Contingent valuation analysis of willingness to pay for beach erosion control through the stabiplage technique: A study in Djerba (Tunisia)

Beach erosion can have major economic implications because of the potential impact on coastal recreation demand – particularly for countries where coastal tourism is one of the main sources of external revenue. Djerba Island (Tunisia) falls in that category. With about 125 km of coastline, Djerba Island is one of the most important Tunisian destinations. However, the island is experiencing coastal erosion problems. The Tunisia government launched a project to fight costal erosion through the Stabiplage technique. This study provides the first economic valuation of beach erosion control in Tunisia and is the first one that focuses on the Stabiplage technique. Specifically, a contingent valuation survey is carried out to elicit the public willingness to pay (WTP) for the project. An interval payment card question format is used to obtain information about WTP from representative samples of residents and tourists in Djerba. The results reveal a positive WTP for the project. Aggregate WTP estimates range from €133,459 (median value) to €5,180,269 (mean value). These values can help inform decisions about whether to undertake the project based on either the benefit-cost ratio rule or majority voting rule.     

Determination of Precious Metal Concentrations in a Polymetallic Nodule Reference Sample from the Indian Ocean by ICP-MS

A polymetallic nodule reference sample (No. 2388)collected from the Indian Ocean, and seven other samples, two from the United States Geological Survey, USA (Nod-A-1 and Nod-P-1), three from Russia (OOPE 601, OOPE 602, and OOPE 603), and two from China (GSPN-2 and GSPN-3), collected from different loca tions, are available for calibration purposes and as control samples in the analytical programs for polymetallic nodules and associated sediments to ensure accurate measurements. They are not certified for precious metal concentrations, however, and the data available are very scanty. An attempt has been made to provide working values for platinum, palladium, gold, and silver and indicative values for osmium, iridium, and ruthenium in these eight ferromanganese nodule reference samples, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To assess the accuracy of the method, certified reference materials, WPR-1, WMS-1, WMG-1, and WGB-1 Canadian Certified Materials Project (CCRMP, Canada) were analyzed, and the data obtained were compared with the certified values. The estimate of analytical reproducibility was found to be better than 15 % RSD for most elements with comparable accuracy. The data presented for this set of manganese nodule reference samples may be useful in geochemical studies of manganese nodules and associated sediments.     

南海东部中尺度涡生成机制

利用高度计海面高度异常数据和非线性1½层约化重力模式研究了南海东部中尺度涡的生成机制。模式结果表明,南海内区风场是南海东部中尺度涡生成的主要驱动力,且南海内区高频风场能解释约54%的南海东部中尺度涡。从西太平洋传来的信号同样有十分重要的作用,由西太区域高频风场大致能解释南海东部40%的中尺度涡。风驱动的赤道附近的海面异常信号能经过锡布图通道和民都洛海峡传播到吕宋岛西海岸,其中有部分能量会以罗斯贝波的形式往西传播。这种信号在西传的过程中会发生不稳定,可能形成孤立的涡旋。     

The Sample Size Necessary to Assess Changes in Fish Biomass – A Reply

Abstract. In this article, we compare biomass results for three fish species (Symphodus ocellatus, Serranus scriba and Diplodus annularis) between May 1993 and May 2000 in the Bonifacio Strait Marine Reserve. The data were obtained from seagrass meadows using the visual census method. A randomised procedure was used to test the null hypothesis of biomass equality. To this end, decreasing sample sizes were used for the May 2000 data to determine the sample size necessary to reject the null hypothesis (5 % level). For Symphodus ocellatus, 10 samples (fixed points) were necessary to reject the null hypothesis, whereas 15 samples were required for Diplodus annularis. The null hypothesis was never rejected for Serranus scriba regardless of the sample size considered.
These results are discussed, as is the power statistical analysis proposed by Ortiz (2002; this issue, pp. 1 – 9) , to determine the optimal sample size necessary to detect perturbation effects in the marine environment. Although the power analysis is certainly a useful method to determine the sampling design in assessment the effect of marine reserves on fish biomass, the magnitude of the marine reserve effect remains problematic in ecology.     

Willingness to pay for marine-based tourism in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve,Mozambique

Marine and coastal ecosystems face widespread degradation largely because market failure hides the economic value of the goods and services they provide. Marine protected areas (MPAs) can serve as structures that ensure the continued functioning of marine and coastal ecosystem goods and services. Yet, to be effective and sustainable, MPAs must be able to prove their economic worth and generate revenue. User-fee systems are used commonly to partially finance multi-use MPAs. This study applies contingent valuation as a method of economic valuation within an MPA in southern Mozambique. Using a payment card and questionnaire from November 2012 to April 2013, this study determined the willingness to pay (WTP) of three user groups for access to the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve. The study also investigated the potential for the reserve to increase revenues for conservation through the implementation of a user fee for marine-based activities. Probit and ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions were used to determine the effects of various independent variables on WTP. The OLS model found income, African residency and environmental awareness to be significant factors that influenced visitors' WTP for access to the reserve. The mean WTP was R 43.75 (South African rands) per person per day. Using data supplied by the reserve management, conservative estimated annual revenues based on the implementation of this fee amount ranged between R 1.46 million and R 3.3 million.     

New metrics for managing and sustaining the ocean's bounty

Policies are arising around the world, most recently in the United States, that mandate the implementation of marine spatial planning as a practical pathway towards ecosystem-based management. In the new United States ocean policy, and several other cases around the globe, ecosystem services are at the core of marine spatial planning, but there is little guidance on how ecosystem services should be measured, making it hard to implement this new approach. A new framework is shown here for practical, rigorous ecosystem service measurement that highlights contributions from both natural and social systems. The novel three-step framework addresses traditional shortcomings of an ecosystem services approach by giving managers and scientists the tools to assess and track: (1) the condition of the ecosystem (supply metrics), (2) the amount of ocean resources actually used or enjoyed by people (service metrics), and (3) people's preference for that level of service (value metrics). This framework will allow real world progress on marine spatial planning to happen quickly, and with a greater chance for success.     

南澳岛海域表层沉积物重金属分布、富集与污染评价

南澳岛是广东南澳县的主岛, 周边海域的环境保护被置于当地社会经济发展的重要位置。为此, 2004年 5月、7月选择以水产养殖为主的后江湾和白沙湾及以旅游为主的青澳湾作为研究对象, 对南澳岛海域重金属的 含量、分布、富集及污染状况进行了调查与评价。结果表明该海域重金属元素的平均含量为Cd: 0.19mg.kg-1, Cr: 26.86mg.kg-1, Cu: 20.71mg.kg-1, Ni: 22.78mg.kg-1, Pb: 35.67mg.kg-1, Zn: 79.48mg.kg-1, 低于近岸经济发达海域, 但高于受人类活动影响较小的外海; 在分布特征上表现为湾口高于湾内, 养殖区高于非养殖区的总趋势, 但在各海湾之间重金属含量并无显著差异, 表明南澳岛海域重金属主要来源于地表径流输入。该海域以城市污水中代表元素Cu (Cf = 2.75), Pb (Cf = 2.27)富集为主; 以海洋沉积物质量标准、沉积物质量基准和美国太平洋沿岸基线值评价, 南澳岛海域环境质量均处于健康状态, 但其潜在污染效应仍值得关注。     

A standardised sampling protocol for robust assessment of reach-scale fish community diversity in wadeable New Zealand streams

The New Zealand fish fauna contains species that are affected not only by river system connectivity, but also by catchment and local-scale changes in landcover, water quality and habitat quality. Consequently, native fish have potential as multi-scale bioindicators of human pressure on stream ecosystems, yet no standardised, repeatable and scientifically defensible methods currently exist for effectively quantifying their abundance or diversity in New Zealand stream reaches. Here we report on the testing of a back-pack electrofishing method, modified from that used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, on a wide variety of wadeable stream reaches throughout New Zealand. Seventy-three first- to third-order stream reaches were fished with a single pass over 150–345 m length. Time taken to sample a reach using single-pass electrofishing ranged from 1–8 h. Species accumulation curves indicated that, irrespective of location, continuous sampling of 150 stream metres is required to accurately describe reach-scale fish species richness using this approach. Additional species detection beyond 150 m was rare (<10%) with a single additional species detected at only two out of the 17 reaches sampled beyond this distance. A positive relationship was also evident between species detection and area fished, although stream length rather than area appeared to be the better predictor. The method tested provides a standardised and repeatable approach for regional and/or national reporting on the state of New Zealand's freshwater fish communities and trends in richness and abundance over time.     

Studying possibilities for the classification of infrasonic signals from different sources

Atmospheric infrasonic signals were classified on the basis of data obtained in the United States (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) and in the Antarctic region (Windless Bight) from 1980 to 1983. The data archive included five classes of signals from different sources: explosions, mountain associated waves, microbaroms, volcanic infrasound, and auroral infrasonic waves. This classification was based on the theory of testing statistical hypotheses. The possibilities of separating these classes were studied. It was shown that the signals (from the archive used) that are characteristic of explosions and volcanic activity can be rather easily separated from those characteristic of mountain associated waves, microbaroms, and auroral infrasonic waves.     

Valuing the recovery of overexploited fish stocks in the context of existence and option values

The current reduction in commercial fish stocks is a problem of global concern. In response to this situation, administrations around the world are attempting to recover critical stocks by implementing new regulations based on catching restrictions and recovery plans. These restrictions have negative effects on local economies, but species recovery also brings important benefits to society in the long term. Given that the recovery of endangered species also results in considerable non-use economic value, this paper employs contingent valuation techniques to measure individual preferences for different recovery levels. We distinguish primarily between existence and option values linked to various levels of the desired stocks and discuss how these values influence willingness to pay (WTP) estimates. Our results show that recovered stocks for hake and Norwegian lobster increase local welfare, and show that the median household WTP is about 17.73€ for a recovery programme regulated by the European Union.     

东海北部营养盐分布的季节变化及成因探讨

基于美国国家海洋大气管理局(NOAA)2007年发布的全球海域营养盐数据库资料和美国国家地球物理数据中心(NGDC)2006年发布的全球地貌数据库资料,在MATLAB计算机平台上,利用研发的数值分析与成图技术,对东海北部海域营养盐分布的季节变化特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)东海北部海域NO3--N、PO43--P分布总特征为由沿岸向离岸递减,由表层向底层递增;西北高,东南低,呈扇形向东南扩展;SiO3--Si有两个浓度高值区,一个为研究区域的西北角,另一个在东北角;(2)在0~50 m的表层营养盐平均浓度均是冬季最高;50~200 m的中层NO3--N、SiO3--Si夏季最高;200 m以下的底层四季变化微弱,其中400~500m层PO43--P、SiO3--Si浓度值秋季最高。NO3--N变异系数表层最大,PO3--P中层最大、SiO3--Si底层最大,其中NO3--N相应各层变异系数大于PO43--P、SiO3--Si;(3)研究区域四季均存在高营养盐水团。高PO43--P、SiO3--Si水团中心分别位于125.5°E、30.5°N和128.5°E、30.5°N;高NO3--N水团中心,随冬-春-夏-秋、从南往东北再向西、最后向东南,在125°~128°E、29°~31°N范围内移动。     

After the nursery: Regional and broad-scale movements of sharks tagged in the Caribbean

Broad-scale movements (10s–100s km) of highly migratory species, such as sharks, present unique management challenges as fish migrate across international boundaries, thereby exposing them to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Lemon sharks and blacktip sharks are well-studied throughout their range in the western North Atlantic, but broad-scale movements in the Caribbean region are largely unknown. Utilizing 10 years (2004–2014) of acoustic and conventional tagging data, this study presents the post-nursery movements of young of the year (YOY) and juvenile blacktip (n = 198) and lemon (n = 130) sharks tagged in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). A total of five (2.5%) blacktip sharks were recaptured by recreational and commercial fishers in the greater Caribbean and as far north as the southeastern coast of the United States, moving between 2 and 2,200 km and crossing a minimum of six international boundaries. Of the acoustically tagged blacktip (n = 88) and lemon (n = 45) sharks, 28 (32%) and 16 (24%), respectively, were detected outside the boundaries of the nursery area in which they were tagged, dispersing throughout the USVI territory; blacktip sharks were acoustically detected beyond territorial waters as far as Florida, United States (1,881 km). Both species transited through local marine protected areas but did not establish residency resulting in little protection. This is the first study to examine connectivity between blacktip shark populations of the USVI and the east coast of the United States.     

Modeling of vertical heat and moisture transfer and carbon exchange in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system

A physical and mathematical model of the vertical heat and moisture transfer and the carbon exchange in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system is proposed that includes the interaction between these processes. The model describes the interception of precipitation by plants and its further evaporation, transpiration, evaporation from a soil surface as well as vertical moisture transfer, photosynthesis, and plant and soil respiration. The model has been verified against data from observations of heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide fluxes at a grassland site (international FIFE experiment, Kansas, United States), in a pine forest (BOREAS, Saskatoon, Canada), and in a broad-leaved mixed forest (FLUXNET measurements in the southeastern United States). Numerical experiments with the models have been conducted to estimate the influence of soil moisture and atmospheric CO₂ concentration on transpiration and carbon exchange of the vegetation cover.     

Financing marine protected areas in Jamaica: An exploratory study

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPA) has been a common government response to increasing fishing, tourism and other human activities that lead to decline in coral and marine resources. MPAs often suffer inadequacy of funds and simply become “paper parks”. This study makes a case for the feasibility of a self-financing mechanism for MPAs by estimating potential surplus benefit that recreational users may gain from MPAs in Jamaica. These same recreational users in turn, might be willing to pay a small portion of that gain toward the management costs. With the help of a travel cost model and the visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) estimates, we show that the management costs of the park amount to a negligible amount; less than 0.1% of the annual total WTP. Furthermore, using these WTP estimates and the findings from other stakeholders’ surveys (hotels, tour operators, etc.), the paper provides insights on user-supported funding policies, such as taxes and fees, which might sustain the operations of MPAs in Jamaica and the broader Caribbean region.     

基于Bibexcel和Pajek的海洋生态环境保护领域科学计量与知识图谱分析

利用文献处理工具Bibexcel和网络分析工具Pajek对SCIE和SSCI文献数据库1990—2020年全球海洋生态环境保护文献数据进行统计与可视化分析,以期揭示该领域的科研产出情况、领域知识基础、研究热点分布及前瞻发展态势。研究结果表明:海洋生态环境保护领域文献产出近30年来持续增长;美国、澳大利亚、加拿大、法国等国家在该领域内有着较强的科研竞争力和学术影响力,其中美国处于研究合作核心地位,美国加利福尼亚大学、法国国家科研中心等机构为主要发文机构;海洋生态环境保护研究的热点方向主要为海洋生态环境修复与管控、气候变化、生态系统服务、海洋保护区等;该领域研究学科交融趋势明显,研究者应充分借鉴、吸收其他学科理念和方法,加强海洋生态环境与气候变化、人为活动及生态物种等因素的制衡与协同。     

基于生态系统的海洋综合管理研究 ——以美国大沼泽湿地项目为例

基于生态系统的海洋综合管理是海洋管理的新理念和新模式,其倡导从海洋生态系统角度开展环境资源保护,并以促进海洋生态系统与人类开发活动的协调可持续发展为终极目标。美国大沼泽湿地项目是基于生态系统的海洋综合管理的经典范例。基于生态系统的海洋综合管理的核心理念是将整个生态系统纳入海洋综合管理范畴,颠覆传统的单一对象保护理念,实现海洋生态保护与人类生存发展协调可持续。美国大沼泽湿地项目采用了基于生态系统的海洋综合管理理念,将整个大沼泽湿地视为一个整体生态系统,实现联邦政府、州政府和社会组织协作,合力促进大沼泽湿地的绿色生态可持续发展。美国大沼泽湿地项目全面贯彻基于生态系统的海洋综合管理理念,采用联合管理模式,重视水资源环境治理取得一定成效,但也暴露出管理模式有待改进、公众宣传参与不到位、区域间联系不紧密等问题。     

Investigating the potential for marine resource protection through environmental service markets: An exploratory study from La Paz,Mexico

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have long been advocated as effective management vehicles for promoting long-term conservation of marine resources and biodiversity. However MPAs are failing in their conservation goals, impeded by insufficient funds and a heavy reliance by low-income populations on natural resources.Investigation into a potential payment for environmental services (PES) program for marine protection was conducted in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Surveys elicited tourists' willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce fishing pressure in Espíritu Santo Marine Park. Interviews with local fishermen investigated necessary levels of compensation in order to cease fishing, by proxy of required salaries in alternative employment outside of the fishing sector.Results indicated that required compensation values outweighed WTP by the tourist sector. Median WTP per trip amounted to US$12.50 and US$30, additional to pre-existing price, for day excursions and longer trips respectively. Median willingness to accept of fishermen was approximately US$135 per week, at time of survey, and required compensation was US$60 per week. Aggregated median WTP was able to cover annual compensation costs for approximately half of the fishing population. That fish stocks were not in collapse, thereby not creating sufficient scarcity and decreasing opportunity costs, and potential high transaction costs were identified as constraints of the proposed PES scheme.However, PES for marine protection should not be dismissed entirely; sites which are less productive and where fishermen's opportunity costs are low will be more suited to such a compensation scheme. Furthermore PES can work alongside existing markets.     

A review of marine mammal,sea turtle and seabird bycatch in USA fisheries and the role of policy in shaping management

This paper reviews the available information (observer programs, estimates, statutes, regulations) for bycatch of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds in fisheries of the United States. Goals of the review were to evaluate the state of knowledge of bycatch and the role of existing protective legislation in shaping bycatch management for different taxa. Pressing issues are identified, as well as knowledge gaps and policy limitations that hinder multi-species bycatch reduction. The USA has made important progress toward reducing bycatch in its fisheries, but the efficacy of its management has been limited somewhat by a focus on taxon- and fishery-specific regulation and the lack of consistent mandate across taxa for taking a cumulative perspective on bycatch. Applying consistent criteria across taxa for setting bycatch limits (e.g., extending the approach used for marine mammals to sea turtles and seabirds) would be the first step in a multi-species approach to bycatch reduction. A population-based multi-species multi-gear approach to bycatch would help identify priority areas where resources are needed most and can be used most effectively.     

Developing a co-management financing mechanism to enhance the financial sustainability of marine protected areas in Taiwan

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a cost-efficient and management-effective tool. Fishery Resource Conservation Zones (FRCZs) are one type of MPA in Taiwan, and they were designated to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources since 1976; however, government appropriations are the only financing source for FRCZs, leading to manpower and equipment shortages for FRCZ management. This study selected the Touching and Suao FRCZs in Yilan County of Taiwan as cases studies. To assess the feasibility of establishing a sustainable financing mechanism for MPAs, the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was applied to examine respondents׳ willingness to pay (WTP) to setup a fund for FRCZ management. The empirical results indicated that approximately 90% of respondents would be willing to donate funding for MPAs, and the WTP per respondent is NT$586.51 (US$19.6). Thus, establishing an MPA fund is a feasible way to operate Taiwanese MPAs through a co-management framework involving the central government, local government, local communities and stakeholders. However, based on our empirical results, a co-management financing mechanism for MPAs should be established to ensure stable and diverse financing sources.     

Near-term priorities for the science, policy and practice of Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP)

There is currently a rare opportunity to inform emerging efforts to implement coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) in the United States, Europe and elsewhere around the world. In particular, the newly formed US National Ocean Council is developing a strategic action plan for CMSP over the next 18-24 months. In order to identify priority needs for significantly advancing CMSP, a group of experts in the science, policy and practice of CMSP developed recommendations for (1) process development, (2) communication and engagement efforts, (3) tradeoff and valuation analyses, and (4) decision support. Some of these priorities are supported by existing activities in the United States and elsewhere. Others have yet to be addressed and merit immediate attention.