scholarly journals Perceptions of the Maltese Public towards Local Marine Protected Areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Mifsud ◽  
Marielle Verret

Abstract The marine environment represents a central component of Maltaís local environment, and its ecosystem services play a vital role in supporting the economy as well as human well-being. Plans have been made to protect the unique ecology found within Maltese waters through the institution of five marine protected areas (MPAs). This quantitative study assessed the environmental knowledge and attitudes of the Maltese public towards the local marine environment, MPAs and education for sustainable development (ESD). A questionnaire was administered to members of the public (n = 200) at three different locations. The study found that although the Maltese public strongly appreciates the beauty of Maltaís marine environment, the level of knowledge surrounding the marine environment is low. Furthermore, the research indicates that while the public agrees that the marine environment should be protected, there is a notable lack of awareness of the five local MPAs. Based on the research findings, a model linking ESD to MPAs and aiming to foster a sense of ownership among the public by encouraging their involvement in the management of local MPAs is proposed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3671
Author(s):  
Jameel R. Al-Obaidi ◽  
Khalid H. Alobaidi ◽  
Bilal Salim Al-Taie ◽  
David Hong-Sheng Wee ◽  
Hasnain Hussain ◽  
...  

Nutraceuticals are a category of products more often associated with food but having pharmaceuticals property and characteristics. However, there is still no internationally accepted concept of these food-pharmaceutical properties, and their interpretation can differ from country to country. Nutraceuticals are used as part of dietary supplements in most countries. They can be phytochemicals which are biologically active and have health benefits. These can be supplied as a supplement and/or as a functional food to the customer. For human health and longevity, these materials are likely to play a vital role. Consumption of these items is typical without a therapeutic prescription and/or supervision by the vast majority of the public. The development of nutraceuticals can be achieved through many bioresources and organisms. This review article will discuss the current research on nutraceuticals from different biological sources and their potential use as an agent for improving human health and well-being, as well as the gaps and future perspective of research related to nutraceutical development.


Author(s):  
Jérôme FOURNIER ◽  
Andrea De CASTRO PANIZZA

Este artigo apresenta os diferentes aspectos da proteção do ambiente litorâneo abordando três pontos essenciais. O primeiro evoca a instalação de áreas marinhas protegidas (AMP) em um contexto socioeconômico e político, destacando seu funcionamento e a noção de “ efeito reserva”. O segundo mostra a importância das AMP na proteção da biodiversidade marinha. Finalmente, o terceiro ponto exemplifica a avaliação do meio natural e aborda, de maneira geral, o valor econômico das espécies e da “Natureza” na ocorrência de degradação. Contributions of the marine protected areas for the conservation and management of the marine environment Abstract This article presents the various aspects of the littoral environmental protection by approaching three important points. The first evokes the installation of the marine surfaces protected in a socio-economic and political context. The operation of the reserves and the concept of “ reserve effect “ are explained. The second explains the interest of MPA to protect the marine biodiversity. Lastly, the third point shows the evaluation of the natural environment and more generally of the economic value of the species and “Nature” in the event of degradation.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Ruiz-Frau ◽  
James M. Gibbons ◽  
Hilmar Hinz ◽  
Gareth Edwards-Jones ◽  
Michel J. Kaiser

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used as conservation tools in the marine environment. Success of MPAs depends upon sound scientific design and societal support. Studies that have assessed societal preferences for temperate MPAs have generally done it without considering the existence of discrete groups of opinion within society and have largely considered offshore and deep-sea areas. This study quantifies societal preferences and economic support for coastal MPAs in Wales (UK) and assesses the presence of distinct groups of preference for MPA management, through a latent class choice experiment approach. Results show a general support for the protection of the marine environment in the form of MPAs and that society is willing to bear the costs derived from conservation. Despite a general opposition toward MPAs where human activities are completely excluded, there is some indication that three classes of preferences within society can be established regarding the management of potentially sea-floor damaging activities. This type of approach allows for the distinction between those respondents with positive preferences for particular types of management from those who experience disutility. We conclude that insights from these types of analyses can be used by policy-makers to identify those MPA designs and management combinations most likely to be supported by particular sectors of society.


2021 ◽  
pp. 63-86
Author(s):  
Ingunn Marie Eriksen ◽  
Kari Stefansen ◽  
Guro Ødegård

This chapter investigates how young people’s “projects of the self” – their self-presentations and orientations towards the future – are shaped by economic, cultural and relational capital, as well as place. What does growing up in families with different access to important resources entail, and what does place mean for young people’s experiences of themselves and their future opportunities? Based on an ongoing qualitative longitudinal study of 81 youths from four widely different communities, we describe a typology with four projects of the self: the assured optimist, the local thriving youth, the youth on a narrow path and the loosely anchored youth. These projects are closely linked to the youths’ family resources, and to a large extent they map onto traditional social class divisions. However, although the way that resources are linked to different projects of the self has the potential of shaping classed trajectories, they are not determined by class. Our analysis adds nuances to the general finding in youth research that lack of economic and cultural capital is associated with more limited future possibilities. We find that emotional and relational resources in the family also play a vital role in shaping young people’s projects of the self – which sometimes cross traditional class divisions. Moreover, we find that when young people’s projects of the self align with resources in the local environment and in the family, this greatly enhances their well-being and surety of the future. Youths who experience a rift between their projects of the self and the resources around them experience a shakier foundation from which to carve out their life projects.


Author(s):  
Savaş Aslan ◽  
Recep Kara ◽  
Hilmi Yaman

Probiotic foods are those foods covering the live microorganisms that assist the functioning of the digestive system. Consumption of such foods contributes to the protection of our health and strengthening of the immune system. This research was conducted to determine the consumption status of probiotic products and the level of knowledge consumers have about probiotic products. It was found in this survey that 51.7% of the participants were females, and 48.1% were males, and ages ranged between 18 and 65. It was also found that while 31.4% of males were informed about probiotic products, 61.1% of females were informed. As regards the educational statuses, it was seen that level of knowledge about probiotic products significantly increased with increasing educational level from primary school level to higher levels. Likewise, level of knowledge about probiotic products increases with the increasing economic income. While the rate of individuals consuming probiotic products is 26.0%, the ratio of individuals believing that they benefit from such consumption among those consuming them was found as 79.1%. Furthermore, 77.3% of those consuming probiotic products think that these products are natural. As a result, probiotic products make positive contributions to our health, but their consumption and level of knowledge about them are not at sufficient levels. Probiotic product consumption and level of knowledge increase with the educational levels and economic well-being of individuals. Therefore, it is recommended that studies aiming at measuring the knowledge of the public similar to this study must be carried out periodically.


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