschek’s pit represents one of important events during endocrine network evolution, which laid a foundation for the subsequent formation of a hypothalamic-pituitary system in vertebrates.     

Wave run-up and rundown on ACB Mats under granular and geotextile filters’ condition

Articulated concrete block mattress revetment (ACB Mats) is an appropriate revetment for shore protection and breakwater. ACB Mats act as an integrated and flexible revetment against waves. There is a necessary need of investigation due to the lack of exact ACB Mat design relations in the estimation of hydrodynamic processes including wave run-up and run-down parameters. In the present study, using proper laboratory equipment, run-up and run-down processes were investigated under irregular waves and also granular and geotextile filters’ conditions. In this study, wave run-up and run-down estimation relations in ACB Mat revetment with the open area were explored for the first time. As the obtained results showed, relative maximum wave run-up and rundown are desirable for all conditions. Using a geotextile layer under ABC Mat caused a 14% increase in relative wave run-up values compared to granular filter. Further, in the run-down process, geotextile filter caused a 40% decrease in relative wave run-down values. The intensive decrease in run-down value occurred due to the outflow rate of the water from inside the filter with delay during water attack toward downward, which can be effective on structure stability significantly and should be considered in designs.     

The development and initial implementation of Australia's ‘integrated and comprehensive’ Oceans Policy

Australia's ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention has led to the declaration of an 11 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone. The increased responsibilities which go with this zone has resulted in the Australian Government preparing an “integrated and comprehensive” Oceans Policy. This paper reviews international progress in the development of oceans policy before describing and discussing the development and initial implementation of the Australian Oceans Policy. The development of the policy is analysed in terms of the interplay between various stakeholders and the issues included in the policy, with reference to lessons which may be of value to other countries in developing and implementing their own responses to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.     

Aluminum hydroxide’s solubility and the forms of dissolved aluminum’s occurrence in seawater

The solubility of aluminum hydroxide in seawater of 35‰ salinity at pH = 7.4−8.2 and 25°C was determined experimentally for three samples synthesized in different ways. The solubilities of two phases subjected to ageing and precipitated (a) from a boiling solution of aluminum sulfate and (b) immediately from seawater at room temperature were a little different and showed the minimum within pH = 8.05−8.10. The solubility of aluminum hydroxide precipitated from a solution of sulfate aluminum at room temperature and not subjected to ageing was about twofold at pH∼7.9. The analysis of the pH dependence of the concentration of dissolved aluminum allows one to suppose that an Al(OH)₂⁺ hydroxo complex is the primary form of the aluminum occurrence in seawater at pH < 8.05, whereas the Al(OH)₄⁻ anion is prevailing at pH > 8.10. Electrically neutral Al(OH)₃⁰ hydroxocomplexes may be prevailing within the narrow range of pH = 8.05−8.10 and, in general, are of secondary importance.     

New regulations in Chilean Fisheries and Aquaculture: ITQ’s and Territorial Users Rights

The large industrial fishery development that turn Chile into the third fishing nation in the world is described, and recent regulatory innovations introduced by new Fishery and Aquaculture legislation are reviewed. In addition to classical Fishery management tools, different types of limited entry systems are now defined in the law and applicable to Chilean fisherie. These for the first time include allocation of resources in the form of Individual Fishing Quotas and Individual Transferable Quotas (IFQs and ITQs). Territorial User’s Rights in Fisheries (TURF’s) were incorporated in the law to enhance self-regulatory practices among artisanal fishermen. Among them, the Areas for Management and Exploitation for Benthic Resources (AME) represent an associative assignment of TURFs. Large-scale zoning is used to re-define Aquaculture Grants and to ritualise the conflicts between Artisanal and Industrial fishermen by establishing the Artisanal Reserve in which small-scale coastal fishermen have Priority Access. Performance of the new management instruments are documented with case studies, for the following fisheries: the loco (Concholepas concholepas) a carnivorous snail, keyhole limpets (Fissurella spp.), langostino or squat lobster (Cervimunida johni), Black hake (Dissostichus eleginoides) and the Yellow prawn (Pleuroncodes monodon).     

‘The Hare and the Tortoise’: Lessons from Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea governance

Commonly, the Baltic Sea is pictured as a proactive region with a long-standing tradition for cooperation and surrounded by the “greenest” EU countries. In contrast, southern countries often suffer from the “Mediterranean Syndrome” in which the heterogenous socio political situation is given as the “proof” that cooperation would not work. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive adopted by European Union in 2008 is an important step towards ecosystem-based marine management and provides a legal document suggesting marine regions as a scale for cooperation. In this paper, we aim to explore stakeholders׳ perspectives on key factors for good governance at the regional sea level covering the Eastern Baltic States and the south of France. We targeted a broad panel of professionals from different sectors with a political, economic or societal importance in the respective seas. We suggest that Baltic and Mediterranean stakeholders are going through very different stages of governance adjustment fitting the purpose of ecosystem-based marine management. Baltic institutions are well established, which in some way prevents structural analysis of whether the current governance model is the most appropriate reaching GES. In the Mediterranean, the EU strategies faces institutional challenges, which is leading stakeholders to think “out of the box” about what is really needed for implementing ecosystem-based marine management for this sea. It is suggested that a golden opportunity exists at present in the Mediterranean to create a regional platform of cooperation, not only to fit the MSFD implementation, but also to improve governance of the Mediterranean Sea and its environmental status.     

Hydrophysical and morpholithodynamic processes in the Onega River’s estuary

New data on the Onega River estuary’s hydrological and morpholithodynamic regimes are presented. The river’s bottom structure and soil lithology are described on the basis of field sonar survey materials. Proceeding from the analysis of the hydrographic maps, the dynamics of the Onega River’s mouth bar is tracked over the period of 1830–2000.     

Construction and implementation of multisource spatial data management system of China’s coastal zone and offshore

1IntroductionThe21stcenturyisacenturyoftheocean,andallofusmustprepareforthecomingofthiscentury.Asoceanologicalresearchers,wehavemanythingstodotopromotethecon-structionandapplicationofdigitaloceaninna-tionalspatialdatainfrastructure,suchascoastalintegrateddatamanagement,intelli-gentinformationanalysisandsubjectinforma-tionextractionofoceanologicremotesensingdata,nationalandprovincialremotesensingin-formationservicesystemsofoceanology,e-cologicalandenvironmentalinformationser-vicesystemandsharin…     

Geologic evolution and hydrocarbon habitat of the ‘Arctic Alaska Microplate’

Depositional sequence mapping has been used to analyse the late Devonian to Recent geologic evolution and hydrocarbon habitat of north Alaska and northwest Canada. Eight depositional megasequences have been identified, each of which records a discrete, major phase of basin evolution. The three oldest megasequences are named the Ellesmerian and reflect deposition on a subsiding fold belt terrane. We name the subsequent two megasequences of early Jurassic to Aptian age, the Beaufortian. They record a 100 m.y. period of extension during which a Jurassic failed rift episode was followed by onset of the successful rift episode in the Hauterivian. This extension led to the opening of the oceanic Canada Basin. The final three megasequences record geographically distinct pulses of Brookian orogenesis.The major proven hydrocarbon habitat occurs on the Barrow Arch of north Alaska. This is a volumetrically large, but greatly restricted, hydrocarbon province, which developed as a result of constructive interference between Beaufortian rift and Brookian orogenic tectonics. Two other, relatively minor, hydrocarbon provinces have also been discovered. They are the Mackenzie Delta and Kugmallit Trough provinces of northwest Canada, which developed in passively subsided basins, located just beyond the influence of Brookian orogenic uplift.     

Institutionalizing environmental reform with sense-making: West and Central Africa ports and the ‘green port’ phenomenon

Harmonizing economic activities with environmental considerations has emerged as a new globalizing phenomenon for ports. The phenomenon is labelled as ‘green port’. There is however no canonical way of turning green port into business reality. Some advanced ports have adapted it and African ports are also beginning to follow. The Freeport of Monrovia in West and Central Africa had its process of incorporating environmental considerations into its operational practices in an environmental reform labelled as ‘going green’, akin to the green port phenomenon. The process interrupted routinized port activities and behavior. Employees of Freeport of Monrovia and stakeholders could not foresee the meaning and consequences of such reform. The uncertainty triggered a process for employees and stakeholders to collectively make sense of and react to their new situation. This paper integrates Weick's sense-making properties with Weber and Glynn's institutional mechanisms affiliated to sense-making as a conceptual tool to analyze and understand the process by which meaning was assigned to Freeport of Monrovia's environmental reform and also how it became institutionalized. The analysis is based on hands-on empirical research on an environmental capacity strengthening project executed in 2013 in the Freeport of Monrovia as part of its institutional reform from a service port into landlord port. Findings bring to light the dynamic interplay of institutions and sense-making in the greening of Freeport of Monrovia.     

Hydrological characterization of the Ob’ Inlet in the summer and autumn seasons

The assessment of the hydrological regime under the high- and low-water conditions in the Ob’ Inlet was based on the results of two comprehensive surveys performed by the VNIRO and IO RAS in the summer and autumn of 2010. The summer hydrological regime, which is associated with the peak of the biological activity, was compared with the late autumn one, which was closely followed by the freeze up. Special attention was paid to the assessment of the interseasonal variability of the hydrological state and the processes that continued in the area of the mixing of the riverine waters (the outflux from the Ob’ Inlet) and the water of the Kara Sea. We followed the transition of the hydrologic front from the summer stratification (high waters) into the autumn distortion driven by the intensive mixing of the waters under a sharp decrease in the river discharge.     

UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme: approach,experience and future plans

The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, UN Conference, 1972) outlined a ‘masterplan’ linking environmental assessment, environmental management and supporting measures as basic and inseparable elements of environmental actions plans. It also indicated the advantages of a regional approach in contributing to the solution of global problems. The Regional Seas Programme of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) was subsequently initiated in 1974 (UN General Assembly, 1972). Development of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme demonstrated that the basic concepts formulated at Stockholm can effectively foster regional cooperation among interested States, and may benefit from the support of the United Nations system as a whole.The present Regional Seas Programme includes fourteen regions, comprising over 140 coastal States. It was conceived as an action-oriented programme encompassing a comprehensive, trans-sectoral approach to marine and coastal areas and to environmental problems, considering not only the consequences, but also the causes of environmental degradation. Each Regional Seas Programme is based on the needs of the region concerned. The Regional Seas Programmes promote the parallel development of regional legal agreements, and of action-oriented programme activities, as embodied in the action plans. The overall strategy to be followed, as defined by UNEP’s Governing Council (UNEP, 1974) is:

• 1. Promotion of international and regional conventions, guidelines and actions for the control of marine pollution and the protection and management of aquatic resources.
• 2. Assessment of the state of marine pollution, pollution sources and trends, and of the impact of pollution on human health, marine ecosystems and amenities.
• 3. Coordination of efforts with regard to environmental aspects of the protection, development and management of marine and coastal resources.
• 4. Support for education and training efforts to facilitate the full participation of developing countries in the protection, development and management of marine and coastal resources.

Because the goal of each Regional Seas Programme is to benefit the States of that region, governments are involved from the very beginning in the formulation of the action plan. After acceptance, the implementation of the programme is carried out, under the overall authority of the governments concerned, by national institutions nominated by their governments. Although the Regional Seas Programme is implemented primarily by government-nominated institutions, specialized United Nations bodies, as well as the relevant international and regional organizations, contribute to its formulation, and also provide assistance to these national institutions. UNEP acts as an overall coordinator for the development and implementation of regional action plans. In some cases, this role is limited to the initial phase of the activities.     

Non-Plate-Tectonic (Autonomous) Folding and Thrusting in the Earth’s Crust

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The formation of fold–thrust dislocations of stratified rocks in the Earth’s crust has been considered as a consequence of the lateral...     

An Instrument Platform for Above-Water Measurements of the Ocean’s Surface and Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - An automated instrument platform is designed to install remote sensing instruments for measurements made from stationary coastal pedestals or offshore...     

Carbonaceous metalliferous sediments and oceanic anoxic events in the Earth’s Phanerozoic history

The oceanic anoxic events (OAE) intermittently occurring in the Earth’s Phanerozoic history left fingerprints in the geological record in the form of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments. The analysis of the available data on the S, Mo, Sr, Os, and Nd isotope compositions reveals that the role the volcanic factor was multiply higher during the accumulation of these sediments. The sediments maximally enriched in planktonogenic organic matter (up to 5% on average and up to 30% in separate layers) are widespread on continental margins and in adjacent onshore areas. On active margins, they are largely confined to the back parts of marginal seas, where they are characterized by lower organic matter concentrations (averaging approximately 2.5% and up to 10% in separated beds). The deposition of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments in the Phanerozoic associates with 16 oceanic anoxic events, which happened in different geodynamic settings with intensified ophiolitic, island-arc, and trappe volcanism. The underwater lava eruptions and hydrothermal solution discharges served as a triggering mechanism for the chemical, biological, sedimentological, and climatic processes that stimulated the development of anoxic environments in the ocean and the deposition of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments.     

Characteristic scales and horizontal asymmetry of jet streams in the Earth’s atmosphere

Wind-speed distributions in atmospheric upper air jet streams have a horizontal asymmetry: the wind shear on the northern (cyclonic) side of the jet is larger than that on the southern (anticyclonic) side. The paper suggests an explanation of this feature on the basis of the theory of nonlinear geostrophic adjustment. Simple theoretical estimates are obtained for the asymmetry coefficient of the speed profile. It is shown that the asymmetry increases with the Rossby number (with a jet-stream velocity). Results of the statistical analysis of the horizontal asymmetry of jet streams from Earth’s satellite measurements are described.     

‘Future Ocean’ – Communicating and conserving the blue heart of the planet

This key note presentation opened the conference. It provides a context to deliberations and discussions, and it sets out a range of options to help make better progress in the effective management and protection of the ocean. These range from improving the quality of protection through to how technology and new approaches can be used to ignite a broader interest and engagement with ocean conservation.