Small-scale fisheries, food security, and the SSF Guidelines: value chain challenges in two community-managed fisheries in western Madagascar

Madagascar, among the world’s poorest countries, depends heavily on small-scale fisheries for food security and income. Many of its fisheries have transitioned from subsistence- to market-oriented in recent decades, driven by the emergence of new export markets. In this chapter we consider the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (‘SSF Guidelines’) in light of experiences from two small-scale fisheries in Madagascar: for octopus (Octopus cyanea) and mud crab (Scylla serrata). We focus on articles related to value chains, post-harvest and trade. The dispersed nature of the fisheries means fishers rely on private sector collectors to access markets. Post-harvest actors hold disproportionate negotiating power, with benefits from management initiatives accruing mainly to actors high in the value chain rather than the fishers who implement them. To address these imbalances and increase the contribution of these fisheries to poverty reduction and food security, it is critical to empower fishers and improve their representation in management processes. Data deficiencies must also be tackled, to enhance transparency and provide an evidence base for decision-making

New perspectives on an old fishing practice: Scale, context and impacts of bottom trawling

This report seeks to provide new perspectives on this historical controversy by presenting the most up-todate synthesis of available data and evidence on bottom trawling's extent, impacts, and solutions in order to inform constructive policy-making. Specifically, it uses novel data analysis from Sea Around Us to map the global extent of bottom trawling; a synthesis of peer-reviewed literature to elucidate environmental, social, and climate impacts; and insights from more than 40 global experts on what a constructive future might look like that manages or severely. limits the worst impacts of this practice, while also ensuring a just and equitable society and a healthy food system

The Role of Tourism and Recreation in the Spread of Non-Native Species: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Managing the pathways by which non-native species are introduced and spread is considered the most effective way of preventing species invasions. Tourism and outdoor recreation involve the frequent congregation of people, vehicles and vessels from geographically diverse areas. They are therefore perceived to be major pathways for the movement of non-native species, and ones that will become increasingly important with the continued growth of these sectors. However, a global assessment of the relationship between tourism activities and the introduction of non-native species–particularly in freshwater and marine environments–is lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the impact of tourism and outdoor recreation on non-native species in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments. Our results provide quantitative evidence that the abundance and richness of non-native species are significantly higher in sites where tourist activities take place than in control sites. The pattern was consistent across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments; across a variety of vectors (e.g. horses, hikers, yachts); and across a range of taxonomic groups. These results highlight the need for widespread biosecurity interventions to prevent the inadvertent introduction of invasive non-native species (INNS) as the tourism and outdoor recreation sectors grow

Fisheries Learning Exchanges: A Short Guide to Best Practice

This handbook provides guidance on developing, implementing, evaluating and sustaining fisheries learning exchanges. Produced through collaboration between FAO, the NGO Blue Ventures and the research initiative FLExCELL, it draws on experiences from dozens of learning exchanges over the past decade to provide actionable, accessible advice and best practices. While anyone seeking to better understand fisheries learning exchanges will find the information presented here of use, the guide is aimed primarily at practitioners such as development and government workers acting as technical partners to fishing communities in tropical developing countries

Embedded system for controlling adjustable desk to ergonomic height

Po višini nastavljive mize pomagajo ljudem doseči boljše zdravje in povečati koncentracijo pri delu. Z napredkom sistemov po višini nastavljivih miz so se izboljšali pogoji, pod katerimi ljudje delajo. Dodatni vgrajeni senzorski sistemi z avtomatiziranim procesom merjenja in vodenja mize na ergonomsko višino pomagajo človeku doseči boljšo držo in izboljšati zdravje. Iz relacij med deli človeškega telesa se lahko izračuna višina mize, ključni podatek pa je uporabnikova višina telesa, ki jo izmeri vgrajen senzorski sistem s pomočjo vodenja nastavljive mize po višini. Tako se lahko nastavi miza na ergonomsko višino, ki izboljša držo telesa uporabnika.Hight adjustable desks help people to archive better health and increases concentration on work. Progress of height adjustable desk systems is also improving the conditions under which people work. Adding embedded systems to height adjustable desk, improves body posture with automatic process of measuring and controlling the desk. The height of the desk can be calculated with using relations between parts of the human body and the height of the person, which is measured with embedded system to control and drive the desk to a certain height. Ergonomic height of the desk can be then archived to improve the posture of human body and health

Status Report: Marine ecosystems, fisheries and socio-economic context of Anjouan, Comoros

The outstanding marine biodiversity of the Comoros islands is both poorly studied and subject to high local pressures on resources, especially on the island of Anjouan. In partnership with Comorian NGO Dahari, Blue Ventures aims to address the pressures on the marine ecosystems of the Sima peninsula in western Anjouan (Figure 1), whilst meeting the needs of fishery-dependent communities and conserving the marine resources and biodiversity. To achieve this goal, we need to identify and implement community-centred opportunities for enhancing conservation, fisheries management and livelihoods. However, there are little existing data available on the local ecosystems, socio-economic context or fisheries to inform these activities, so it was necessary to carry out broad-scale baseline research

LMMAS and MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean.

<p>LMMAS and MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean.</p

Geographic scope, population and socio-economic characteristics of Western Indian Ocean (WIO) nations.

<p>Source: The World Bank <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-TheWorld1" target="_blank">[120]</a>, except for coastal population and HDI, which are provided respectively by CIESIN <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-CIESIN1" target="_blank">[121]</a> and UNDP <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-UNDP2" target="_blank">[122]</a>.</p><p>Note: South Africa only includes KwaZulu Natal as the Province that borders the WIO.</p><p>*HDI = Human development index (<a href="http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/indices/hpi/" target="_blank">http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/indices/hpi/</a>).</p>1<p>Excludes area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones.</p>2<p>Percentage of population living within 100 km of a coastline.</p>3<p>Gross national income, calculated using World Bank Atlas Method.</p>4<p>Figures for Mayotte are calculated from INSEE <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-INSEE1" target="_blank">[123]</a>. Population estimate from 2009.</p>5<p>Figures for Réunion are calculated from INSEE <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-INSEE2" target="_blank">[124]</a>.</p>6<p>South Africa only includes KwaZulu Natal, the Province that borders the WIO. Area and population figures from Statistics South Africa <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-StatisticsSouth1" target="_blank">[125]</a>; GDP figures calculated from Statistics South Africa <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103000#pone.0103000-StatisticsSouth2" target="_blank">[126]</a>.</p