Search Results (125)

Aquavoltaics, which integrates solar photovoltaic infrastructure with aquaculture production, has increasingly been promoted as a possible pathway for supporting low-carbon energy transition and multifunctional land use in coastal regions. In Taiwan, aquavoltaics has been framed as a policy approach that may contribute to renewable energy development, aquaculture continuity, and rural revitalisation. However, its implementation has also raised governance concerns related to land use, environmental uncertainty, and local participation in coastal aquaculture communities. This study examines the governance trade-offs and institutional development of aquavoltaics policy in southern Taiwan through an analytical framework that combines political ecology and the extended explanatory chain model (EECM). Drawing on policy document analysis, field observations, administrative records, and in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders, the study traces aquavoltaics governance across five interrelated stages: policy discourse, institutional design, local implementation and community response, policy feedback, and institutional diffusion. The findings indicate that Taiwan’s aquavoltaics governance has been shaped by tensions between centralised energy-policy objectives and diverse local aquaculture conditions. Technical requirements, including the 40% shading threshold and the 70% production maintenance requirement, provide administrative clarity but may not fully reflect species-specific practices, pond-management needs, or existing land-tenure arrangements. In the cases examined, aquavoltaics development was associated with changes in land-use relations, spatial competition, and concerns over environmental uncertainty and governance legitimacy. The study also suggests that local stakeholders were not only recipients of top–down policy implementation but also participated in governance adjustment through review procedures, administrative negotiation, adaptive practices, and the mobilisation of local ecological knowledge. By integrating political ecology with the EECM, this study offers a process-oriented perspective for examining aquavoltaics as a socioecological governance issue rather than only a technical energy arrangement. The findings suggest that future aquavoltaics governance may benefit from more context-sensitive assessment, clearer institutional coordination, and greater attention to local knowledge and long-term monitoring. Full article

Marine oil spills pose critical challenges to environmental sustainability and socioeconomic stability. Taking four pivotal cases as the entry point, this study uses comparative case analysis, semi-structured stakeholder interviews, policy analysis and international gap comparison to systematically analyze the evolution of marine oil spill governance in the Taiwan region of China over two decades, aiming to identify systemic gaps and propose actionable reforms. By integrating and explicitly detailing these multiple methodologies, this research not only identifies but also systematically examines the Taiwan region of China’s unique challenges as a non-UN-member entity navigating international conventions like the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78). Key findings reveal persistent issues in decision-support tools, fragmented inter-agency coordination, and legal inadequacies in compensation mechanisms. The study’s novelty lies in its rigorous synthesis of localized case-driven insights compared with global best practices, proposing a concrete, phased model for a unified task force and context-aware, data-driven contingency plans to enhance real-time response efficiency. It further advocates for pragmatic steps to align the Taiwan region of China’s Marine Pollution Control Act with international standards while critically addressing the transboundary collaboration barriers imposed by its political status, exploring potential pathways through sub-national and regional partnerships. Notably, the 2023 Angel Container case underscores the urgency of modernizing enforcement capacities and integrating advanced technologies. By bridging gaps in governance, legal accountability, and practical international engagement, this research not only advances the Taiwan region of China’s preparedness but also offers a nuanced and adaptable blueprint for coastal regions facing similar geopolitical and environmental constraints. Its recommendations hold significant implications for global marine pollution management, emphasizing the interplay of policy innovation, technological adoption, and pragmatic cross-jurisdictional cooperation. Full article

This study proposes an integrated framework combining aerial photography of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), AI-based waterline detection, and a rigorous quality control (QC) scheme for estimating wave periods in the swash zone. The proposed approach automatically extracts instantaneous waterlines from high-resolution UAV videos and converts them into wave series using timestack analysis. The DeepUNet model achieved a pixel-level recognition score of 75.0% for both F1-score and Dice, demonstrating reliable performance in detecting thin waterline features. The integration of spatial and temporal QC further improves the robustness of waterline tracking and reduces false detections. Wave periods derived from wave series across different cross-sections in the swash zone exhibit spatial consistent and qualitative consistency when contextually compared with offshore data buoy observations, while the quantitative differences reflect variation in nearshore wave dynamics. These results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework for high-resolution nearshore wave monitoring. Full article

Marine heatwaves and invasive tunicate fouling increasingly co-occur in mussel aquaculture, yet their combined effects on rope-level performance and plankton dynamics remain unclear. A 9-day field-based mesocosm experiment in Georgetown Harbour (Prince Edward Island, Canada) examined the independent and interactive effects of heatwaves (~4.5 °C above ambient) and tunicates on 50 cm sections of Mytilus edulis culture rope. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR), clearance rate (CR), capture efficiency (CE), absorption efficiency (AE), scope for growth (SFG), and condition index (CI) were quantified to assess rope-level performance, and net primary productivity (NPP) was examined to evaluate ecosystem-level effects. OCR increased with rope biomass and exhibited a biomass-temperature interaction, with a stronger increase observed under heatwave conditions. CR also increased with biomass and decreased with temperature. These shifts in metabolism and feeding resulted in near-zero SFG and reduced CI under heatwave conditions, independent of biomass. Both grazer biomass and temperature significantly influenced NPP under high-light conditions, with increasing biomass reducing NPP. Tunicate presence enhanced the retention of smaller particles, highlighting species-specific differences in particle retention within the mussel rope community. The findings suggest that warming can reduce the performance of mussel rope communities, while fouling-associated shifts in community composition may amplify grazing pressure and alter particle removal dynamics, with potential consequences for ecosystem functioning. Full article

Freshwater scarcity is a major global issue faced by various regions, and the most common portable water sources globally are estuaries, canals, dams, lakes, and rivers. Existing water resources function as the best sinks for the frequent release of effluents from industrial and residential activities. This common practice often results in water pollution, a deterioration in marine biodiversity, and possible health risks for human populations. This study employed standard analytical methods in assessing the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of water samples collected from the Sundays River estuary in Eastern Cape Province (ECP), South Africa (SA). Microbiological assessment revealed that during the spring season, presumptive Escherichia coli (E. coli) colony counts were 1 cfu/100 mL, while total coliforms (TCs) and fecal coliforms (FCs) were recorded at 42.67 cfu/100 mL and 1 cfu/100 mL, respectively. In the summer season, fecal coliform (FC) counts reached 3.5 cfu/100 mL, while Enterococcus levels were higher, ranging up to 77.75 cfu/100 mL. Furthermore, the average standards of physicochemical parameters assessed in water obtained from both spring and summer seasons ranged as follows: pH (8.71–9.31), temperature (20.98–22.21 °C), turbidity (10–35.55 FNU), total alkalinity (22.25–94.00 mg/L), oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) (8.05–151.6 mV), electrical conductivity (EC) (13,915–40,260 uS/cm), salinity (8.07–25.78 psu), dissolved oxygen (DO) (6.79–7.39 mg/L), total dissolved solids (TDSs) (6960.6–20,125 mg/L), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (0.11–2.94 mg/L). The levels of TDS, EC, turbidity, and salinity in the Sundays River estuary water exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 2017, rendering the water unfit for even recreational purposes. Additionally, the bacterial levels identified in this study were above the values set by the South Africa Department of Water Affairs (SA-DWAF). The identified microorganisms are perceived as essential indicators of fecal contamination and have the potential to multiply in the environment. Possible pollution may be a result of various municipal effluents consistently discharged into the waterbody. Full article

Spiny lobster aquaculture in Southeast Asia represents one of the most economically valuable and socially important forms of small-scale coastal aquaculture globally. Unlike most aquaculture sectors, production in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines has developed almost entirely on the basis of wild-caught pueruli (postlarval lobsters) rather than hatchery-produced seed. This reliance on wild seed has generated persistent debate regarding biological sustainability, environmental risk, and compatibility with responsible aquaculture principles. Here, we synthesise more than two decades of regional production data, fisheries observations, larval biology research, population genetics, and oceanographic modelling to evaluate the sustainability of puerulus fishing in Southeast Asia. Evidence indicates that many major settlement areas function as recruitment sinks, characterised by extremely high natural mortality and weak coupling between local settlement and local adult spawning biomass. Under these conditions, harvesting pueruli prior to inevitable natural mortality is unlikely to reduce adult lobster stocks when spatially targeted and appropriately regulated. We further demonstrate that puerulus fisheries exhibit exceptionally low environmental impact while underpinning substantial livelihood benefits for coastal communities. We conclude that wild seed fisheries, when embedded within effective governance frameworks, represent a legitimate and sustainable foundation for crustacean aquaculture during the transition toward commercial hatchery technologies. Full article

Rip currents pose a serious maritime safety hazard, as they can quickly carry swimmers away from the shore, often leading to drownings caused by panic. Traditional beach flags and signs often fall short due to the complexities involved in issuing real-time warnings. In this study, a framework for rip current warning based on deep learning was introduced and evaluated. The framework consists of automated object detection, adaptive time-averaged image generation, and expert validation protocols. The YOLOv4 deep learning model was trained and evaluated using three distinct datasets derived from two primary sources: a publicly available dataset sourced from peer-reviewed literature and a custom-built dataset compiled for this study. The results indicate that the models performed effectively, even under challenging environmental conditions, such as fluctuating lighting, camera motion, and varying wave dynamics. A significant novelty of this framework is the adaptable time-averaging feature, which filters out potential false positives generated by the deep learning model. This feature also allows for rapid detection in emergency situations while identifying persistent rip channel patterns for long-term risk assessments. Furthermore, the rip current alerts are not solely activated by automated results. Rather, they are contingent on the verification of dangerous conditions by trained personnel, such as lifeguards or beach management officers. The results of implementing a pilot version of this framework demonstrate its practical viability for real-world deployment, marking a significant advancement in transitioning deep learning-based rip current detection from controlled environments to practical, real-time warning systems. Full article

Establishing protected areas and promoting ecotourism are widely recognized as important pathways toward sustainable development. This study examines the development of ecotourism in oceanic island national parks by applying a systems-thinking perspective to analyze the structural feedback relationships associated with sustainability. Using the driving force–state–response (DSR) indicator framework, we construct a qualitative causal loop model to articulate the interdependencies among ecological, economic, and governance variables within island national park systems. The identified causal relationships can be organized into three principal feedback structures: one reinforcing loop and two balancing loops. These feedback structures provide a theoretically grounded interpretation of how system components may interact within the proposed conceptual framework. Although this study does not include quantitative modeling or simulation, the structural configuration highlights relational patterns among variables that may serve as a basis for subsequent empirical and computational investigation. In addition, this study uses fee-based policy as an illustrative example within the conceptual model to demonstrate how policy interventions may interact with feedback mechanisms and potentially influence park sustainability. The proposed framework provides a foundation for future research that may extend the qualitative structure into more formalized modeling approaches under alternative policy scenarios. Full article

Butidae is a family of teleost fishes with diverse morphological and ecological adaptations, including the marbled goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata), a large species of high economic value in Southeast and East Asia. The previous mitogenomic studies on cultured populations of O. marmorata from non-native habitats have provided limited insights into genetic divergence, structural variation, and evolutionary relationships. Hence, this study presented the complete mitochondrial genome of O. marmorata from its native habitat in Indonesia, providing structural characterization, assessment of genetic diversity, and matrilineal phylogenetic analysis. The circular mitogenome was 16,525 bp, comprising 37 genes and a non-coding control region (CR). The gene organization and strand distribution were conserved among Oxyeleotris species, with 28 genes on the heavy strand and nine on the light strand, and a pronounced A+T compositional bias. The comparative analyses of O. marmorata (from both native and cultured habitats) and Oxyeleotris lineolata mitogenomes revealed minor variations in intergenic spacers, gene overlaps, protein-coding gene (PCGs) lengths, and codon usage patterns. Conversely, the nonsynonymous and synonymous substitution ratios observed in species of the family Butidae and its closest related family (Eleotridae) indicate strong purifying selection in the present dataset. Notably, the ATG was the predominant start codon, whereas the COI gene utilized GTG, and amino acid composition analysis demonstrated high frequencies of arginine, leucine, and serine. Most transfer RNAs retained the canonical cloverleaf secondary structure except for trnS1, which lacked a functional dihydrouridine arm, whereas the CR contained four conserved sequence blocks with variable nucleotide motifs and no detectable tandem repeats. The haplotype analysis of native (Indonesia) and introduced populations (China) highlighted three haplotypes with high diversity (Hd = 1.0000) and substantial nucleotide variation (π = 0.6667). The genetic divergence across 13 PCGs was gene-specific, with COI and ND5 showing the highest variation, while ND4L and ATP8 were highly conserved. The phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated 13 PCGs using both Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood methods revealed that Oxyeleotris forms a monophyletic clade and is closely related to Bostrychus sinensis. In addition, the broader phylogenetic framework inferred the matrilineal relationships within the family Butidae and its closest related family, Eleotridae. This study also recommends expanding analyses to include the mitogenomes of the remaining 17 Oxyeleotris species, together with comprehensive genomic data, to further elucidate their genetic architecture, evolutionary history, and ecological adaptability across diverse aquatic ecosystems. Full article

The Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity (CARICOMP) program was conceptualized in 1985 to monitor coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests at multiple sites across the wider Caribbean. Mangrove monitoring was focused on the dominant Caribbean species, red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Forest structure and productivity were monitored at 21 sites (18 countries) across different geomorphological settings, from tropical to subtropical mainland and island systems. Here, we provide the key findings from the CARICOMP mangrove data collected, mostly from 1992 to 2013, to assess spatial and temporal variability across the region. Red mangrove above-ground biomass averaged 190 t ha⁻¹ (far higher than previously reported) but ranged widely across sites from 33 to 590 t ha⁻¹, equating to an average above-ground ‘blue carbon’ of 84 t ha⁻¹ (range 15–260 t ha⁻¹). Tree density averaged 3237 trees ha⁻¹, tree basal area averaged 19.7 m² ha⁻¹, tree height averaged 6.1 ± 2.8 m, and seedling density varied from 1.2 to 74 seedlings m⁻² across the sites. Among the environmental factors that influence mangroves, local temperature and rainfall explained 48% of the variability in measured tree structure parameters. Annual litterfall, as a proxy for productivity, measured on average 1.24 ± 0.70 kg m⁻² yr⁻¹, with 60% of the total litterfall composed of leaves. Litterfall varied seasonally by 42%. No relationship was apparent between litterfall and seasonal ocean–atmosphere climate indices (ONI and AMM). With exception of the three most southwesterly CARICOMP sites, hurricanes and tropical storms impacted the mangrove sites repeatedly, resulting in considerable damage. A direct strike by a category-4 hurricane in 1998 in Dominican Republic killed 67% of the red mangrove trees, lowered above-ground biomass by 91%, basal area by 89%, litterfall by 63%, and resulted in the subsequent growth of many tall and thin saplings, totally changing the structure of the forest ecosystem in the first few years after the hurricane. In comparing mangrove systems, major differences may be explained by time elapsed since the last destructive event (hurricane) affecting each site. This highlights the fact that despite an increasing focus on preserving these valuable ecosystems, they are still highly vulnerable to natural hazards and likely to face a poor outcome under ongoing climate change. Full article

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has emerged globally as a governance tool to balance marine conservation and blue economy objectives. While many studies have described the legal and institutional frameworks underpinning MSP, fewer have critically assessed the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). This paper integrates a cross-national comparative analysis (Australia, Germany, Seychelles, and England) with a systematic review of the MSP governance literature (2010–2024) to assess how NGO involvement enhances MSP effectiveness. By performing a systematic literature review mapping of 70 peer-reviewed studies, we identify common governance elements and evaluate their links to reported ecological, social, and institutional outcomes. Results show that MSP systems with formal NGO participation—such as Seychelles’ debt-swap initiative and England’s co-managed conservation zones—exhibit higher levels of stakeholder legitimacy and adaptive monitoring. In contrast, centralized systems with limited NGO integration (e.g., Germany) face implementation fragmentation. These findings demonstrate that NGOs play a critical role in strengthening M&E, building cross-scalar coordination, and ensuring policy legitimacy. The study contributes novel insights into the predictive and comparative dimensions of NGO-led MSP frameworks, bridging descriptive governance analysis with outcome-based effectiveness. This study finds that Seychelles’ MSP demonstrates how NGO co-leadership can deliver both ecological and social benefits, while Germany’s federal fragmentation limits effective NGO institutionalization. Australia illustrates the value of integrating NGOs into scientific monitoring, whereas England shows partial but constrained NGO participation in statutory processes. These cross-national findings highlight NGO integration as a key predictor of effective and legitimate MSP outcomes. Full article

The Marine Pollution Control Act (MPCA) in Taiwan aims to align with international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC), the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (FUNDs), and the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM). However, Taiwan’s particular international status prevents formal participation in these treaties. This study evaluates Taiwan’s legal and institutional frameworks on ship emission control, pollution liability and compensation, and interagency coordination, identifying key gaps compared with global standards. By analyzing Japan’s and South Korea’s best practices in port management, cross-border pollution prevention, and vessel monitoring, this study proposes legal and policy reforms that are tailored to Taiwan. Recommendations include strengthening liability mechanisms, enhancing interagency collaboration, monitoring vessels, and fostering regional cooperation. Our findings suggest that these reforms will improve Taiwan’s marine environmental governance and contribute to regional and global ocean sustainability. Full article

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of existing global policies and data for offshore wind (OW) farms (OWFs) by exploring the performance of the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, China, Taiwan and the rest of the world based on chosen quantitative metrics (total installations, energy capacity, bathymetry, wind resources) and qualitative policy drivers (costs, installation regulations, taxation). This research adopts an explorative multi-case study design that involves analyzing quantitative and qualitative metrics of OW energy parameters for the UK, Germany, China, Taiwan and the rest of the world. The quantitative metrics include the total OW energy installations, bathymetric data, wind speed and direction data and OW energy capacity while the qualitative metrics include the policy changes on costs of installations, installation policies and taxation policies. As compared to the United Kingdom and Germany, China reported the highest number of installed OW energy farms between 2019 and 2023. The UK reported a gradual increase in the number of OWFs installed between 2019 and 2023. Taiwan has the lowest number of OWFs and wind energy capacity but ranks almost the same as China and the UK in terms of the bathymetric data and wind speed. Statistically significant correlation, (p ≤ 0.05), between the wind speed and the number of OWFs for all the countries. No statistically significant relationship between the bathymetric characteristics and the number of OW installations and wind energy capacity. Geographical factors, weather patterns and government policies play crucial roles in the successful installation and maintenance of OWFs. Full article

Background: Protein Phosphatase 2C (PP2C), a conserved family in plants, plays a crucial role in ABA and MAPK signaling pathways. Its functional diversity provides key mechanisms for plants’ adaptation to environmental changes. However, research on PP2C family members remains significantly underexplored in seagrasses, which are model organisms adapted to complex marine environments. Methods: In this study, we systematically analyzed the PP2C gene family in eelgrass using bioinformatic methods and performed a qPCR experiment to verify the expression of a few members in their response to salt stress. Results: The eelgrass PP2C gene family comprises 52 members, categorized into 13 subfamilies. Most PP2C genes exhibit a differential expression across various organs, with some members showing significant organ specificity. For instance, 12 members are specifically highly expressed in male flowers, suggesting that PP2Cs may function in male flower development. Additionally, four members (ZosmaPP2C-04, ZosmaPP2C-07, ZosmaPP2C-15, and ZosmaPP2C-18) in eelgrass are up-regulated under salt stress, with a qPCR confirming their response. The syntenic genes of ZosmaPP2C-15 and ZosmaPP2C-18 were identified across multiple species, indicating their evolutionary conservation. Numerous response elements associated with plant hormones and stress were identified within the promoter sequences of eelgrass PP2C genes. Notably, the promoter regions of salt-responsive genes are rich in the ABRE, implying that ABA may participate in regulating the expression of these PP2Cs. Furthermore, the predictive analysis of protein interactions suggests the potential existence of the ABA core signaling module PYL-PP2C-SnRK2 in eelgrass. Conclusions: This study provides a new insight for understanding the biological functions of the PP2C family in eelgrass, which is important for elucidating the mechanisms of its growth, development, and environmental adaptability. Full article

Understanding the feeding ecology and habitat use of vulnerable shark species is crucial for effective conservation. This study focuses on two large filter-feeding sharks, the megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) and whale shark (Rhincodon typus), in Northwestern Pacific waters. Stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) was conducted on white muscle samples (n = 91) of M. pelagios and fin clips (n = 90) of R. typus, collected via large-mesh drift nets and set nets in Taiwanese waters. In this study, we investigated feeding strategies, ontogenetic dietary shifts, habitat use, and isotopic niche variation in both species. For R. typus, the observed positive correlation between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N supports the previously proposed active suction filter feeding, as well as implying both a diet with an increasing proportion of higher trophic level prey and an ontogenetic shift. In contrast, M. pelagios displayed a negative correlation, consistent with a previous study associating such patterns with primary or secondary consumers, further aligning with its reported planktonic prey dominance. Both species had increasing δ¹³C with growth, signifying a shift to nutrient-rich habitats. Only R. typus exhibited ontogenetic diet changes (δ¹⁵N). SIBER (Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R) analysis revealed distinct feeding strategies and habitat use between the two species, potential sexual segregation, and wider isotopic niche widths for males in both species. The findings underscore the importance of considering species-specific behaviors and sex-based differences in conservation strategies. Full article