A brief overview of the issues faced by Harmful Algal Blooms along Johor straits

Urbanization of coastal areas worldwide has increased due to an increase in the global population. The production of sustainable aquaculture is greatly impacted by a surge of this urbanization. In certain countries, particularly for individuals with more limited space in metropolitan areas, such as along Johor's coastal area, aquaculture might well be a good strategy to maintain food availability (continuous production plus high-quality meals). Consequently, the adoption of aquaculture along the Johor's coastal area has lead to Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). This paper examines the evolution of the aquaculture industry of Malaysian Johor coastal areas in relation to HABs. In addition to HABs, the aforementioned metropolitan regions confront diverse economic and geographical obstacles when attempting to increase their aquaculture production sustainably. Those problems are therefore addressed using a variety of operations as well as surveillance techniques in this brief overview. Lockdowns and border prohibitions caused by the continuous COVID-19 infection have had a global impact. These logistical difficulties in the seafood industry have increased dependency on imported supplies. It is suggested that international decision- making, supervision, and knowledge exchange can successfully solve the challenges urbanized areas have in ensuring sustainable food security through the evolution within the aquaculture sector.

Community-based disaster risk reduction efforts in facing the threat of abrasion disasters at Bungin Beach, Bekasi Regency during the covid-19 pandemic

Abrasion causes coastal areas to have a very high level of dynamics and often has an impact on environmental damage, so it needs to be anticipated. In the last 2 years, the whole world has faced a crisis caused by the pandemic due to Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19). During the pandemic, the environment where coastal communities live is still threatened with abrasion. Some mangrove planting and rehabilitation activities had to be stopped to suppress the spread of the virus. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of community groups (Tourism Awareness Group) as a key factor in overcoming abrasion events during the Covid-19 pandemic at Bungin Beach. Interviews and direct observations were conducted to obtain survey data. Additional analyzes were then carried out through relevant journals and literature reviews. As a result, from 1997 to 2021 there has been abrasion on Bungin beach. The Tourism Awareness Group plays a role in post-pandemic recovery, especially in the economic sector. Through mangrove planting activities, not only to restore the economy of coastal communities during the pandemic but also to protect coastal ecosystems from the threat of abrasion on Bungin Beach.

Integrated coastal zone management in the context of COVID-19.

With the increasing need for and emergence of research on ocean and coastal issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ocean & Coastal Management journal presents this Special Issue with relevant articles within the scope of Coastal Management in times of COVID-19. This Special Issue received 43 tentative abstracts, 29 manuscripts were submitted, and finally, 12 articles were accepted. We provide a wide panorama of those twelve articles that integrate the special issue, covering a diverse range of topics regarding coastal management in the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven papers are studies that discuss environmental and social problems during this time in coastal zones, while the other five explore the use of technology to face COVID-19 on beaches. These twelve articles give some insights to improve coastal management, focused on tourist beaches, natural disasters, and fisheries. In sum, this special issue offers an organized compendium of high-level articles, as a contribution to evolve towards the better ocean and coastal management within the rapid emerging of publications about COVID-19.

Leveraging federalism for flexible and robust management of social-ecological systems

Managing social-ecological systems (SES) requires balancing the need to tailor actions to local heterogeneity and the need to work over large areas to accommodate the extent of SES. This balance is particularly challenging for policy since the level of government where the policy is being developed determines the extent and resolution of action.We make the case for a new research agenda focused on ecological federalism that seeks to address this challenge by capitalizing on the flexibility afforded by a federalist system of governance. Ecological federalism synthesizes the environmental federalism literature from law and economics with relevant ecological and biological literature to address a fundamental question: What aspects of SES should be managed by federal governments and which should be allocated to decentralized state governments?This new research agenda considers the bio-geo-physical processes that characterize state-federal management tradeoffs for biodiversity conservation, resource management, infectious disease prevention, and invasive species control.Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

COVID-19 and Well-Being in Remote Coastal Communities—A Case Study from Iceland

This study utilizes a recently developed framework for the well-being economy to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 in the sparsely populated Westfjords region of northwestern Iceland. A total of 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a broad spectrum of local community members, nearly all undertaken in October 2021. Local impacts to human and social capital were very evident, whilst economic consequences to individuals and business were largely mitigated through national economic packages. The remoteness of the Westfjords and pre-existing challenges, such as exposure to nature disasters, a harsh climate, and limited infrastructure, provided a bedrock of resilience with which to tackle the pandemic. This underpinned the sustainability of the communities, and flexible approaches to work and education constrained some of the worst potential effects of social distancing and isolation. Nevertheless, some socio-demographic groups remained harder hit than others, including the elderly in nursing homes and non-Icelandic speaking foreigners, who were marginalized via isolation and lack of information provision in the early, most severe outbreaks of COVID-19. The study demonstrated the coping mechanisms and solutions that were adopted to sustain subjective and community well-being, whilst reinforcing the importance of utilizing local community strengths in tackling the many challenges induced by a pandemic crisis. © 2022 by the authors.

Expanding Vulnerability Indices for Pandemic Effects

In this study, our goal is to identify potentially vulnerable communities that could be subject to ongoing or compounding impacts from the pandemic and/or that may experience a slower recovery due to sociodemographic factors. For this purpose, we compiled information from multiple databases related to sociodemographic and health variables. We used a ranking-based method to integrate them and develop new combined indices. We also investigated a time-dependent correlation between vulnerability components and COVID-19 statistics to understand their time-dependent relationship. We ultimately developed pandemic vulnerability indices by combining CDC's social vulnerability index, our newly developed composite health vulnerability index, and COVID-19 impact indices. We also considered additional assessments include expected annual loss due to natural hazards and community resilience. Potential hot spots (at the county level) were identified throughout the United States, and some general trends were noted. Counties with high COVID-19 impact indices and higher values of the pandemic vulnerability indices were primarily located in the southern United States or coastal areas in the Eastern and Southwestern United States at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, the computed pandemic vulnerability indices shifted to higher values for counties in the southern and north-central United States, while values calculated for the northwestern and northeastern communities tended to decrease.

Dynamical characteristics of Amphan and its impact on COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh

In May 2020, a category-5 tropical cyclone (TC) Amphan formed in the Bay of Bengal and struck the coasts of India and Bangladesh. In this study, the relevant dynamic characteristics and aftermaths of Amphan are documented. Through detailed investigation of the reanalysis and observation data, spatiotemporal varying characteristics of the atmospheric and oceanic parameters during the Amphan propagation process were analyzed. Due to a wide range of high sea surface temperature anomaly, Amphan developed rapidly and ultimately led to the local heavy precipitation and strong winds in the coastal areas during its passage. It is also noted that the recorded wave height, wave period, and current speed all amplified when Amphan passed by and the characteristics of wave and current directions are also consistent with the temporal variation of the corresponding wind field. Meanwhile, Amphan occurred in accompany with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In Khulna Division of Bangladesh, the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases increased rapidly after Amphan landing, which however was almost nil before the event, indicating there might exist a possible correlation between Amphan and the intensive outbreak of the local COVID-19, and particular attentions should be paid to deal with the multi-type, coexisting disasters if different or even conflicting measures are required.

Expanding Vulnerability Indices for Pandemic Effects

In this study, our goal is to identify potentially vulnerable communities that could be subject to ongoing or compounding impacts from the pandemic and/or that may experience a slower recovery due to sociodemographic factors. For this purpose, we compiled information from multiple databases related to sociodemographic and health variables. We used a ranking-based method to integrate them and develop new combined indices. We also investigated a time-dependent correlation between vulnerability components and COVID-19 statistics to understand their time-dependent relationship. We ultimately developed pandemic vulnerability indices by combining CDC's social vulnerability index, our newly developed composite health vulnerability index, and COVID-19 impact indices. We also considered additional assessments include expected annual loss due to natural hazards and community resilience. Potential hot spots (at the county level) were identified throughout the United States, and some general trends were noted. Counties with high COVID-19 impact indices and higher values of the pandemic vulnerability indices were primarily located in the southern United States or coastal areas in the Eastern and Southwestern United States at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, the computed pandemic vulnerability indices shifted to higher values for counties in the southern and north-central United States, while values calculated for the northwestern and northeastern communities tended to decrease.

Traditional Knowledge of Marine Resources and Their Relations to the Coastal Community's Economic Well-Being in Peninsular Malaysia

This study was conducted to analyse the practice of associated use of traditional knowledge (TK) on marine resources as new sources of wealth to enhance the economic well-being of the coastal communities. This study employed a qualitative research approach with a total of 117 respondents in Peninsular Malaysia. Convenience and purposive sampling methods were used to identify potential respondents and thematic analysis for the data analysis. The data was gathered through telephone interviews during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study reveal that the associated use of traditional knowledge on marine resources does play an essential role in the economic well-being of coastal communities. This was assessed through the perspective of living standards and livelihood improvement. The potential of TK based on marine resources illustrates the opportunity for this practice to become a valuable economic resource and create employment opportunities among coastal communities to generate a sustainable source of income. This study can also change modern society's perception of the importance and benefits of TK based on marine resources. The implications of this study can be viewed from the theory, practice, and policy. Future studies could be expanded to the Borneo region of Malaysia to gather different perspectives, and a quantitative approach could be used to gather more extensive opinions. © 2022 WITPress. All rights reserved.

RESÍDUOS PLÁSTICOS E SUSTENTABILIDADE: REFLEXOS E IMPACTOS DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 NO CONTEXTO SOCIOCULTURAL E AMBIENTAL

Objetivo: O artigo buscou analisar os impactos e reflexos da pandemia de COVID-19 na gestão dos resíduos plásticos. Referencial teórico: A preocupação com a COVID-19 resultou em diversas medidas protetivas, como a determinação do uso de EPIs e restrições de circulação nos centros urbanos. Essas mudanças também impactaram padrões de geração e gestão de resíduos sólidos, especialmente de resíduos plásticos, cujos reflexos negativos nos aspectos socioambientais podem emergir, dado seu descarte inadequado. Método: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de literatura, nas bases de dados Scopus, Sage e Web of Science, com utilização do Methodi Ordinatio. Ao total, 22 estudos foram selecionados, compondo o portfólio de pesquisa. Resultados e conclusão: Os resultados demonstraram uma maior concentração de estudos que relacionam os resíduos plásticos nas regiões costeiras, especialmente provenientes de EPIs, e a poluição por microplásticos. Além disso, há uma preocupação com a geração de resíduos de embalagens pela alteração nos padrões de consumo, com o aumento da procura por serviços de e-commerce e delivery. Além de uma preocupação ambiental, destaca-se um problema de ordem social à longo prazo, devido à quebra de padrões de comportamentos sustentáveis na utilização de plástico descartável. Implicações da pesquisa: Soluções são propostas no sentido de utilização de plásticos biodegradáveis, reutilização de EPIs e novas tecnologias de tratamento de resíduos, além da mudança no comportamento social. Originalidade/valor: De um modo geral, o estudo fornece insights e promove reflexões sobre os desafios enfrentados no gerenciamento de resíduos plásticos durante a pandemia de COVID-19.Alternate :Purpose: The article aims to analyze the impacts and reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic waste management. Theoretical Framework: The concern with COVID-19 resulted in several protective measures, such as the use of PPE and movement restrictions in urban centers. These changes also affected patterns of generation and management of solid waste, especially plastic waste, whose negative effects on socio-environmental aspects may emerge due to its inadequate disposal. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review in the databases Scopus, Sage and Web of Science, employing the Methodi Ordinatio. The review selected 22 studies to compose the research portfolio. Results and conclusion: The results showed a higher concentration of studies on plastic waste in coastal regions, especially from PPE and microplastic pollution. Moreover, there is a concern with the generation of packaging waste by shifting consumption patterns with the increased demand for e-commerce and delivery services. Besides an environmental concern, a long-term social problem stands out regarding the breaking of sustainable behavior patterns in using disposable plastic. Research implications: We propose solutions involving the use of biodegradable plastics, reuse of PPE, and new waste treatment technologies, besides changes in social behavior. Originality/Value: Overall, the study provides insights and promotes reflections on the challenges faced in managing plastic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research on High-Quality Development Evaluation, Space–Time Characteristics and Driving Factors of China’s Construction Industry under Carbon Emission Constraints

Research on the regional difference characteristics and driving mechanisms of high-quality developmental evaluations of the construction industry under the constraint of carbon emissions has important practical significance for guiding the efficient development of the construction industry, alleviating the contradiction between economic and social development and resource conservation, low-carbon requirements in the process of rapid urbanization, and realizing regional coordinated development. Taking carbon emissions as unexpected output into the evaluation system of high-quality development of construction industry, this paper studies the spatial–temporal differentiation characteristics, dynamic trend evolution and its driving factors of high-quality development of China’s construction industry from 2006 to 2021 by using the SE-SBM model of unexpected output, GML index analysis and grey correlation model. The research results show that: (1) from 2006 to 2021, the high-quality development of the construction industry generally fluctuated in a sinusoidal function pattern, and the high-quality development level of the construction industry in China was improved as a whole. It is manifested in the coexistence of regional imbalance and spatial correlation. High-efficiency provinces are concentrated in the eastern coastal areas, forming an obvious cluster effect;however, the radiation-driving effect is weak. (2) The regional difference in technological scale change is the largest, which is the main reason for the difference in regional total factor production growth rate;the contribution of technological progress to the difference in total factor growth rate is also relatively large. Generally speaking, technological factors are the key to reducing the difference of total factor growth rate between regions. (3) Urbanization level, carbon emission constraints, government regulation, scientific and technological R & D investment and industrial structure upgrading are the main driving factors that affect the spatiotemporal differentiation and evolution of high-quality development of the construction industry.

New Data of the 1755 Earthquake and Tsunami in Lisbon, Portugal

In spite of the significant number of studies focused on the 1755 earthquake and tsunami, there are still many unknowns regarding this event in Lisbon, Portugal. Thus, in this research the authors compiled historical documents, including some that had never been analyzed, complemented with a field survey and tsunami numerical modeling at the historical civil parish of Santo Estevão, Lisbon. It was possible to identify 13 buildings, including three religious buildings and five palaces. Furthermore, the new data showed that contradicting the general idea, the earthquake caused significant damage to the selected territory because the number of households decreased by 52%. The number of residents decreased to about 51%, and in 1756, 1041 residents were still living in 297 temporary shelters. There were more than 44 dead and 1122 residents were unaccounted for. The fire did not hit the area, and the tsunami numerical model results were validated by the historical accounts and cartography, which indicate that the coastal area of the studied area was not significantly inundated by the tsunami. The consultation of historical documents that had never been analyzed by contemporary researchers provides a breakthrough in the knowledge of the event since it allowed a very detailed analysis of the disaster impact.

Yorke Bay, Falkland Islands: a question for coastal management

Remote islands, such as those in the sub-Antarctic, represent vitally important oases for coastal megafauna and harbor abundant wildlife. The Falkland Islands are one such biodiversity hub and host a wealth of globally important breeding and foraging locations for animals of higher trophic levels, including gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua). Before the COVID pandemic, approximately 60,000 tourists visited the islands annually. Even so, Yorke Bay has for years functioned as a de facto protected area due to the presence of unexploded landmines.

Multitemporal Scenic Evaluation of Urban Coastal Sites: A Peruvian Case Study

Along the coast of Peru, intensive urbanization and tourism development were related to coastal scenery deterioration. This investigation carried out a scenery evaluation of 20 urban beaches from the “Circuito de Playas de la Costa Verde” (CPCV), a key beach corridor in Lima (Peru). For this purpose, the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES) was applied in three different seasons, using fuzzy logic to reduce observer subjectivity and estimate the Evaluation index (D). A total of 26 parameters were evaluated to estimate the D value during summer 2020, winter 2020, and summer 2021, to determine the temporal variability of the landscape of an urban coastal sector, such as the CPCV. The results show that all evaluated beaches are classified as very unattractive sites (Class V). Additionally, no significant differences were found between seasons but between beaches. Litter and disturbance factors (noise) were the main human parameters that had low and variable scores during assessments and influenced the D index value estimate. This scenery assessment proposes further implementations of new beach management strategies and actions focusing on landscaping and conserving coastal ecosystems. Strengthening monitoring to reduce noise and litter disturbance and promoting environmentally friendly coastal usage are vital aspects that must be implemented.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Microfinance and Social Sustainability of Grameen Bank Borrowers in South-West Bangladesh

As important as social sustainability is to the sustainable development agenda, there is a lack of research to clearly define and operationalize the concept. The purpose of this research is to add to the existing body of knowledge by developing a comprehensive scale for evaluating social sustainability and microfinance at the vulnerable level. A multidimensional concept of social sustainability, we argue, incorporates equity, diversity, social cohesion, and quality of life as well as democracy and governance. An incomplete picture of social sustainability may result if these dimensions are ignored. Factor analysis is used to examine the scale's validity, reliability, and dimensionality. Using microfinance as a case study, we demonstrate how the social sustainability scale can be put to use in practice. Women microfinance users in rural and coastal areas in Satkhira District of Bangladesh's southwest were surveyed for this paper using data from a questionnaire survey that included 223 respondents from rural and coastal areas (Shyamnagar and Kaligonjupazillas). Improved microfinance has a positive and significant impact on various aspects of social sustainability and overall social sustainability, according to this new research.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Market Access and Pricing of Fisheries Value Chain in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh

The present study analyzes the market access of the biggest fish market at Chattogram coastal region of Bangladesh affected by COVID-19. The food chain was reduced locally, regionally, and globally as supply chains were disturbed and international seafood exports were halted for a certain period. For data collection several qualitative data collection tools, such as individual interviews as well as secondary document analysis were employed. To realize the overarching aim of this research the whole market system was analyzed including the supplier, wholesaler, retailer, as well as the consumer of the domestic market in the Chattogram district. The result shows that the pandemic slowed the supply and demand in the domestic fish market, and as a consequence the price of fish was distinctly reduced in the whole market system. The result highlights that the most affected stages of the supply chains are the supply quantity, the interval of the supply, and the quantity of fish sales. Furthermore, the principally affected stages of the demand chains are consumer demand and alternation in the preference of the consumer. To overcome such situation, this study recommends governmental financial support to trades to ensure the smooth flow of the supply and demand and create an alternative market system for the consumer. The pandemic and the measures to address the pandemic have created significant new challenges for market access and controlling pricing in domestic markets. Regularly engage of the policymakers are thus the prerequisite to overcome the compensation of trades and ensure food security in this sector.

Coastal Scenic Quality Assessment of Moroccan Mediterranean Beaches: A Tool for Proper Management

This paper focuses on the study of landscape quality of Moroccan Mediterranean coastal areas, with a view to distinguishing exceptional beaches with high scenic value. The main characteristics of 50 beaches along the studied coast were assessed using a coastal scenic evaluation system based on a set of 26 selected parameters, including physical (18) and human (8) parameters. Each parameter was examined via a five-point rating scale, ranging from presence/absence or poor quality (1) to excellent quality (5). A decision index (D) is afterward obtained and used to classify sites into five classes: Class I: D ≥ 0.85, which included 9 sites (18%);Class II: 0.85 > D ≥ 0.65, 10 sites (20%);Class III: 0.65 > D ≥ 0.40, 8 sites (16%);Class IV: 0.40 > D ≥ 0.00, 16 sites (32%);and Class V: D < 0.00, 7 sites (14%). The sites of Belyounech 2, Maresdar, El Hwad, and Dalya are the best examples of Class I and represent extremely attractive coastal landscapes. The sites of Ghandouri, Tangier Municipal, M’Diq, Martil, and Tangier Malabata are examples of degraded urban sites that are very unattractive due to high human pressures. Management efforts in Moroccan coastal landscapes can strengthen the control of human activities and improve the scenic value of the sites. Class II beaches, such as Mrisat, Souani, Taourirt, and Sfiha, could improve and upgrade to Class I through litter cleaning and a regular maintenance program. Using the same principle, Class III sites, such as Sidi Amer O Moussa and Sidi Driss, could improve and upgrade to Class II. Indeed, litter and sewage appear as the main factors of degradation of Moroccan coasts, and many excellent beaches are strongly affected by them. This should be a wakeup call to the Moroccan authorities to take urgent and appropriate management measures.

Can mangrove intensive policies in Indonesia benefit more coastal communities? environmental policy analysis

All This article discusses the government’s efforts to restore the environment in coastal areas from the threat of abrasion. The deliberative policy analysis approach was used to analyze the implementation of the Indonesian government’s national mangrove labor intensive program policy on Bengkalis Island, Riau Province. The article writing uses a qualitative approach by utilizing descriptive analysis methods. The data collection techniques are interviews, observations, journal articles, online news, official documents, and websites of authoritative institutions. The results of the study show that the implementation of the mangrove labor-intensive national program involves community groups at the site level, this program provides economic, social benefits, and regenerates a culture of mutual cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, increases awareness of climate change, and finds several obstacles that need to be addressed. evaluated so that the implementation of this mangrove rehabilitation can run even better.

Implementing SDG 14 Under Principles, Ethical Values, and Environmental and Economic Justice for Small-Scale Artisanal Fishermen in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, as in other countries, vulnerability and marginalization experienced by small-scale artisanal fishermen, fisherwomen, and mollusk collectors are the result of the absence of a human rights‐based approach to marine conservation and development in the coastal areas. Usually non-formality, absence of tenure and access rights, bad health services, and low education compared to other productive sectors are part of what fisherfolks experience. This commentary shares how working in a long-term and integral way with these communities and incorporating a human rights‐based approach strengthens the contributions that the sector provides toward the sustainable use of the fishing resource of their marine territories with dignity, equity, and justice, especially in the context of SDG 14, the Ocean Decade, and 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. Born during the COVID pandemic, the initiative of a fair and equitable Sea Market for the fishing products of these small-scale communities supported by CoopeSoliDar RL and the Marine Responsible Fishing areas and marine territories of life network in Costa Rica is today a concrete example of how a fair and just market can contribute positively to the objectives of sustainable development and the fundamental elements contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity, preservation of the natural environment, sustainable use, and fair and equitable distribution of benefits.

Diffusion Characteristics and Driving Factors of the Smart Tourism City Policy—Event History Analysis

It is of great significance to explore the spatial-temporal characteristics and analyze the driving factors of the diffusion of smart tourism city policy, which promotes the adoption of smart tourism city policy and the sustainable development of tourism. We aimed to explore the diffusion law and influencing factors of smart tourism city so as to provide reference for the construction of smart tourism city. By employing the 249 cases in China from 2012 to 2019, we revealed the spatial-temporal characteristics and driving factors influencing the diffusion of smart tourism city policy by employing the event history analysis method. The results reveal that the diffusion of smart tourism city policy presents the typical S-shaped curve in cumulative adoptions over time. Furthermore, the diffusion of smart tourism city policy presents the spatial distribution characteristic of the Hu Line, which spreads from the eastern coastal areas to the central inland areas. Moreover, there are multiple driving sources for the diffusion of smart tourism city policy, among which economic lift force, intellectual support force, technological pull force and demand impetus force are the important driving sources for the policy diffusion.