Assessing the distribution and variation characteristics of marine primary productivity in the coastal marine area of Vietnam South Centre

Primary production (PP) of phytoplankton plays an essential role in food web dynamics, biogeochemical cycles and marine fisheries. It is used as one of the basic information for evaluating marine ecosystems. In this paper, monthly composite PP data on a 4 km x 4 km grid for the period 2003-2020 was used to evaluate the distributional characteristics of PP in the coastal marine area of Vietnam South Centre. The statistical results show that the climatological average of PP in 18 years reached 449.2 mgC/m2/day, ranged from 272.1 to 14,205.4 mgC/m2/day. The PP has seasonal and spatial variations. In time, the lowest value of PP was in spring, and the highest was in winter; in space, PP tended to decrease from shore to offshore, PP was higher in coastal areas than in the open sea areas. During the northeast monsoon season, PP increased by more than 1000 mgC/m2/day in the coastal area. Meanwhile, in the southwest monsoon season, due to the ecological influence of the upwelling phenomenon, PP increased with a value greater than 1500 mgC/m2/day, distributed along the coastline of Ninh Thuan - Binh Thuan. Primary productivity positively correlated with chlorophyll content but negatively correlated with sea surface temperature with correlation coefficients of 0.9 and -0.6, respectively. There was a weak correlation between PP and ONI with correlation coefficients of -0.23. The temporal-spatial variation of PP was affected by the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) phenomenon, the positive phase of ENSO (El Niño conditions) corresponded to lower PP, and the negative phase of ENSO (La Niña conditions) corresponded to higher PP. The research results from this paper can be used as a reference in marine ecosystem management.

Assessing the perception of stakeholders regarding the impact of coastal tourism on the environment in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area

The coastal and marine area is one of an endlessly increasing number of human activities and provisions, the most significant of which are those associated with tourism. With the start of the MARSPLAN BS-II project in 2019, the planning of public participation actions of stakeholders to identify areas and important features for each maritime activity to develop and implement MSP has started. This study, using an appropriate exploratory approach, namely Grounded Theory, aims to assess stakeholders' perceptions of the environmental impact of tourism in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area to identify potential barriers that may arise from the perspective of implementing the Black Sea MSP. Even if the impact of tourism on the environment cannot be studied in-depth and fully proven, it is obvious, through our results, that tourism should fully enjoy the management and planning efforts.

Implications of Sea Toll Programs to National Development Economy: Reinterpretation of Marine Verses In Al-Quran

Indonesia, as an archipelago with a coastline of 81,000 km, is a coastal and marine area that has a variety of vast and diverse resources. With the unique potential and economic value of development, coastal areas are also faced with a high threat, so special handling is needed so that this region can be managed sustainably. Economic development in this framework is realized through the sea toll program. This article will aim to discuss how the sea toll program has an impact on the national development economy and the reinterpretation of marine verses in Al-Quran. This study uses qualitative research methods that are literature research. The sources of data in this study were sourced from books, journals, scientific articles, research reports, laws, and internet websites related to the sea toll program. After all, data have been collected, the data are analyzed by data analysis methods, namely data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Findings. The results showed that the use of marine wealth by humans is justified in Al-Quran even it is recommended for the benefit of humans. On the other hand, the development of defense forces requires strong economic capabilities as a form of an effort to realize Indonesia’s ideals as a world maritime nation. Indonesia’s maritime potential can create a dominant economic development power for the Indonesian state to face global or international competition.

Multibiomarker responses to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microplastics in thumbprint emperor Lethrinus harak from a South Pacific locally managed marine area

To determine the baseline threat of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an important seafood fish from Vueti Navakavu locally managed marine area, a multibiomarker risk assessment was conducted on the thumbprint emperor fish Lethrinus harak. Condition factor, a measure of relative general health condition of fish, was significantly lower in samples from the wet season compared to the dry season but no significant differences were observed for hepatosomatic index, a measure of relative stored energy/nutrition, between seasonal groups. PAHs levels of four metabolites in emperor fish from Fiji waters are reported here for the first time; seasonal groups showed no significant differences, but all samples presented levels of biliary PAHs. Each specimen also contained at least one microplastic in its gastrointestinal system; fibres were the predominant form-type and ingestion levels showed that more than 80% of fragment sizes were below 1.0 mm. Biochemical responses were observed for ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and glutathione S-transferase biotransformation activity, oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity; lipid peroxidation) and genotoxicity (micronuclei assay). Though there were no statistically significant differences found, there were biological significances that were important to note; relatively low levels of pollutant exposure and low levels of biochemical responses showed enzymes response in thumbprint emperor were as expected to their roles in the body. In this multibiomarker approach, the observation of pollutants presence and histopathological injuries are considered biologically relevant from a toxicological perspective and serve as a baseline for future pollution studies in seafood fishes in Fiji, with site differences and the inclusion of fish species comparison. We recommend adopting a suite of biomarkers in future regional biomonitoring studies to develop holistic baseline information for other marine settings in Fiji and other Pacific Island countries.

Study on the Ecological Situation and the Nursery Function of the Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 Prairies on the Islands of Ventotene e Santo Stefano

On behalf of the Management of the Protected Marine Area of the island of Ventotene and Santo Stefano the Marine Ecology and Biology Institute of Piombino (ITALY) carried out a very in dept study aimed at knowledge of the ecological situation of the Posidonia Oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 meadows. The most appropriate methodologies were used to be able to identify all the benthic species present in order to evaluate the efficiency of the nursery function of the prairies investigated. The results of the numerous species captured in the juvenile stage have demonstrated the excellent nursery function of the meadows of the island of Ventotene.