New insights on the mediating role of emotional intelligence and social support on university students’ mental health during COVID-19 Pandemic: gender matters

Due to the demanding changes caused in the population by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a persisting experience of fear and social isolation, multiple studies have focused on the protective role of several psychological characteristics on mental health. Emotional intelligence and social support are commonly linked to mental health and well-being. The present study aims to analyze the mediator role of emotional intelligence and social support on university students’ mental health, taking into consideration the role of gender differences. An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of 923 university students during the COVID-19 lockdown in Portugal. Significant gender differences were found on mental health symptoms, emotional intelligence, and social support. A double mediation model was computed to verify if gender influences on mental health were mediated by emotional intelligence and social support. The results show indirect effects of gender on mental health. However, as both mediators mediate in the opposite direction, the total indirect effects become null. Thus, a strong direct effect of gender on mental health remains. The results of the present study have theoretical implications on protective factors of mental health by gender and practical implications for psychological intervention in university counselling services.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Words matter: Judges’ value judgments in sentence pronouncements remarks.

This study examines judges’ value judgments on their remarks during sentence pronouncements. We performed a content analysis of 93 sentence pronouncements from the 13 judges from a Portuguese criminal court. Within these discourses, 299 discourse units were codifed as judges’ value judgments, that is, personal contents beyond strict legal issues. From these 299, 107 were recommendations (comprehending advice to change, to not reofend, to rethink life, and action instructions), and 192 were opinions about the individual, the society, and the judicial system. The existence of value judgments in sentence pronouncements carries important implications for the sentencing process. Namely, these value judgments allow the identifcation of judges’ personal ideas, and issues particularly vulnerable for simplistic reasonings, as well as subjective considerations. This identifcation and the discussion on the powerful role of language in the context of sentencing are key features to strengthen judges’ training and, consequently, to improve the implementation of penal justice.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A theoretical exercise of Marine Spatial Planning in the Flemish Cap and Flemish Pass (NAFO Divs. 3LM): implications for fisheries management in the high seas

A theoretical exercise of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is currently being conducted within the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), using the MESMA framework to assess whether the existing science base is sufficient to support a potential spatially managed area. The case study is located in the high seas within the Flemish Cap – Flemish Pass area. It includes cold-water coral and deep-sea sponge vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), bottom fishing closed areas, and different blue economy activities, such as high seas fisheries and offshore oil and gas. The paper summarizes the context setting for MSP, in a theoretical scenario to accommodate an emergent offshore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, minimizing impacts on VMEs and existing high seas fisheries. Biophysical and socio-economic components of the ecosystem are mapped, including the spatial overlapping between new and traditional uses of the marine space, focused on potential conflicts user-user (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and deep-sea fisheries) or userenvironment (e.g. hydrocarbon industry and VMEs) and considering transboundary conflicts (e.g. recent oil spills). Current and potential management measures are described. This is followed by a discussion on the role and challenges of MSP in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, as lessons learned from the present exercise. Finally, the future work is briefly outlined

Cold-water corals and deep-sea sponges by-catch mitigation: Dealing with groundfish survey data in the management of the northwest Atlantic Ocean high seas fisheries

The integration of survey data in the processes of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations is a key step for conservation of deep-sea ecosystems and sustainable exploitation of deep-sea fisheries resources, including the mitigation of by-catch and discards of cold-water corals and deep-sea sponges, both considered by FAO as vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) indicator species. Information on corals and sponges from annual bottom trawl groundfish surveys in areas beyond national jurisdictions has been integrated into the “ecosystem management cycle” of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Survey data have improved our knowledge on VMEs identification, distribution and extent, and has led to the proposal and implementation of conservation and management measures. These data have particular relevance to delineate and refine the boundaries of areas closed to commercial bottom fishing (14 closures), in order to prevent significant adverse impacts on VMEs, according to the mandate of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/105. Considering the European groundfish surveys in the NAFO Regulatory Area (high seas) as a case study, the paper presents an overview of how invertebrate catch data have been integrated into the fisheries management process as a basis to the implementation of VMEs closed areas. Fishing closures are considered effective spatial management measures to avoid by-catch and discards of cold-water corals and deep-sea sponges in commercial bottom fishing, mitigating the adverse impacts on deep-sea ecosystemsVersión del editor1,86

Seabed litter distribution in the high seas of the Flemish Pass area (NW Atlantic)

Seabed litter of the Flemish Pass area (NW Atlantic Ocean) was analysed and described using data from the EU-Spain groundfish survey (2006-2017 period). This study presents baseline information on seabed litter in this area. The Flemish Pass is located in areas beyond national jurisdiction within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area Division 3L. A total of 1169 valid bottom trawl hauls were analysed (104-1478 m depth). Litter was found in 8.3% of the hauls, with mean densities of 1.4±0.2 items km–2 and 10.6±5.2 kg km–2. An increasing pattern with depth was found, the highest densities of seabed litter being identified in the deepest areas located in the Flemish Pass channel and down the northeastern flank of the Grand Bank. Fishing was found to be the main source of marine litter, and 61.9% of the hauls with litter presence showed litter included in the fisheries-related litter category. Whereas in most cases the litter was composed of small fragments of rope, in other cases it was composed of entire fishing gears such as traps. Plastics, metal and other anthropogenic litter were the next most abundant categories, accounting for 18.6%, 16.5% and 12.4% of the total, respectively.Versión del editor1,00

Spanish Research Report for 2017

Spanish catch and effort information used in this Report is based on the logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. The logbooks information for 2017 was available haul by haul. Table 1 presents the Spanish catches by species and Division in 2017 in NAFO Regulatory Area. Total effort of the Spanish fleet in 2017 was 1,037 fishing days. In 2017, IEO scientific observers were on board 329 fishing days that it means 32 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers. In 2017, 483 samples were taken with 57,988 individuals of different species examined (Table 2)

Sentinels of Seabed (SoS) indicator: Assessing benthic habitats condition using typical and sensitive species

Indicators are key tools used to assess the ecological status of the environment for ecosystem based management. Anthropogenic disturbances produce changes to habitat condition, which include modifications in species composition and their functions. Monitoring a group of sentinel species (from a taxonomic and functional point of view) provides useful insights into benthic habitat condition. Here, a new indicator, Sentinels of the Seabed (SoS) is proposed to assess state of benthic habitats using “sentinel” species (species which are characteristic of a habitat and sensitive to a given pressure). The selection of these sentinel species has two stages. First, a ‘typical species set’ is computed using intra-habitat similarity and frequency under reference conditions. Second, the ‘sentinel species set’ is generated by selecting the most sensitive species from the typical species set. This selection is made using specific indexes able to assess species sensitivity to a particular pressure. The SoS indicator method was tested on six case studies and two different pressure types (trawling disturbance and pollution), using data from otter trawl, box-corer and Remote Operate Vehicle images. In each scenario, the SoS indicator was compared to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef index and total biomass, being the only metric, which showed the expected significant negative response to pressure in all cases. Our results shows that SoS was highly effective in assessing benthic habitats status under both physical and chemical pressures, regardless of the sampling gear, the habitat, or the case study, showing a great potential to be a useful tool in the management of marine ecosystems.Versión del editor2,69

Spanish Research Report for 2018.

Spanish catch and effort information used in this Report is based on the preliminary logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. The logbooks information for 2018 was available haul by haul. Table 1 presents the preliminary Spanish catches by species and Division in 2018 in NAFO Regulatory Area. Total effort of the Spanish fleet in 2018 was 1,082 fishing days. In 2018, IEO scientific observers were on board 279 fishing days that it means 26 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers. In 2018, 425 samples were taken with 44,499 individuals of different species examined (Table 2)

Spanish Research Report for 2015

Spanish catch information used in this Report is based on the logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. Table 1 presents the catches by species and Division in 2015 based on this information. The split of catches and effort between the different gears in this Report are based on information from NAFO observers on board. In 2015 NAFO observers information from 1,272 days was available while total effort of the Spanish fleet in NAFO Regulatory Area was 1,317 days (around 97% coverage). In addition to NAFO observers, IEO scientific observers were on board 320 fishing days that it means 24 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers: 576 samples were taken in 2015, with 59,883 individuals of different species examined (Table 2).Postprint0,000

Spanish Research Report for 2019

Spanish catch and effort information used in this Report is based on the preliminary logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. The logbooks information for 2019 was available haul by haul. Table 1 presents the preliminary Spanish catches by species and Division in 2019 in NAFO Regulatory Area. Total effort of the Spanish fleet in 2019 was 1,272 fishing days. In 2019, IEO scientific observers were on board 257 fishing days that it means 20 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers. In 2019, 376 samples were taken with 45,831 individuals of different species examined (Table 2)