Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Identification and Management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A Review

The article discusses the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in marine conservation, specifically in relation to the protection of marine ecosystems and the definition of marine protected areas (MPAs). It highlights the threats that marine ecosystems face due to human activities and emphasizes the importance of effective management and conservation efforts. By improving data gathering, processing, monitoring, and analysis, artificial intelligence, and automation, they can revolutionize marine research. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of AI and automation in marine conservation responsibly and ethically. In order to integrate these technologies into decision-making processes, stakeholders and marine conservation professionals must collaborate. Through the use of artificial intelligence and automation, marine conservation efforts can be transformed by establishing new methods of collecting and analyzing data, making informed decisions, and managing marine ecosystems.

Protection of marine species diversity in China

China has approximately 14 500 krn long coastline that not only offers to dwell for human being but also exists diverse marine organisms. Nowadays, Chinese marine economy development is rapid and marvelous, while we have met very serious problem on losing marine biodiversity. Marine biodiversity can be addressed at the level of diversity within species, between the species and of ecosystems. Each level of biodiversity have been at different extents of threatening. Among this species-level diversity may be the most essential and important for these protecting actions. Species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank, as well as a unit of biodiversity. Removing species from marine ecosystems removes those important functions. We have an ethical responsibility to protect marine biodiversity, but the first step is to understand how many marine species exist, and it is important because it provides a measure of how well we know about marine life and their potential ecosystem functions.

Proper Management of Standardization to Promote the Development of Marine Environment Protection

Marine environment protection is an important aspect of environmental protection inChina.The role of standards in marine environment protection,the government's regulation ofthe marine environment,and supporting economic and social development will become increasinglyprominent.This article outlines the circumstances and standardization of marine environmentprotection,construction of the standards system for marine environment protection andprospects for standardization of marine environment protection.

An Analysis of the Legal System for the Protection of Marine Resources in China

In order to realize the orderly development and rational use of marine resources,construct a new marine economic development model,effectively adjust the relationship between marine resource protection and social production,and promote the legalization and institutionalization of marine resource protection.Based on the reality,this article attempts to explore the ways and means of improving and constructing the legal system for the protection of marine resources from multiple dimensions.It aims to form a complete marine resource development system from the legal level and provide legal guarantee for the development of marine economy.

Preparation of Eco-environmental Protection Bricks from Lake Sludge

Eco-environmental protection hollow bricks manufactured from lake sludge collected from North Lake in Wuhan of China were investigated. At first, the recipes of round sam- pies（diameter in 5 cm and thickness in 1 cm） prepared by pressing molding under a pressure of 8 MPa and firing system were optimized, and properties such as bending strength, compressive strength, total shrinkage rate, water adsorption rate, apparent porosity and bulk density of the fired samples were tested. The experimental results showed that water adsorption rate and apparent porosity decreased, while bulk density increased with firing temperature increasing. Addition of additive can result in the improvement of strength of fired samples. At the same time, fly ash and additive may also broaden the firing temperature range and reduce firing temperature. Toxic characteristic leaching procedure （TLCP） tests of samples also show that the metal leaching level is low. The conditions for manufacturing good quality sample include 80% sludge with 10% additive and 10% flyash fired at 1000 ℃ for 60 min. Bending strength and compressive strength of samples prepared under the conditions are 24.64 MPa, 131.95 MPa, respectively,which are far beyond the requirements of clay solid bricks of CNS. Finally, according to the optimized recipe,the eco-environmental protection hollow bricks with the sizes of 40 mm × 38 mm ×25 mm were made and tested by extrusion molding. Compared with the Chinese National Standards （CNS： GB 13545-2003）, compressive strength, water adsorption and bulk denstiy of the hollow bricks are 11.55 MPa ,14.5% and 986 kg/m^3 when they were fired at 1040 ℃, which are far beyond the require of of CNS. Especially, its water adsorption arrives to standard of high-class products（16.0%） and compressive strength is above the hightest class（MU 10.0）.

Research on market-based policy instruments for eco-environmental protection

The selection of policy instruments involves policy efficiency and policy effect.Effective settlement of eco-environment problems in the process of industrialization and implementation of active eco-environment protection depend on the innovation of policy instruments.In this paper,based on a descriptive analysis of the policy instruments for ecoenvironmental protection of our country,combined with the theoretical analysis and the empirical research on current marketization of eco-environmental protection,the authors indicate that eco-environmental problems originate fi'om the damage of eco-environment and the extemalities of eco-service,and that the market-based policy instruments which are helpful to balance the relationship between fight,responsibility and interest in the eco-service are effective measures to eliminate externalities and protect eco-environment.

Evolution logic complementary needs and reform path of China’s marine ecological protection system

The issue of marine ecology is an institutional one.China’s marine ecological protection system has gone through a process of development from scratch to existence and from less to more.However,there are still many problems to be solved,such as whether a variety of complex systems can form a joint force of governance,and whether the rear system failures,deficiencies,and conflicts.Therefore,this paper reviews the evolution logic of China’s marine ecological protection system,explores the complementary space of the existing system from the perspective of institutional complementarity,and analyzes the path of institutional reform of supplement,amendment,and coordination,to promote the effective transition of marine ecological protection system emphasizing quality over quantity.The evolution of China’s marine ecological protection system can be divided into three stages:initial establishment,steady progression,and gradual transformation,showing a trend characterized by a changing governance mode from land-sea division to land-sea integration,a changing supervision mode from government only to multi-institution coordination,a changing safeguard mode from standard norms to the legal system.The internal motivation of promoting the evolution of the marine ecological protection system is the link age between the long-overdue institutional derived demand and supply,and between institutional cost constraints and institutional income drivers.Marine ecological protection is a complex and systematic project across regions and departments,and the link age between different ecological protection systems is crucial.Based on the theory of institutional complementarity,this study finds that China’s marine ecological protection system has great complementarity needs in three aspects:protection subject,protection means,and protection process.Among them,the problem of a single unitary protection subject is mainly caused by the lack of system,the low efficiency of protection means is mainly affected by the lack of system adaptability,and the separation of protection process mainly reflects the contradiction of system incongruity and mismatch.Based on this,the supplement of China’s marine ecological protection system should focus on the government’s responsibilities and the cultivation of multiple subjects.The revision of the system should focus on the further improvement of non-governmental mechanisms such as market incentives and information disclosure.The coordination of the system should be based on the whole process from pre regulation preparations to post-regulation review,in order to promote the effective connection and cooperation of policy tools.

Water resources optimization and eco-environmental protection in Qaidam Basin

In order to realize sustainable development of the arid area of Northwest China, rational water resources exploitation and optimization are primary prerequisites. Based on the essential principle of sustainable development, this paper puts forward a general idea on water resources optimization and eco-environmental protection in Qaidam Basin, and identifies the competitive multiple targets of water resources optimization. By some qualitative methods such as Input-output Model & AHP Model and some quantitative methods such as System Dynamics Model & Produce Function Model, some standard plans of water resources optimization come into being. According to the Multiple Targets Decision by the Closest Value Model, the best plan of water resources optimization, eco-environmental protection and sustainable development in Qaidam Basin is finally decided.

Protection and Innovative Development of Marine Ecological Cultural Heritage in China

The marine ecological cultural heritage demonstrates tiie long-standing wisdom of human marine ecological culture. Its effective protection and inheritance is a continuation of the traditional marine ecological lifestyle, and is also an important impetus to the current construction of marine ecological civilization in China. The paf ticipation and interaction of cultural origins should be pfomoted, system protection management systems should be continuously improved, policies, reguktions and supporting mechanisms should be improved, and scientific evaluation mechanisms should be established, gradually realizing innovative development.

On the Criminal Law Protection of the Marine Ecological Environment

With the continuous and rapid development of the country’s economy and society,it has greatly promoted the leap of the marine economy and brought more severe challenges and tests to the protection of marine ecological environment.How to effectively measure the criminal law protection of the marine ecological environment and take effective measures Measures to deepen the effects of marine ecological environmental protection have become one of the focus topics of widespread concern in the industry.Based on this,this article first introduces the protection of marine ecological interests in China’s criminal law,analyzes the necessity of adjusting the ecological environment in criminal law,and discusses the deficiencies in China’s marine legal system and combines relevant practical experience to improve the marine environment.Various angles and aspects,such as laws and regulations related to resource crimes,put forward the basic approach to strengthen the criminal law protection of the marine ecological environment,and hope to help the practice of related work.

Oyster Cementation as Protective Covers for Exposed Marine Concrete

Cored concrete specimens from seawall exposed to marine environment for 22 years were evaluated by carbonation depth test,rapid chloride permeability test,absorption of water test and microstructure examination.The results show that concrete exposed to marine environment has smaller carbonation depth and carbonation depth of concrete exposed to tidal zone is less than that in splash zone.There are similar water absorption rate and chloride permeability for concrete exposed to splash zone compared with concrete exposed to splash zone removed 3mm surface layer.However,concrete exposed to tidal zone with bio-films has lower chloride permeability and water absorption rate than those of concrete exposed to tidal zone removed 3mm surface layer.In addition,Results of FE-SEM and EDAX indicate that concrete exposed to splash zone has loose structure,exposed finer aggregate and concrete exposed to tidal zone covers by dense structure of oyster cementation and shell.Microstructures analysis further verified that concrete covered with oysters and their cementation has beneficial effects to durability of concrete.

Marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean:status and future

Marine protected areas(MPAs) in the Southern Ocean are receiving more and more global attention. The Southern Ocean is one of the world’s last regions not yet seriously impacted by human activities, signifying its ecological importance and unique value for scientific research. In response to climate change and growing commercial fishing interests in the Southern Ocean and their impacts on the marine ecosystem, the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources(CCAMLR) is reacting to growing international pressure to establish a system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean to manage fisheries and conserve vital species—such as the keystone resource Antarctic krill and the dominant fish predator Antarctic toothfish—as well as to protect whole ecosystems. This review summarizes progress in the establishment of MPAs in the Southern Ocean by focusing on several major topics:(1) the current status of MPAs in the Southern Ocean;(2) the purpose and objective of MPAs in the Southern Ocean;(3) a short description of the largest high-sea MPA(the Ross Sea MPA);(4) ecological observation and monitoring for the planned MPAs in the Southern Ocean; and(5) the importance of international cooperation in the design, establishment and future management of MPAs in the Southern Ocean.

Benthic Diversity of Sessile Organisms in Rocky Reef Habitats of Coastal Brazil: An Insight into the Implementation of Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas are increasingly becoming a tool of choice for conservation and management of marine resources and ecosystems. Data on biodiversity are necessary to assist in establishing protected areas for conservation objectives to be met. Toward that effect, we investigated reef biodiversity patterns in three large-scale coastal regions of Brazil. The study areas comprised of an upwelling region, an adjacent high impacted region, and a more distant marine park. We surveyed four reef sites in each study region. Species counts of sessile benthic organisms, substrate relief, and average monthly water temperatures were recorded during the surveys. Benthic organisms were identified to the lowest taxa possible using still photos. Biodiversity was estimated using Shannon’s index on richness of organism taxa. Diversity was highest at the upwelling and high-impacted areas. No substrate relief patterns were found. Temperature readings showed lower average values at the upwelling and high impacted regions. Our results favor the upwelling region for establishment of a Marine Protected Area. Moreover, the similar diversity between the upwelling and the high impacted regions showed evidence of spillover effects from the former into the latter region, further demonstrating the importance of the former region for conservation.

Assessing Marine Protected Areas Effectiveness: A Case Study with the Tobago Cays Marine Park

Given the socio-economic consequences associated with declaring areas of ocean protected in order to achieve conservation objectives, this paper contributes to the growing global need to assess Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as an effective management tool. It adds to the current body of knowledge on MPA effectiveness by conducting an evaluation of the Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP), located in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the eastern Caribbean, using a modified MPA effectiveness framework. Due to the limited information existing about the current performance of this MPA, this assessment also provides needed insight on the effect that the TCMP is having on the marine ecosystem, as well as its overall management performance. By comparing the performance of the MPA over a 10-year span (2007 and 2016), the results indicate that overall, the TCMP could be described as having limited success when key management categories of context, planning, input, process, output and outcomes are evaluated. In particular, efforts dedicated to planning, process and outcomes are assessed as deficient. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that efforts to realize the stated goals relating to conservation, public awareness and public education were being neglected. However, considerable effort was being expended by TCMP staff on achieving the remaining goal focusing on deriving economic benefits from touristic activities in the Park. Preliminary field research examining the effects of the TCMP on the abundance and density of an economically important species, Lobatus gigas, (commonly referred to as the queen conch) showed the TCMP as having no effect towards conch protection. The results and recommendations of this study, combined with continued monitoring of a recommended targeted suite of indicators, could contribute to better-informed adaptive MPA management, leading to progress towards the achievement of the stated goals for the TCMP.

Community’s Perspectives towards Marine Protected Area in Perhentian Marine Park, Malaysia

The Perhentian Islands located in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They are well-known for their rich coral reef ecosystems. Marine resources of Malaysia have been overexploited in general due to overfishing and other development activities. Such no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) were established in Malaysia including Perhentian Islands Marine Park to enable overexploited marine resources to recover and to conserve coral reef ecosystems. This paper examines the current level of activities causing damages to the coral reef habitats in the Perhentian MPA. This study used paired comparison method to elicit the perception of the local stakeholders on the activities harmful to the marine habitats. The results of the analysis showed that various respondent groups had similar preference rankings on the harmful activities: littering, discarding fishing equipments, excess fishing and too many divers that cause damage to the habitats in the MPA area. The findings suggest that policy makers should take cognizance of the local stakeholders’ concern in planning and designing of marine protected areas in Malaysia.

Defence force activities in marine protected areas:environmental management of Shoalwater Bay Training Area,Queensland,Australia

Environmental management of military activities is of growing global concern by defence forces. As one of the largest landholders in Australia, the Australian Defence Force （ADF） is increasingly concerned with sustainable environmental management. This paper focuses on how the ADF is maintaining effective environmental management, especially in environmentally sensitive marine protected areas. It uses Shoalwater Bay Training Area （SWBTA） as a research example to examine environmental management strategies conducted by the ADF. SWBTA is one of the most significant Defence training areas in Australia, with a large number of single, joint and combined military exercises conducted in the area. With its maritime component contained in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park （GBRMP）, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area （GBRWHA）, and abutting Queensland＇s State Marine Parks, it has high protection values. It is therefore vital for the ADF to adopt environmentally responsible management while they are conducting military activities. As to various tools employed to manage environmental performance, the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System （EMS） is widely used by the ADE This paper exanlines military activities and marine environmental management within SWBTA, using the Talisman Saber （TS） exercise series as an example. These are extensive joint exercises conducted by the ADF and the United States defence forces. The paper outlines relevant legislative framework and environmental policies, analyses how the EMS operates in environmental management of military activities, and how military activities comply with these regulations. It discusses the implementation of the ADF EMS, including risk reduction measures, environmental awareness training, consultation and communication with stakeholders. A number of environmental management actions used in the TS exercises are presented to demonstrate the EMS application. Our investigations to this point indicate that the ADF is complying with all relevant legislation and policies. Further research is required to confirm compliance and conclude that military activities have good accord with environmental management objectives.

Research Review on Construction and Protection of Tibet Eco-environment

Tibet is not only famous ＂ the roof of the world＂ but also is recognized as the ＂ third pole of the earth＂ by the whole world, with very im-portant significance in construction and protection of plateau eco-environment. In Qinghai - Tibet Plateau, there are abundant wild animal and plant resources and a lot of high-mountain mineral resources, and water resources, light resources and characteristic agriculture and animal husbandry resources have broad development and utilization space. When Tibet economy and society improve and develop, eco-environment construction and protection work is also mentioned in the schedule. In this paper, the history, status quo and prospect of Tibet eco-environment protection and development are explored, which could promote the understanding on Tibet eco-environment construction and protection in academic world.

Ecosystem-Based and Community-Based Model Integration to Designate Coral Reef No-Take Marine Protected Areas: A Case Study from Puerto Rico

Ecosystem-based management and community-based participation in governance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been identified as key elements to improve management success, local stakeholder support, and compliance with regulations. However, both are often rarely achieved, resulting in poor MPA governance, support and success. A quantitative assessment of the spatio- temporal change (1997-2012) of coral reef fish communities within Arrecifes La Cordillera Natural Reserve in northeastern Puerto Rico was carried out. We also identified community expectations of and support for the designation of a network of small no-take MPAs within the reserve’s boundaries. A holistic approach employing biophysical and socioeconomic methods was used as part of a participatory model to identify priorities for the designation of candidate no-take MPAs. Populations of the most important fishery-targeted species showed a significant temporal decline, particularly in areas subjected to intense recreational activities and spearfishing. Most groupers (Serranidae), snappers (Lutjanidae), barracudas (Sphyraenidae), and some parrotfishes (Scaridae) were nearly absent at most sites. Most individuals belonged to smaller size categories. Herbivores represented the majority of the total fish biomass, suggesting strong fishing impacts on apex predators. Fish declines also occurred after two massive coral bleaching events in 1998 and 2005 that were followed by mass coral mortalities, suggesting combined negative impacts of fishing and climate change. A no-take MPA designation was supported by 80% of the artisanal fishermen, 73% of the concessionaires (i.e., SCUBA diving, charter boats), and 52% of registered vessel operators. Stakeholders agreed that coral reef conditions in the reserve had declined over time, as well as water quality which affected reef health and fisheries. Stakeholders did not recognize climate change and sea surface warming as threats to coral reefs and fisheries. Nonetheless, stakeholder perceptions of candidate no-take MPA sites remarkably matched those identified through fish counts. This study also highlighted the pervasive views held by many stake-holders concerning MPA management and enforcement, and recommended that any no-take MPA designation process considers improving stakeholder participation, understanding of management objectives, actions, and accomplishments, and building stakeholders trust. The integration of ecosystem-based and community-based participatory models may be critical to foster improved support of no-take MPAs and foster a long-term community-based integration to develop and implement mitigation strategies for climate change impacts in novel future scenarios.

Governance of Marine Protected Areas： An Approach Using Public Participation Geographic Information Systems--The MARGov Project

The MARGov Project consisted in strengthening the interaction among the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park stakeholders, and to collaboratively construct, with social and institutional actors, a governance model for the Marine Park, located in the municipality of Sesimbra （Portugal）. To pursue this goal, a PPGIS （public participation geographic information system） was developed, allowing the interaction, discussion and public participation of the stakeholders and actors involved. This PPGIS emerged as a crowdsourcing tool, with the purpose of assisting the georeferenced contributes from the local users of the Marine Park, regarding several relevant subjects, such as pollution, economic activities, opportunities and threats to the Marine Park, providing visual, analytical, and demonstrative qualities.

Environmental Issues of a Marine Protected Area in a Tectonic Estuary in the Tropical Eastern Pacific:Uramba(Malaga Bay Colombia):Context,Biodiversity,Threats and Challenges

The environmental protection of tropical marine and coastal areas faces different challenges due to the diversity of aspects related to these areas, which include natural, social and economical issues. Despite these challenges, efforts for the protection of these areas are urgent nowadays because of the dramatical increase of human related threats like habitat destruction and population growth. Malaga Bay (MB) is a tectonic estuarine system located in Panama Bight (central region of the Colombian Pacific coast), which due to its origin shows important environmental characteristics of few sites in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) match. For these reasons, the government of Colombia declared in 2010, the bay’s marine area as a Marine National Natural Park in order to preserve its unique estuarine marine biodiversity. Despite this measure, MB presents several conditions that make environmental protection a very difficult task. In this paper, we present the geographical context, biodiversity and natural resources, environmental threats, the complexity of economic and social context, and the institutional and legal context of MB, to exemplify the difficulty that the protection of marine areas face in the TEP.