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Sustainability
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Building a Healthy Marine Environment: A Conservation Biology Perspective
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Building a Healthy Marine Environment: A Conservation Biology Perspective

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1928

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Bianca Pavel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology—NIRD GeoEcoMar, Constanta Branch 304 Mamaia Blv., RO-900581 Constanta, Romania
Interests: marine ecology; marine biodiversity; conservation biology; biological oceanography; marine environment; biodiversity coastal ecology; marine invertebrate biology; invertebrate zoology; benthic ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The marine environment faces increasing challenges due to anthropogenic pressures, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Conservation biology plays a pivotal role in mitigating these impacts and fostering resilience in marine ecosystems. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on advancing knowledge and solutions to build a healthy marine environment, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and the application of conservation principles.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight cutting-edge research and reviews that align with the journal’s mission to promote sustainable practices and ecological stewardship. Contributions that explore innovative methodologies, technologies, and policy frameworks are particularly encouraged. This collection aspires to bridge gaps between scientific discovery, policy implementation, and public engagement, fostering actionable insights for marine sustainability.

Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:

  • Marine biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
  • The impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
  • Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices.
  • Restoration ecology in marine and coastal systems.
  • The role of technology and citizen science in marine conservation.
  • Socioeconomic and cultural dimensions of marine sustainability.

We welcome original research articles and reviews that advance this vital area of study. Together, we aim to contribute to the global discourse on preserving and enhancing the marine environment for future generations.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ana Bianca Pavel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine conservation
  • ecosystem resilience
  • sustainable fisheries
  • marine biodiversity
  • climate change impacts
  • coastal restoration
  • marine ecosystem services
  • ocean sustainability
  • marine protected areas
  • conservation biology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 5342 KB  
Article
Bridging Archaeology and Marine Ecology: Coral Archives of Hellenistic Coastal Change
by Tali Mass, Jeana Drake, Stephane Martinez, Jarosław Stolarski and Jacob Sharvit
Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8893; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198893 - 7 Oct 2025
Abstract
Stony corals are long-lived, calcifying cnidarians that can be preserved within archaeological strata, offering insights into past seawater conditions, anthropogenic influences, and harbor dynamics. This study analyzes sub-fossil Cladocora sp. colonies from ancient Akko, Israel, dated to the Hellenistic period (~335–94 BCE), alongside [...] Read more.
Stony corals are long-lived, calcifying cnidarians that can be preserved within archaeological strata, offering insights into past seawater conditions, anthropogenic influences, and harbor dynamics. This study analyzes sub-fossil Cladocora sp. colonies from ancient Akko, Israel, dated to the Hellenistic period (~335–94 BCE), alongside modern Cladocora caespitosa from Haifa Bay, Israel. We employed micromorphology, stable isotope analysis, and DNA sequencing to assess species identity, colony growth form, and environmental conditions experienced by the corals. Comparisons suggest that Hellenistic Akko corals grew in high-light, cooler-water, high-energy environments, potentially with exposure to terrestrial waste. The exceptional preservation of these colonies indicates rapid burial, possibly linked to ancient harbor activities or extreme sedimentation. Our results demonstrate the utility of scleractinian corals as valuable paleoenvironmental archives, capable of integrating both biological and geochemical proxies to reconstruct past marine conditions. By linking archaeological and ecological records, this multidisciplinary approach provides a comprehensive understanding of historical coastal dynamics, including ancient harbor use, climate variability, and anthropogenic impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building a Healthy Marine Environment: A Conservation Biology Perspective)
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28 pages, 3460 KB  
Article
Contributing to Responsible Tuna Management in the Indian Ocean: Updating Catch Reporting for the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea
by Dario Pinello, Ahmed Esmaeil Alsayed Alhashmi, Nicola Ferri, Duncan Leadbitter, Mohamed Hasan Ali Al Marzooqi, Mohamed Abdulla Ahmed Almusallami, Sultan Rashed Al Ali, Shamsa Mohamed Al Hameli, Franklin Francis and Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri
Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 7889; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177889 - 2 Sep 2025
Viewed by 606
Abstract
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a long history and tradition in fishing, yet its role in regional tuna management remains yet to be fully defined. This is the case specifically of tuna species, such as yellowfin, which are highly migratory and require [...] Read more.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a long history and tradition in fishing, yet its role in regional tuna management remains yet to be fully defined. This is the case specifically of tuna species, such as yellowfin, which are highly migratory and require coordinated efforts in the context of a corresponding international governance framework, particularly in ecologically important areas like the Northern Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. Data collection and species identification present significant complexities for these species, yet accuracy is crucial for effective conservation and fair allocation of management shares. Although UAE fisheries are partly within the area of competence of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the country has only recently begun to give consideration to the process toward participating in this Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) which, in turn, would provide for the relevant governance framework for the species examined in this paper. This paper explores the factors behind these developments and assesses their implications for regional tuna management. Based on scientific sampling, we developed estimates of past landing volumes and propose mechanisms for ensuring data collection instrumental to an informed participation by the UAE in the regional tuna management framework under the IOTC. Finally, we explored the implications that this development would have under public international law, departing from the traditional principle “ex facto oritur ius” (Latin: the law arises from facts), which embodies the notion that certain legal consequences attach to particular developments. With regard to the specific developments being addressed by this paper, there could be certain legal consequences for UAE; following the reconstruction of landings and the enhancement of international datasets, we postulate that there would be legal ground for UAE to exercise historical fishing rights and seek a potential allocation of quotas within the framework of IOTC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building a Healthy Marine Environment: A Conservation Biology Perspective)
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18 pages, 1663 KB  
Article
Turning the Tide: Ecosystem-Based Management Reforms and Fish Stock Recovery in Abu Dhabi Waters, United Arab Emirates
by Dario Pinello, Mohamed Abdulla Ahmed Almusallami, Franklin Francis, Ahmed Tarish Al Shamsi, Ahmed Esmaeil Alsayed Alhashmi, Mohamed Hasan Ali Al Marzooqi and Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7467; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167467 - 18 Aug 2025
Viewed by 736
Abstract
Fisheries management in Abu Dhabi has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from an open-access system to a more regulated framework aimed at stock recovery and sustainability. This study evaluates the status of 13 commercially important fish species—accounting for [...] Read more.
Fisheries management in Abu Dhabi has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from an open-access system to a more regulated framework aimed at stock recovery and sustainability. This study evaluates the status of 13 commercially important fish species—accounting for 95% of total landings—using two complementary stock assessment methods: CMSY++, a Bayesian catch-based model, and the Length-Converted Catch Curve (LCCC), a length-based mortality estimation approach. Fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data collected from 2001 to 2024 were analyzed to assess trends in biomass, exploitation rates, and spawning stock biomass per recruit (SBR). CMSY++ outputs indicate that in 2005, only 1 out of 13 stocks was sustainable, with biomass (B) above the biomass that can reproduce maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) and fishing mortality (F) below the fishing mortality that gives the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY), and 5 stocks were overexploited. By 2024, seven stocks had recovered to sustainable levels, with biomass at or above BMSY and exploitation rates below FMSY. LCCC results for 2024 further confirm these findings, with most species exhibiting SBR values above the 30% threshold, except for Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775), which remains close to overexploitation limits. The observed stock recovery coincides with effective governance and key fisheries management measures, including effort reduction, gear restrictions, and spatial protections. While most stocks are now within sustainable biological reference points, transboundary species such as Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède, 1800) require continued regional cooperation for effective management. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to achieve and maintain fully sustainable fisheries in the Arabian Gulf while aligning with international conservation frameworks, biodiversity protection goals, and climate-resilient fisheries management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building a Healthy Marine Environment: A Conservation Biology Perspective)
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