Government conservation policies on Mexican coastal areas: is "top-down" management working?

Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are declining globally due to environmental degradation and poorly planned resource use. Traditionally, local government agencies have been responsible of the management of natural reserves to preserve biodiversity. Nonetheless, much of these approaches have failed, suggesting the development of more integrative strategies. In order to discuss the importance of a holistic approach in conservation initiatives, coastal and underwater landscape value and biological/environmental indicators of coral reef degradation were assessed using the study case of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero coastal area. This area shelters representative coral reef structures of the Eastern Pacific coast and its terrestrial biodiversity and archaeology enhance the high value of its coastal area. This study explored the landscape value of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems using the geomorphosite approach in two sites on the Zihuatanejo coastal area: Caleta de Chon and Manzanillo Beach. Sedimentation rate, water transparency, chlorophyll and total suspended solids were recorded underwater in each site for environmental characterization. 50 photo-quadrants on five transects were surveyed between 3-4m depth to record coverage (%) of living corals, dead corals, algae, sand and rocks. The conservation status of coral reefs was assessed by the coral mortality index (MI). Landscape values showed that both terrestrial and marine ecosystems had important scientific and aesthetic values, being Manzanillo Beach the site with the highest potential for conservation initiatives (TtV=14.2). However, coral reefs face elevated sedimentation rates (up to 1.16kg/m2d) and low water transparency (less of 5m) generated by coastal land use changes that have increased soil erosion in the adjacent coastal area. High coverage of dead corals (23.6%) and algae (up to 29%) confirm the low values in conservation status of coral reefs (MI=0.5), reflecting a poorly-planned management. Current conditions are the result of "top-down" conservation strategies in Zihuatanejo, as Federal and Municipal authorities do not coordinate, disregard local community in coral reef management, and ignore the intimate relationship between the coastal and marine realms. This work confirms the importance of conservation strategies with a holistic approach, considering both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in coastal areas; and that these initiatives should include local coastal communities in management and decision-taking processes done by government authorities. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (4): 1487-1501. Epub 2011 December 01.

Las estrategias integrales son clave para lograr efectividad en la conservación de las áreas costeras. Para discutir la importancia de las estrategias holísticas en iniciativas de conservación, usamos como caso de estudio los arrecifes coralinos de Zihuatanejo Guerrero. En primer lugar, analizamos el valor paisajístico terrestre y marino de la zona costera y posteriormente usamos indicadores biológicos y ambientales de degradación en arrecifes coralinos. El valor paisajístico mostró que Manzanillo Beach tiene el mayor potencial para desarrollar iniciativas de conservación (TtV=14.2). No obstante, ambos arrecifes se enfrentan a elevados niveles de sedimentación (hasta 1.16kg/m2d) y baja transparencia del agua (<5m) causados por el aumento de la erosión de la costa, como consecuencia del cambio de uso del suelo. La alta cobertura de corales muertos (23.6%) y algas (hasta un 29%) en los arrecifes reflejan su manejo inadecuado. Estas condiciones son resultado de las estrategias de conservación usadas principalmente por las autoridades gubernamentales, que en muchos casos no se encuentran coordinadas y no consideran a la población local en el manejo de los recursos. Estos resultados confirman la importancia de las estrategias de conservación con una visión holística del ecosistema terrestre-marino en las áreas costeras. Estas iniciativas deben incluir a la población local en el manejo y la toma de decisiones.

Potential sources of bacteriological pollution for two bays with marinas in Trinidad

Welcome Bay and Chaguaramas Bay in the northwest peninsula of Trinidad contain large marinas and smaller sections of bathing beaches. Bacteriological surveys were conducted at both bays to assess water quality and to determine potential sources of pollution. These surveys were conducted during the wet season of 1996 and the dry season of 1997. Eleven sample stations were established at Welcome Bay and 12 at Chaguaramas Bay. Freshwater samples were collected from rivers and drains within the survey area. Marine water samples were collected from marinas, bathing beaches and inshore and outer areas at both bays. Five water samples were collected from each sampling station during the wet season of 1996 and six during the dry season of 1997. The membrane filter technique was used to determine faecal coliform and Escherichia coli levels in all samples. There was a seasonal effect on water quality, with significantly higher faecal coliform levels in the wet season, when water quality was not in compliance with international standards. This represents a potential health risk in bathing areas. Water quality was better at the outer area of both bays. Water quality at the inner bay areas was most likely adversely affected by land-based sources of pollution identified in this study. These sources include three drains and two rivers, which discharged into the bays. Yachts were apparently not a source of sewage pollution: there was no significant relationship between yacht number and faecal coliform levels

Environmental studies of seawater along the Egyptian mediterranean beaches between Port-Said and Gamasa

Monthly sea water samples were collected from the beaches of Gamasa. Ras El-Bar [Damietta estuary] and port said during the period from July, 1992 to June, 1993. The environmental parameters, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, urea, phosphate and silicate were measured. The results reveal that, generally, port-said region exhibited higher leveles of nutrient salts with respect to those in the other areas mainly due to the outflowing of breackish water enriched with these nutrients from lake manzala. Also damietta branch has little effect on the sea as its Nile water has been efficiently damned in the branch 20 km landward by faraskour dam

Requisitos sanitarios y prácticas higiénicas que deben cumplirse en la venta de alimentos y bebidas de consumo directo en la vía pública / Standards and proceedings of hygiene in foods at restaurants and related services

Contiene: 1.Requisitos sanitarios y prácticas higiénicas que deben cumplirse en la venta de alimentos y bebidas de consumo directo en la vía pública. 2.Reglamento de funcionamiento higiénico-sanitario de quioscos escolares. 3.Normas y procedimientos de higiene de los alimentos en restaurantes y servicios afines. 4.Reglamento para el control de playas y establecimientos conexos

Condiçöes sanitárias e classificaçäo das águas do mar destinadas à balneabilidade de praias do Estado do Paraná, 1980

Foram estudadas as condiçöes sanitárias e realizada a classificaçäo das águas do mar destinadas à balneabilidade, de praias do Estado do Paraná. Para isto, foram selecionadas determinadas praias. Durante o período da pesquisa foram realizadas, para cada local de colheita, 20 classificaçöes das águas quanto a sua qualidade para fins de balneabilidade, sendo 10 relativas aos resultados dos NMP de bactérias coliformes totais e 10 de coliformes fecais por 100 ml de água. Cada classificaçäo foi feita de acordo com o padräo nacional vigente do Ministério do Interior, no final de cada conjunto de 5 semanas consecutivas e, portanto, após terem sido analisadas 5 amostras de água correspondentes a cada um dos locais de colheita. De modo geral, as águas do mar das praias estudadas revelaram-se próprias à balneabilidade, ou melhor, com qualidade excelente, excetuando-se os locais M1 e M2 da praia de Matinhos e C4 da de Caiobá. Os locais M1 e M2 revelaram-se com águas impróprias à balneabilidade, sendo uma vez para ambos, com relaçäo aos valores dos NMP de bactérias coliformes totais e 4 e uma vezes respectivamente, quanto aos NMP de bactérias coliformes fecais. O local C4 foi classificado com águas impróprias à balneabilidade apenas uma vez, com base nos NMP de bactérias coliformes fecais encontrados