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Good governance is paramount to the sustainability of fisheries, and inclusiveness of stakeholder groups has become the centerpiece in the ethos of managing small-scale fisheries. Understanding the effect of governance network structures on fishery sustainability can help guide governance to achieve desired outcomes. Data on resource users, fishing methods, governance networks and classifications of stock health were compiled for 17 sea cucumber fisheries in the Indian Ocean. The subjective influence of the actors and the complexity of governance networks on the health of wild stocks were analyzed. The fisheries differed widely in their resource users, fishing methods and governance networks. Little correspondence was found between the number of nodes in the governance networks and the health (exploitation status) of wild stocks. Government entities dominated the networks but neither their relative influence in the networks nor their proportionate contribution to the number of entities in the networks greatly affected stock health. These findings do not refute the benefits of inclusive governance, but rather suggest that multiple other factors (e.g. inadequate regulations, weak enforcement, high number of fishers) are also likely to play a role in influencing sea cucumber fishery sustainability. These factors must be tackled in tandem with good governance.

World fisheries, already vulnerable, are under increasing pressure from the impacts of climate change. Using the Tasmanian rock lobster industry as a case study, we considered the efficacy of risk perception as a tool to inform how to communicate the science of climate change and suggestions for management in relation to development of adaptation strategies for fisheries. Fishers surveyed in this study operate in a fishery that is expected to undergo large changes as a consequence of climate change. Fishers also reported observations of similar large changes in the marine environment and lobster fishery consistent with climate change; yet most fishers surveyed expressed doubts about whether climate change was a real process. The important point for adaption of the industry to climate change is that fisher perceptions of risk tended to create barriers to acceptance of climate change as an issue. This means that there is a barrier to communication and awareness about climate change and thus a barrier to future action on the issue. Improving acceptance of climate change and thus ability to adapt will require the development of communications that are culturally appropriate and palatable to fishers. We argue that the application of social learning principles in communications about climate change may be one constructive way forward.

Abstract Marine policymakers are facing increasing calls to consider the resilience of communities that rely on coastal and marine ecosystem goods and services, and the resilience of natural systems themselves. These calls are in response to increasing threats to coastal communities from external factors such as coastal hazards, possibly associated with climate change, reductions in natural capital often caused by over-fishing and invasive species, and drivers that act to change local and regional economic conditions leading to changes in employment and inequality. However, most communities have had little experience in explicitly managing for resilience. Similarly, our understanding of the factors that make a natural or social system resilient is also somewhat limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus-based definitions and performance measures for assessing resilience. These factors, along with other barriers, will need to be overcome before effective resilience-based management can be implemented.

Abstract Adaptation to climate change has experienced a recent rapid increase in guides, manuals and strategies, including the EU adaptation strategy of 2013. However, minimal critical review or evaluation has been done on the process and outcomes of adaptation strategies. This work presents a comparative analysis of progress towards adaptation strategies in nine coastal areas in NW Europe (from Belgium, France, Ireland and UK) where the INTERREG IVb IMCORE project was implemented. Adaptation progress was evaluated using a suite of indicators in six categories: Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Results & Impact, Sustainability and Management. Data were obtained through a combination of questionnaires and interviews. Although a similar IMCORE adaptation process was implemented there were notable differences between areas. Two alternate modes of implementation were identified: one focused more on impact and results and one on institutionalisation and future security of the adaptation process. The length of history of collaborative working was positively associated with progress in adaptation planning. The results thus recommend creation of a base for collaborative working prior to undertaking an adaptation initiative. However, this contrasts with the EU approach for developing adaptation strategies in which seeking agreement with stakeholders responsible for implementation is the penultimate stage.

Certification schemes respond to increasing environmental and social concerns about sustainability by encouraging consumer demand for ‘sustainable’ products. Such schemes have been a focus of much media coverage and the seafood sector is no exception with many seafood sustainability issues, including those related to both fisheries and aquaculture management, being widely reported on. This paper analyses how the certification schemes of the two best-known seafood sustainability standards organizations, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, were presented in news media coverage during a period of conflict surrounding the sustainable production and management of seafood in Australia. Employing a content analysis of Australian online and print news media published between 2015 and 2018, we find that the MSC label was used to highlight the sustainability of fisheries all around Australia, while the ASC label was mainly used in the context of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry, with both labels presented as ‘gold standards’. While we also find that ASC certification was used by ENGOs to attack the Tasmanian salmon industry and to question the validity of the ASC label, our data highlight that ASC and MSC certification was primarily used by industry as a tool to demonstrate its sustainability credentials, with the specifics of the certification schemes themselves receiving very little media attention.

Abstract Since the 1990s, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has used global assessments of vulnerability to inform investment and action against the effects of climate change. Beyond the IPCC, others have undertaken global assessments to understand the vulnerability of coastal areas to climate change. Eight global vulnerability assessments are compared to understand similarities and differences in their results and the metrics used to construct a vulnerability index. Variations in objectives, conceptualizations of vulnerability, operationalization of the concepts, scope and depth of data drawn upon lead to contradictory rankings of priority areas for climate action between assessments. The increased complexity and scope of indicators make it difficult to untangle the root causes of such differences in rankings. It is also difficult to identify the degree to which climate change influences vulnerability rankings compared to other factors such as local environmental conditions and the capacity of populations to deal with environmental change. The way to undertake global assessments needs to be reshaped to better inform planning of international development along different objectives. Global level assessments need to be simplified and harmonized to better isolate the impact of climate change specific drivers. Decision-makers would make better use of such global assessments as scoping studies rather than expect comprehensive and robust priorities for investment. Such scoping studies can help target locations where supplementary, in-depth local analyses need to be conducted. At the local level, the possibility to collect context-specific information, particularly on adaptive capacity, allows the robust assessment of vulnerability.

Abstract The existence and dilemmas of metropolitan fisheries have been overlooked in research on the resilience of coastal marine socio-ecological systems. Yet, they could produce a model of sustainable fisheries with significant global impact. To fill that research gap, this study investigates an inshore fishery population that has sustained itself within Hong Kong's rapid urban development, seeking to understand the reasons for its survival. The results indicate that the values of self-reliance and entrepreneurialism exacted by fishing enabled the fishers to make necessary adaptations and reposition themselves in mariculture and service industries. These new ventures, while retaining marine-based livelihoods, draw the fishers away from fishing activities. The paradox of this value-based resilience of a metropolitan fishery is discussed for its potential to generate policies to strengthen linkages among the fishers’ business activities and to create a sustainable fishery model useful in other contexts.

Les défis de la réalisation d'un avenir océanique juste, équitable et durable nécessitent un nouveau type de science transdisciplinaire et orientée vers l'action qui intègre toutes les disciplines et tous les systèmes de connaissances. Les scientifiques et les chercheurs du monde universitaire, de l'industrie ou du gouvernement, qui contribuent à la création de connaissances, à l'innovation et à l'élaboration de politiques pour l'océan, doivent être dotés d'un nouvel ensemble de compétences. Cet article cartographie les connaissances, les compétences et les attitudes nécessaires pour permettre un tel changement. Les compétences proposées servent de base à la conception et à l'opérationnalisation d'une formation moderne pour la durabilité des océans et sont envisagées pour être utilisées par les chercheurs à la fois individuellement et en équipe. Il met également en évidence le potentiel de diversification des carrières au-delà des « emplois bleus » traditionnels légitimés par les secteurs existants. Pour assurer la mise en œuvre pratique à court terme du cadre de compétences, la conscience de soi et l'auto-réflexion sont encouragées parmi les apprenants et les enseignants, ainsi que des actions pragmatiques pour surmonter les obstacles à la transdisciplinarité. Pour un impact à long terme, des interventions du système seront nécessaires pour améliorer la préparation des organisations à absorber et à valoriser les chercheurs formés dans ce nouveau cadre. Cela nécessitera de recycler la main-d' œuvre pédagogique actuelle ainsi que de recadrer les systèmes de connaissances et les incitations existants. Los desafíos de lograr un futuro oceánico justo, equitativo y sostenible requieren un nuevo tipo de ciencia transdisciplinaria y orientada a la acción que se integre en todas las disciplinas y sistemas de conocimiento. Los científicos e investigadores de la academia, la industria o el gobierno, que contribuyen a la creación de conocimiento, la innovación y el desarrollo de políticas para el océano, deben estar facultados con un nuevo conjunto de competencias. Este documento mapea el conocimiento, las habilidades y las actitudes necesarias para permitir dicho cambio. El conjunto de habilidades propuesto sirve como base para el diseño y la puesta en práctica de la formación moderna para la sostenibilidad del océano y está previsto que sea utilizado por los investigadores tanto individualmente como en equipo. También destaca el potencial de diversificación profesional más allá de los tradicionales "empleos azules" legitimados por los sectores existentes. Para garantizar la implementación práctica a corto plazo del marco de competencias, se fomenta la autoconciencia y la autorreflexión entre los alumnos y los docentes, junto con acciones pragmáticas para superar las barreras a la transdisciplinariedad. Para el impacto a largo plazo, las intervenciones del sistema serán necesarias para mejorar la preparación de las organizaciones para absorber y valorar a los investigadores capacitados en este nuevo marco. Esto requerirá volver a capacitar a la fuerza laboral pedagógica actual, así como reformular los sistemas de conocimiento e incentivos existentes. The challenges of achieving just, equitable and sustainable ocean futures require a new type of transdisciplinary and action-oriented science that integrates across disciplines and knowledge systems. Scientists and researchers in academia, industry or government, who contribute to knowledge creation, innovation, and policy development for the ocean, must be empowered with a fresh set of competences. This paper maps the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to enable such a shift. The proposed skillset serves as a foundation for the design and operationalisation of modern training for ocean sustainability and is envisaged to be used by researchers both individually and in teams. It also highlights the potential for career diversification beyond the traditional 'blue jobs' legitimated by existing sectors. To ensure the short-term practical implementation of the competence framework, self-awareness and self-reflection are encouraged among learners and teachers, along with pragmatic actions to overcome barriers to transdisciplinarity. For long-term impact, system interventions will be necessary to improve organisations' readiness to absorb and valorise researchers trained in this new framework. This will require re-training the current pedagogical workforce as well as reframing existing knowledge systems and incentives. تتطلب تحديات تحقيق مستقبل عادل ومنصف ومستدام للمحيطات نوعًا جديدًا من العلوم متعددة التخصصات والعملية المنحى التي تتكامل عبر التخصصات وأنظمة المعرفة. يجب تمكين العلماء والباحثين في الأوساط الأكاديمية أو الصناعية أو الحكومية، الذين يساهمون في خلق المعرفة والابتكار ووضع السياسات للمحيطات، بمجموعة جديدة من الكفاءات. تحدد هذه الورقة المعرفة والمهارات والمواقف المطلوبة لتمكين هذا التحول. تعمل مجموعة المهارات المقترحة كأساس لتصميم وتفعيل التدريب الحديث لاستدامة المحيطات ومن المتوخى أن يستخدمها الباحثون بشكل فردي وجماعي. كما يسلط الضوء على إمكانات التنويع الوظيفي بما يتجاوز "الوظائف الزرقاء" التقليدية التي تضفي عليها القطاعات الحالية الشرعية. لضمان التنفيذ العملي قصير الأجل لإطار الكفاءة، يتم تشجيع الوعي الذاتي والتأمل الذاتي بين المتعلمين والمعلمين، إلى جانب الإجراءات العملية للتغلب على الحواجز التي تحول دون تعدد التخصصات. بالنسبة للتأثير على المدى الطويل، ستكون تدخلات النظام ضرورية لتحسين استعداد المنظمات لاستيعاب وتثمين الباحثين المدربين في هذا الإطار الجديد. سيتطلب ذلك إعادة تدريب القوى العاملة التربوية الحالية بالإضافة إلى إعادة صياغة أنظمة المعرفة والحوافز الحالية.