Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Water Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Oceans and Coastal Zones".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 12766

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ta-Jen Chu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
Interests: recreational fisheries; ecology; restoration; fishery management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Hwey-Lian Hsieh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Interests: ecology; restoration; conservation

Prof. Dr. Chenghsin Liao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Ocean Science and Resource, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
Interests: ecology, fishery management

Prof. Dr. Wenshu Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
Interests: marine fishery; aquatic animal immunization; disease control

Prof. Dr. Weiguo Qian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Fisheries College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Interests: marine fishery; recreational fisheries; fishing gear and fishing method; fish behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Coasts, including estuaries, wetlands, mangroves, etc., have long been recognized for their critical role in providing and maintaining the ecological services on which we depend. Even so, in the face of human development, the quality and quantity of coastal ecology worldwide are declining. Although some estuaries, wetlands, and mangroves are protected, considerable investment in academic research is still required. At the same time, due to the development of fish resources (FAO, 2020), it is also affected by the above-mentioned habitats. In order to take into account ongoing climate change and its impact on fishery resources, the identification and adoption of sustainable management practices for fish stocks have become global priorities. The stock status of some selected fish species will be assessed by an expert working group based on country-specific requirements. These academic studies include: primarily, the economic (and/or ecological) importance of each species. Assessments are based on available data, the best available methods and/or biological knowledge about the species under consideration. Once inventory status has been assessed, decision makers are responsible for defining, evaluating and adopting management measures. Recently, interest in multi-species and multi-trophic models has grown significantly, especially regarding the growing importance of assessing the health of different ecosystems. In this context, it is believed that for the Special Issue, it is very important to determine the ecological status of estuaries, wetlands, mangroves, etc., to link multi-species fisheries management models, trophic relationships of exploited species and ecosystem responses to fishing pressure. As well as other interacting drivers of polytrophic levels (e.g., climate change), identify the key environmental factors that drive the spatial distribution and habitat use of species. This era has also fostered extraordinary collaboration among ecologists, environmental scientists, engineers, government officials, wildlife biologists and non-government officials.

Prof. Dr. Ta-Jen Chu
Prof. Dr. Hwey-Lian Hsieh
Prof. Dr. Chenghsin Liao
Prof. Dr. Wenshu Huang
Prof. Dr. Weiguo Qian
Guest Editors

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. Water 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 2600 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

estuaries ecology and management
wetlands protection and management
mangroves restoration and construction
fishery resource assessment
coastal fishery management
fishery management policy
coral ecology and protection
ecosystem services
coastal culture and aquaculture
marine farming and construction

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 6001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coupling Imports of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen and Particulate Organic Matter by Aquaculture Sewage to Zhangjiang Estuary, Southeastern China

by Shuang He, Ta-Jen Chu, Zhiqiang Lu and Danyang Li

Water 2024, 16(14), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142054 - 20 Jul 2024

Viewed by 306

Abstract

Estuary ecosystems serve as crucial connectors between terrestrial and marine environments, thus playing vital roles in maintaining the ecological balance of coastal marine ecosystems. In recent years, the eutrophication in estuaries caused by aquaculture sewage has been revealed, highlighting the necessity to understand its influence on the nutrient conditions and carbon storage of estuaries. In this study, δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O were used to indicate the contribution of aquaculture-derived sewage to dissolved inorganic nitrogen in Zhangjiang Estuary, and δ¹³C and C:N ratio were used to reveal its effects on the particulate organic matter. The major results are as follows: (1) Aquaculture water contributed 62~86% and 60~100% of the total nitrate and ammonium in Zhangjiang Estuary, respectively, and the drainage periods of the cultured species has a great influence on the content and composition of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. (2) Aquaculture water was also the major source of particulate organic matter (24~33% of the total content) here, most of which may be derived from crab ponds. (3) The imports of nutrients by aquaculture water may potentially regulate particulate organic matter in Zhangjiang Estuary by promoting the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Our study revealed the coupling effects of aquaculture activities on the nitrogen and carbon storage in an estuarine ecosystem. It also indicates that isotopes may be efficient in the monitoring of a coastal environment, which may further aid the management of inshore cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Wild and Cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus from the East China Sea and Associated Health Risks

by Kexiang Lu, Weiguo Qian, Kai Zhu and Kaida Xu

Water 2024, 16(14), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141957 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 325

Abstract

In this study, a comparison of the concentrations of eight heavy metals (including Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Cd, and Hg) was conducted between wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus. Significant differences in the concentrations of Zn, Cd, As, and Hg were observed between wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus. The results showed that the mean Zn concentration was significantly higher in cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (3.051 ± 0.738 mg/kg) when compared to its wild counterpart (2.512 ± 0.407 mg/kg). In contrast, the mean Cd concentration was found to be lower in the cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (0.001 ± 0.0007 mg/kg) than in the wild ones (0.003 ± 0.003 mg/kg). Likewise, the wild samples demonstrated a higher mean As concentration (1.494 ± 0.659 mg/kg) than the cultured samples (0.594 ± 0.215 mg/kg). Lastly, it was noted that the mean Hg concentration was considerably higher in the cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (0.042 ± 0.016 mg/kg) than in the wild specimens (0.014 ± 0.011 mg/kg). Pollution levels and health risks were evaluated using the single-factor pollution index (SFI), metal pollution index (MPI), and health risk assessment methods. The results showed that, for Cu, Zn, Cr, and Cd, both wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus had SFI values below 1 compared to the marine organism quality standards. The MPI values for wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus were 0.188 ± 0.051 and 0.172 ± 0.054, respectively, both far below the safety limit of 2 for pollution-free aquatic products. The Hazard Index (HI) for wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus were below 1, indicating no health risks from long-term consumption. A discriminant analysis, based on Zn, Cd, As, and Hg concentrations, distinguished wild from cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus with a 96.0% accuracy, remaining stable at over 94.9% upon cross-validation. These findings accurately evaluate that there is no risk to human health from consuming Oplegnathus fasciatus, which is significant in safeguarding public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Reduction Associated with Sediment Reworking through Burrows of the Thalassinid Mud Shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) from Korean Intertidal Sediments

by Jaehwan Seo and Bon Joo Koo

Water 2024, 16(13), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131806 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 772

Abstract

This study evaluated the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the sediment reworking rate (SRR) of Laomedia sp. through in situ measurements and assessed the organic carbon reduction by comparing carbon concentrations between particles collected from the water column and reworked sediments. The SRR was significantly correlated with the duration of submergence at high elevation, whereas it showed a stronger correlation with mound height than with the duration of submergence at low elevation. The organic carbon content of suspended particles was reduced by 68% by the sediment reworking of Laomedia sp., with a mean organic carbon reduction of 0.01 gC ind.⁻¹ d⁻¹. This reduction resulted from particle selection by the inhabitant and by accumulation along the burrow walls. The estimated annual organic carbon reduction associated with the sediment reworking was 12.8 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹. The transport of organic carbon from the burrows into the water column was comparatively high relative to other species. These findings suggest that Laomedia sp. plays a significant role in enhancing the carbon cycle as an important bioturbator, with its burrows acting as carbon sinks by trapping organic carbon in intertidal sediments. Therefore, bioturbation by macroinvertebrates should be considered when evaluating carbon sequestration in intertidal sediments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Long-Term Dynamics of Walleye Pollock Stocks in Relation to Oceanographic Changes in the East Sea

by Hae Kun Jung, Jong Won Park, Jae Hyeong Yang, Joo Myun Park, In Seong Han and Chung Il Lee

Water 2024, 16(7), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070955 - 26 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 871

Abstract

The decline in walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) stocks in Korean waters is a major concern for fishery conservation and management. However, the causes and mechanisms of this collapse remain unclear. This study investigated the complex dynamics influencing the abundance of walleye pollocks in the East Sea of Korea over several decades, by analyzing data from long-term changes in biological factors including composition of length and sex, catch, and oceanographic condition. Prior to the mid-1980s, the catch ratio of juveniles was higher than that of adults, with a higher proportion of females in both juvenile and adult catches compared to males. Especially, high fishing pressure on female individuals can be an important factor contributing to declining reproduction. Consequently, after the mid-1980s, there was a sudden decline in juvenile pollock catches. In the late 1980s, there was a rapid increase in sea surface temperature (SST) in the spawning grounds, resulting in a decrease in both the duration of suitable temperature for spawning and the regional proportion for suitable spawning conditions. Consequently, the decline in pollock stocks after the late 1980s due to overfishing of pollock in the mid-1980s was further exacerbated by the effects of SST warming after the late 1980s. These findings highlight the impact of overfishing and environmental factors on pollock stocks and indicate the need for appropriate fishery management practices to ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Frog Crabs (Ranina ranina) in South Penghu Marine National Park, Taiwan: A Case Study of Population Dynamics and Recreational Fishing Sustainable Development

by Chun-Han Shih

Water 2023, 15(20), 3689; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15203689 - 22 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1389

Abstract

The frog crab/red frog crab (Ranina ranina), a species of symbolic significance in the South Penghu Marine National Park, Taiwan, represents a collaboration between marine conservation and recreational fishing under Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) as defined by the United Nations. From 2020 to 2021, the growth and reproduction of R. ranina were examined in the Taiwan Strait, off the coast of Taiwan. Samples were gathered from the South Penghu Marine National Park water square in Penghu County using red frog crab nets. A comparative analysis of the existing biological literature has revealed that the spawning season of R. ranina differs among populations, as evidenced by varying percentages of ovigerous females: 10–90% in Hachijojima, Japan; 86% in Molokai, Hawaii; 1–17% in the Andaman Sea, Thailand; more than 50% in Mindanao, Philippines; and 30–80% in New South Wales, Australia, and Taiwan. Additionally, analysis of the reproductive patterns, growth parameters, and spawning seasons of R. ranina can serve as a scientific foundation for the implementation of SDG14 as well as the formulation of conservation principles for resource management. This research has underscored the essential role of localized conservation strategies that cohesively resonate with broader global sustainability goals, offering a strategic framework for effective marine resource management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphometric Differentiation of the Swimming Crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783) Populations in East Asia: Implications for Stock Identification and Management

by Wei-Chieh Kao, Ping-Hung Chang, Chun-Han Shih, Po-Cheng Chen, Tzong-Der Tzeng, Yu-San Han and Yu-Ming Lu

Water 2023, 15(19), 3335; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15193335 - 22 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1208

Abstract

Morphometric disparities were employed to characterize the geographical variations in and elucidate the phylogeography of Portunus sanguinolentus in East Asia. In this study, a comprehensive assessment was undertaken based on measurements from 833 individual crabs. These crabs were sampled from eight distinct locations, namely Kyushu (KS), Fuzhou (FZ), Yilan (YL), Xiamen (XM), Tainan (TN), Hong Kong (HK), Vietnam (VN), and Singapore (SG). Twelve morphometric measurements were standardized based on size using the allometric method. A cluster analysis and a canonical variate analysis (CVA) were then conducted for a data analysis. Randomization tests were subsequently performed to validate the morphometric differences observed among the groups. The analytical results classified the eight sampled populations into at least two distinct clusters. The first cluster included three samples from China (specifically FZ, XM, and HK), while the second cluster consisted of samples from East Asia (including KS, YL, TN, VN, and SG). The CVA revealed a tripartite division into three groups: the mainland China group (FZ, XM, and HK), the Kuroshio group (KS, YL, and TN), and the Southeast Asia group (VN and SG). The observed morphometric variations between these broad groups were statistically significant for both genders. These differences may be attributed to evolutionary origins, geographical events, or environmental adaptations. This study highlights the effectiveness of morphometric techniques in providing comprehensive insights into species delimitation and philogeographic relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 2255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing the Fishery and Solar Power Symbiosis Model for Sustainable Marine Resource Management: Evaluating the Effects of Solar Shading on the Growth and Water Quality of Litopenaeus vannamei and Chanos chanos

by Ping-Hung Chang, Chun-Han Shih and Wei-Chieh Kao

Water 2023, 15(18), 3260; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183260 - 13 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1565

Abstract

The stable supply of renewable energy is imperative in many countries lacking domestic energy production. Thus, green energy will likely dominate future energy development trends. Taiwan’s thriving aquaculture industry presents an opportunity to integrate fisheries with electricity generation by transforming aquaculture into a symbiotic fishery–photovoltaic structure that provides stable, clean energy with potential economic benefits. This integrated model offers several advantages, such as temperature regulation and mobility, without needing to use land. However, several unexplored issues warrant further investigation. This study assessed the solar shading effects within the symbiotic fishery–photovoltaic model by comparing the growth of Litopenaeus vannamei and Chanos chanos under mixed cultivation conditions in an integrated system versus traditional fishponds. No substantial growth differences occurred for C. chanos between the systems. However, the body weight of L. vannamei was notably higher in traditional ponds versus the integrated system. Beyond evaluating the species’ growth, the aquatic environments were compared between the systems. The integrated model maintained a higher dissolved oxygen content and had lower ammonia and nitrite nitrogen levels than traditional co-cultivation. Moreover, this study provides valuable insights into the impacts of solar shading on the symbiotic fishery–photovoltaic model, shedding light on its potential benefits for nations lacking self-produced energy. Fishery–electricity symbiosis is a mutually beneficial integration of aquaculture and photovoltaics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 9012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Transformation of Coastal Governance, from Human Ecology to Local State, in the Jimei Peninsula, Xiamen, China

by Zhe Zou, Yu-Yan Zhang, Su-Hsin Lee and Shu-Chen Tsai

Water 2023, 15(14), 2659; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142659 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1959

Abstract

The coastal zone, situated at the sensitive interface between land and sea, serves as a pivotal area of human economic activities. As one of China’s economic special zones, Xiamen exemplifies the comprehensive trajectory of coastal governance in China. However, there are still research gaps in the human ecological transitions in coastal governance. This study adopts the research approach of scale politics and the local state, with the purpose of explaining the governance model of the coastal zone transformation. Sources include interviews with fishers, direct observation, participant observation, and content analysis. The study demonstrates how local governments strive to maximize the profits of scenic tourism, by (1) appropriating the international scale, absorbing international aid and technical assistance; (2) confiscating the access rights of the coastal zone; and (3) vertically integrating all relationships from local to international organizations to create new governance patterns. Xiamen’s coastal landscape not only presents the meltdown of human ecology under local state governance but also demonstrates a keen adaptation to the shifting dynamics of the international tourism market. From the theoretical perspective of the local state, this paper effectively points out the political characteristics of local government and bridges the loss of cultural ecology in the transformation of governance patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Perspective of Minjiang Estuary Coastal Fisheries Management—Estimation of Fish Richness

by Jia-Qiao Wang, Jun Li, Yi-Jia Shih, Liang-Min Huang, Xin-Ruo Wang and Ta-Jen Chu

Water 2023, 15(14), 2648; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142648 - 21 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1054

Abstract

Species richness is the most basic concept of diversity and is crucial to biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries. To understand the fish species richness of the Minjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters, eight documents and surveyed data were collected and compared from 1990–2021. To obtain suitable analysis data, the content of the data was compared and evaluated. Explore the suitability of data based on several criteria. Among them, the bottom trawling survey carried out in 2006–2007, and non-parametric estimation methods such as Chao 2, Jackknife 1, Jackknife 2 and Bootstrap were used to estimate the fish species richness. The results of this case show that a total of 153 species of fish were caught in the trawling survey in the fourth quarter, belonging to 14 orders, 57 families and 101 genera. The 2006–2007 cruise is more complete for studying species richness. The Estimable expectations of fish species richness are: 250 (Chao 2), 204 (Jackknief 1), 241 (Jackknief 2) and 174 (Bootstrap). The number of fish species was significantly higher in summer and autumn than winter and spring. To manage fishery resources and sustainability in the sea area of Fujian Province, biological information and stock assessment are required. This meaningful information, especially for endemic and economically important species such as can set a baseline. Once species change exceeds the baseline range, it provides decision-making basis for marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 11061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fish Diversity Monitoring Using Environmental DNA Techniques in the Clarion–Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean

by Weiyi He, Lei Wang, Danyun Ou, Weiwen Li, Hao Huang, Rimei Ou, Jinli Qiu, Lei Cai, Lianghua Lin and Yanxu Zhang

Water 2023, 15(11), 2123; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15112123 - 2 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1991

Abstract

Marine fish populations have suffered the consequences of overfishing for a long time, leading to a loss in biodiversity. Traditional methods have been historically used to survey fish diversity but are limited to commercial species, particularly on the high seas. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been successfully used to monitor biodiversity in aquatic environments. In this study, we monitored fish diversity in the Clarion–Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Eastern Pacific Ocean using eDNA metabarcoding. Our results identified 2 classes, 35 orders, 64 families, and 87 genera. The genera Mugil, Scomberomorus, and Scomber had high relative abundance in the mesopelagic and demersal zone. Fish diversity varied with sampling sites, and the greatest number of species was found at a depth of 2500 m. Environmental changes drove fish aggregation, and our results indicated that Chla was negatively correlated with fish communities, while DO was positively correlated with fish communities. This study released the fish diversity pattern and the effects of the environment in the CCZ, which would provide useful information for biodiversity management and an environmental baseline for the International Seabed Authority. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Coastal Ecology and Fisheries Management

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI