The impact of longline fishing on the seabirds breeding on Marion Island

Includes bibliographical references.This study describes the impact of longline fishing on the seabirds breeding on the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The development of a demersal longline fishery for Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides close to the islands with almost complete observer coverage during the study allowed a detailed examination of the impacts of this fishery. The vast majority of seabird mortalities were adult males that were breeding at the time they were killed. White-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis were killed most frequently, but albatrosses and giant petrels were also killed when lines were set in the daytime. Birds were killed almost exclusively during their breeding season, and albatrosses were caught closer to the islands than whitechinned petrels. It is estimated that between 8 500 and 18500 birds could have been killed between 1996-2000, mostly due to high levels of Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing. This is likely to have a significant impact on the breeding populations of several species of seabirds breeding on the Prince Edward Islands. A large increase in the amount of fishing gear found next to seabird nests as well as fishery-derived items in the diets of wandering albatrosses was recorded concurrent to the development of the toothfish fishery around the Prince Edward Islands. There was also an increase in the number of observed seabird entanglements in fishing gear and mortalities due to the ingestion of fishing gear

Regional branding : perspectives of tourists in Australia

This paper aims to explore the overlap and gap between the communication efforts of destination marketing organisations (DMO)&rsquo;s and consumer perspectives of tourism destination within Australia. This paper applies qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Three stages of analysis are discussed. The web site content of state tourism authorities are analysed using Leximancer. The results show that states are using differing perceptual dimensions to portray characteristics of state tourism destinations. It is also found that consumers can recall the slogans and positioning of some states to a much greater extent than others. Finally it was shown that there was little correspondence and consistency between state positioning slogans and the destination promise and actual content on the web site.<br /

Blended and online learning : student perceptions and performance

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to improve educator knowledge of the antecedents and consequences of blended learning in higher education. Design/methodology/approach &ndash; A longitudinal case study approach is adopted. Three case studies each involve tracking a student evaluations of teaching (SET) measure (willingness to recommend) and grade point average for three subjects from the same business discipline over six years. The cases involve comparison of: a business subject taught solely online; a business subject where experimentation in the blend of face-to-face teaching and learning is involved; and a business subject where face-to-face teaching is primarily used, and where in the most recent iteration online content supplements the learners\u27 experiences. Findings &ndash; The findings suggest that there are situations where integrated use of blended learning involving face-to-face teaching, digital media and digital communication with simple navigation between the content items leads to positive student perceptions. This is in contrast to negative student perceptions in the situation where learners must navigate in online learning, and where there is little or no face-to-face instruction. While not examined in detail, nor part of the research question, it is not surprising to find no relationship between learning mode and grade point averages is evidenced. Research limitations/implications &ndash; The effects of prior computer literacy and language proficiency across the students used in this study, and potential demographic and experiential differences between on-campus and off-campus students are not controlled for. Additionally, only three business subjects are investigated and it is recognised that there is a need for a broader study. Finally, with response levels to the university-controlled SET that typically range between 20-43 per cent for these large subjects, there is possible non-response bias that it was not possible to counter over the six years involved. Practical implications &ndash; The findings in this study suggest that while blended learning offers many benefits to higher education institutions and learners alike, care needs to be taken in the manner in which such approaches are implemented in light of possible negative learner perceptions where a less traditional approach is taken. Originality/value &ndash; A major contribution of this study is the fact that experimentation has taken place in terms of the degree of face-to-face and online learning that have been blended in at least one subject (case study two), and the fact that the SET for this subject are compared, longitudinally, with two other subjects which lie on either side of this subject in terms of the extent of online and face-to-face teaching and learning employed &ndash; 100 per cent online in case study one and almost 100 per cent face-to-face in case study three.<br /

South Africa's proposed new Marine Protected Area around the Prince Edward Islands: An analysis of legal obligations, options and opportunities

This dissertation examines the international, regional and national legal context for the declaration of a large multi-zoned MPA around the Prince Edward Islands. In particular I examine South Africa's obligations in terms of international and regional treaty law as well as its commitments to global policy statements. Legal options and opportunities for providing the most comprehensive, and yet practical, legal protection for such a MPA are examined. Recommendations are made based on this analysis

Reaching and influencing consumers in the prescription medicine market

Purpose &ndash; Celebrex became the first of a new class of drugs known as COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It improves treatment for arthritis sufferers without compromising the protective lining of the stomach. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medicines can be used to rebuild faith in the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) product category. Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The case is developed using published sources and no input is required from company representatives. The presentation style follows the classic comprehensive case format used in postgraduate teaching programmes. Findings &ndash; Business executives and strategic marketing students would benefit from a discussion on how external environmental factors can suddenly impose a review of marketing strategy. The reader learns how management addresses the business dilemma using DTCA. Research limitations/implications &ndash; A blockbuster rival drug Vioxx is withdrawn due to cardiovascular (CV) health safety concerns. A resulting dominant market situation soon becomes a business dilemma. The Federal Drug Administration calls for a &ldquo;black box&rdquo; warning label on Celebrex, the most serious type of warning. Practical implications &ndash; The implications are that having a product in a class of its own is not enough. It highlights the need to communicate to different audiences, to both the medical profession and the end-user. Getting doctors to recommend the medicine and pulling the product through the channel by stimulating patient demand after a health scare are paramount. Originality/value &ndash; This is the first pharmaceutical business case where the withdrawal of a rival product leaves the dominant competitor in a monopoly situation. Contrary to expectation, market share plummets despite the absence of competition.<br /

The evaluation of a frame-of-reference training programme for intern psychometrists

Orientation: The use of assessment centres (ACs) has drastically increased over the past decade. However, ACs are constantly confronted with the lack of construct validity. One aspect of ACs that could improve the construct validity significantly is that of assessor training. Unfortunately untrained or poorly trained assessors are often used in AC processes. Research purpose: The purpose of this research was to evaluate a frame-of-reference (FOR) programme to train intern psychometrists as assessors at an assessment centre. Motivation of study: The role of an assessor is important in an AC; therefore it is vital for an assessor to be able to evaluate and observe candidates’ behaviour adequately. Commencing with this training in a graduate psychometrist programme gives the added benefit of sending skilled psychometrists to the workplace. Research design, approach and method: A quantitative research approach was implemented, utilising a randomised pre-test-post-test comparison group design. Industrial Psychology postgraduate students (N = 22) at a South African university were used and divided into an experimental group (n = 11) and control group (n = 11). Three typical AC simulations were utilised as pre- and post-tests, and the ratings obtained from both groups were statistically analysed to determine the effect of the FOR training programme. Main findings: The data indicated that there was a significant increase in the familiarity of the participants with the one-on-one simulation and the group discussion simulation. Practical/managerial implications: Training intern psychometrists in a FOR programme could assist organisations in the appointment of more competent assessors. Contribution/value-add: To design an assessor training programme using FOR training for intern psychometrists in the South African context, specifically by incorporating this programme into the training programme for Honours students at universities

Insurers could help address climate risks

Working with South Africa's largest short-term insurer, Santam, we investigated how communities should manage the increased risks associated with climate change. The global insurance industry has focused on refining the quantification, differentiation and pricing of the risk exposure of insured assets. Our findings call into question a sole reliance on this strategy (J. Nel et al. CSIR/NRE/ECOS/2011/0063/B; CSIR, 2011)

Investigating the factor structure of the South African Personality Inventory – English version

Abstract: Most psychological measuring instruments developed in Western, educated, industrial, rich, democratic (W.E.I.R.D.) countries have been found to inadequately capture and represent personality outside the borders of these countries. Consequently, culturally informed or indigenous measuring instruments need to be developed. Research purpose: This study aimed to inspect whether an overlap exists between the empirical data obtained and the theoretical six-factor SAPI framework, providing evidence for an indigenous personality structure in a multi-cultural context. Motivation for the study: Psychological professionals in South Africa have been criticised for using culturally biased instruments that do not display an accurate representation of the 11 official cultural groups. The South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) aims to address these criticisms, highlighting the importance of establishing the cultural applicability of the model through model-fit analyses..

Trusting relationships and personal acquaintance : implications for business friendships

Friendship is very often a component of business relationships. Organisations frequently have relationships with their suppliers, customers and collaborators that could be described as \u27friendly\u27. However, there is little comparative evidence concerning the extent to which business friendships resemble true social friendships. This article illustrates some differences that may exist between social and business friendships, with particular reference to the extent that interpersonal relationships are trusting, and are based on the nature of personal acquaintance. This means that managers need to understand the differences between business and personal friendships and adjust the type of interactions they, and those who report to them. have with customers, suppliers, collaborators, and the like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]<br /