Managing River Fish Biodiversity Generates Substantial Economic Benefits in Four European Countries

Sport fishing for peacock bass Cichla spp. in the Brazilian Amazon has increased in popularity and attracts anglers who generate significant economic benefits in rural regions. The sustainability of this fishery is partly dependent on the survival of fish caught through catch-and-release fishing. The objective of this work was to investigate, hooking mortality of Cichla spp., including speckled peacock bass (C. temensis Humbolt), butterfly peacock bass (C. orinocensis Humbolt), and popoca peacock bass (C. monoculus Agassiz) in the basin of the Negro River, the largest tributary of the Amazon River. Fish were caught at two different sites using artificial lures, transported to pens anchored in the river and monitored for 72 hours. A total of 162 individual peacock bass were captured and hooking mortality (mean % ± 95% confidence intervals) was calculated. Mean mortality was 3.5% (± 5.0), 2.3% (± 3.5) and 5.2% (± 10.2) for speckled peacock bass, butterfly peacock bass, and popoca peacock bass, respectively. Lengths of captured fish ranged from 26 to 79 cm (standard length), however, only fish under 42 cm died. This research suggests that catch-and-release sport fishing of peacock bass does not result in substantial mortality in the Negro River basin.

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Values, Beliefs, Norms, and Conservation-Oriented Behaviors toward Native Fish Biodiversity in Rivers: Evidence from Four European Countries

Society & Natural Resources ◽

10.1080/08941920.2021.1890865 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Carsten Riepe ◽

Ulf Liebe ◽

Marie Fujitani ◽

Sophia Kochalski ◽

Øystein Aas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

European Countries ◽

Native Fish ◽

Fish Biodiversity

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Towards a Balanced Synergy of Visions and Interests: Latvia’s Perspectives in 16+1 and Belt and Road Initiatives

Croatian International Relations Review ◽

10.1515/cirr-2017-0006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (78) ◽

pp. 37-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andris Spruds

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

European Countries ◽

Eastern European ◽

Belt And Road ◽

Eastern European Countries

Abstract The article analyses China’s 16+1 and Belt and Road initiatives from Latvia’s perspective. Although the initiatives provide engagement on a large scale, it is challenging to achieve the task of achieving a synergy between a variety of stakeholders and interests in the context of a diversity of visions and agendas. The strategic dimension of transcontinental initiatives complicates further the building of synergy. Connectivity is an important and promising principle of both initiatives and transcontinental infrastructural linkages are especially high on the agenda. Mutually beneficial progress, however, must yet be achieved. In times of uncertainty, Central and Eastern European countries, including Latvia, are engaged in a balancing process of potential economic benefits and strategic implications of the 16+1 and Belt and Road initiatives.

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Creating a Region

Orchestration ◽

10.1093/oso/9780197526347.003.0005 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 89-114

Author(s):

James Reilly

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

European Countries ◽

Eastern European ◽

Investment Promotion ◽

The Third ◽

Learning And Adaptation ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Influence Attempts ◽

Regional Grouping

This chapter begins with China’s ambitious effort to create an entirely new regional grouping: the China–CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) Partnership, or “16+1.” Despite the paucity of China’s economic presence, its fragile diplomatic ties in the region, and flimsy regional coherence, 16+1 proved largely successful. The second case, examining Beijing’s investment promotion efforts, demonstrates Beijing’s capacity for learning and adaptation. The third case explores Beijing’s creative response to CEEC trade deficits, including its strategic provision of export certifications and encouragement for Chinese agricultural firms to invest in CEE countries while expanding their exports to China. The final case assesses China’s bilateral influence attempts: targeting key CEE states by providing economic benefits. Across these four cases, Beijing’s orchestration approach proved largely effective, rapidly mobilizing broad participation with high implementation coherence at low cost.

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Migration concerns will stifle African free movement

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db236038 ◽

2018 ◽

Keyword(s):

Middle Class ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

European Countries ◽

Free Movement ◽

Entry And Exit ◽

Content Type ◽

International Intervention

Subject Outlook for African free movement initiatives. Significance As European countries deliberate on how to control better migration across borders, Africa is talking about new ways to facilitate free movement. Continent-wide free movement is a longstanding goal of African efforts to foster deeper integration. However, turning rhetoric into reality is challenging. Impacts The economic benefits of free movement are clear, but governments are unlikely to change border policies on this logic alone. International intervention around African borders is likely to intensify as migration becomes ever-more politicised. As Africa’s middle class grows, pressure will rise for more frictionless legal entry and exit, even if this stops short of free movement.

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Managing river fish biodiversity generates substantial economic benefits in four European countries

10.1101/447300 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Carsten Riepe ◽

Jürgen Meyerhoff ◽

Marie Fujitani ◽

Øystein Aas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Fish Species ◽

River Management ◽

River Basin Management ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

European Countries ◽

Basin Management ◽

The Public ◽

River Basin Management Plans ◽

Management Plans

AbstractEcosystems and biodiversity produce benefits to society, but many of them are hard to quantify. For example, it is unclear whether European societies gain benefits from experiencing rivers that host high native biodiversity. Without such knowledge, monetary investments into ecologically oriented river management plans are difficult to justify. The objective of this study was to reveal how the public in four European countries values ecological characteristics of domestic rivers and the outcomes of hypothetical river basin management plans designed to improve river ecosystems, particularly fish biodiversity. We conducted a choice experiment among the populations in Norway, Sweden, Germany and France. We found similar preference structures in all countries with high marginal willingness-to-pay for improvements of abiotic river attributes (increased accessiblity of the river banks, improved bathing water quality, decreased river fragmentation). Citizens also benefited from certain fish species occurring in a river with native salmonid species being more valued than nonnatives, particularly in Norway, and from the degree of a river’s native biodiversity. Welfare measures calculated for selected river basin management plans (policy scenarios) revealed societal benefits that were primarily derived from ecological river management whereas a scenario focusing on hydroelectricity production generated the lowest utility. We conclude that ecological river management may produce high nonmarket economic benefits in all study countries, particularly through the management of abiotic river attributes and the restoration of declining or extinct fish species. Our results help to inform decisions on restoration efforts by showcasing the benefits that these measures have for the public.

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Averting robo-bees: why free-flying robotic bees are a bad idea

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20190063 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 723-729

Author(s):

Roslyn Gleadow ◽

Jim Hanan ◽

Alan Dorin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Computer Simulation ◽

Food Security ◽

European Countries ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Native Habitat ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Insect Interactions

Food security and the sustainability of native ecosystems depends on plant-insect interactions in countless ways. Recently reported rapid and immense declines in insect numbers due to climate change, the use of pesticides and herbicides, the introduction of agricultural monocultures, and the destruction of insect native habitat, are all potential contributors to this grave situation. Some researchers are working towards a future where natural insect pollinators might be replaced with free-flying robotic bees, an ecologically problematic proposal. We argue instead that creating environments that are friendly to bees and exploring the use of other species for pollination and bio-control, particularly in non-European countries, are more ecologically sound approaches. The computer simulation of insect-plant interactions is a far more measured application of technology that may assist in managing, or averting, ‘Insect Armageddon' from both practical and ethical viewpoints.

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