Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis as a tool to extract fishing footprints and estimate fishing pressure: application to small scale coastal fisheries and implications for management in the context of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive

In the context of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and with the intention of contributing to the implementation of a future maritime spatial plan, it was decided to analyze data from the small scale coastal fisheries sector of Greece and estimate the actual extent of its activities, which is largely unknown to date. To this end we identified the most influential components affecting coastal fishing: fishing capacity, bathymetry, distance from coast, Sea Surface Chlorophyll (Chl-a) concentration, legislation, marine traffic activity, trawlers and purse seiners fishing effort and no-take zones. By means of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) conducted through a stepwise procedure, the potential fishing footprint with the corresponding fishing intensity was derived. The method provides an innovative and cost-effective way to assess the impact of the, notoriously hard to assess, coastal fleet. It was further considered how the inclusion of all relevant anthropogenic activities (besides fishing) could provide the background needed to plan future marine activities in the framework of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and form the basis for a more realistic management approach

Otter trawls in Greece: Landing profiles and potential mιtiers

A fleet of 326 bottom trawlers operate in Greek Seas and their landings represent approximately 30% of the total fish production in Greece. In this study, otter trawl landings data were analyzed in order to identify potential métiers. Landings data between 2002 and 2006 were used, collected from 42 ports in the Aegean and East Ionian Sea. A three-step procedure was applied to identify potential métiers: the first step involved a factorial analysis of the log-transformed landings profiles, the second step a classification of the factorial coordinates, and the third step a further aggregation of clusters based on expert knowledge. In all, six potential métiers were identified in the Aegean Sea, and five in the Ionian Sea. The most important target species were European hake (Merluccius merluccius), deepwater pink shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), caramote prawn (Melicertus kerathurus), picarel (Spicara smaris), cephalopods, bogue (Boops boops), anglers (Lophiusspp.), and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Otter trawls in Greece use more or less the same gear with minor modification, and métier selection is basically reflected as a choice of geographical sub-area and hauling depth. The limitations of using landings profiles to identify métiers and the need for further verification are discussed

"Protected" marine shelled molluscs: thriving in Greek seafood restaurants

International agreements as well as European and national legislation prohibit exploitation and trading of a number of edible marine shelled molluscs, due to either significant declines in their populations or destructive fishing practices. However, enforcement of existing legislation in Greece is ineffective and many populations of “protected” species continue to decline, mainly due to poaching. The extent of illegal trading of protected bivalves and gastropods in Greek seafood restaurants was investigated by interviewing owners or managers of 219 such restaurants in 92 localities. Interviews were based on questionnaires regarding the frequency of availability in the menus and the origin of twenty-one species or groups of species, among which eight are protected - illegally exploited. Forty-two percent of the surveyed restaurants were found to serve at least one of the protected ¬- illegally exploited species. Among the illegally traded species, Lithophaga lithophaga, Pecten jacobaeus, and Pinnanobilis were served in a relatively high proportion of the surveyed restaurants (22.8%, 19.2%, and 16.4% respectively), outrunning many commercial species. In many cases these species were always or often available (11.4%, 4.6% and 5.0% respectively). There was substantial spatial variation in the proportion of restaurants that illegally served protected species with differing patterns for each species; very high proportions of illegal trading were observed in some marine regions (e.g., date mussels were served in >65% of the seafood restaurants along the coastline of Evvoikos Gulf). In most cases the illegally traded species were of local origin, while there was no finding of illegally imported molluscs from other countries. The strategy for enforcement of existing legislation should be greatly improved otherwise protection of shelled molluscs will remain ineffective

Global prevalence of cefiderocol non-susceptibility in Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Cefiderocol is a last resort option for carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria, especially metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and CR Acinetobacter baumannii. Monitoring global levels of cefiderocol non-susceptibility (CFDC-NS) is important. Objectives To systematically collate and examine studies investigating in-vitro CFDC-NS and estimate the global prevalence of CFDC-NS against major Gram-negative pathogens. Data sources PubMed and Scopus, up to May 2023. Study eligibility criteria Eligible were studies reporting CFDC-NS in Enterobacterales, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, or Stenotrophomonas maltophilia clinical isolates. Methods Two independent reviewers extracted study data and assessed risk of bias on the population, setting and measurement (susceptibility testing) domains. Binomial-Normal mixed-effects models were applied to estimate CFDC-NS prevalence by species, co-resistance phenotype and breakpoint definition (EUCAST, CLSI, FDA). Sources of heterogeneity were investigated by subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Results In all, 78 studies reporting 82,035 clinical isolates were analysed (87% published between 2020 and 2023). CFDC-NS prevalence (EUCAST breakpoints) was low overall, but varied by species [S. maltophilia 0.4% (95%CI 0.2-0.7%), Enterobacterales 3.0% (95%CI 1.5-6.0%), P. aeruginosa 1.4% (95%CI 0.5-4.0%)] and was highest for A. baumannii (8.8%, 95%CI 4.9-15.2%). CFDC-NS was much higher in CR Enterobacterales (12.4%, 95%CI 7.3-20.0%) and CR A. baumannii (13.2%, 95%CI 7.8-21.5%), but relatively low for CR P. aeruginosa (3.5%, 95%CI 1.6-7.8%). CFDC-NS was exceedingly high in NDM-producing Enterobacterales (38.8%, 95%CI 22.6-58.0%), NDM-producing A. baumannii (44.7%, 95%CI 34.5-55.4%), and ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant Enterobacterales (36.6%, 95%CI 22.7-53.1%). CFDC-NS varied considerably with breakpoint definition, predominantly among CR bacteria. Additional sources of heterogeneity were single-centre investigations and geographical regions. Conclusions CFDC-NS prevalence is low overall, but alarmingly high for specific CR phenotypes circulating in some institutions or regions. Continuous surveillance and updating of global CFDC-NS estimates are imperative while cefiderocol is increasingly introduced into clinical practice. The need to harmonize EUCAST and CLSI breakpoints was evident

Risk of allergic reactions to wine, in milk, egg and fish-allergic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>European legislators and wine producers still debate on the requirement for labeling of wines fined with potentially allergenic food proteins (casein, egg white or fish-derived isinglass). We investigated whether wines fined with known concentrations of these proteins have the potential to provoke clinical allergic reactions in relevant patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In-house wines were produced for the study, fined with different concentrations of casein (n = 7), egg albumin (n = 1) and isinglass (n = 3). ELISA and PCR kits specific for the respective proteins were used to identify the fining agents. Skin prick tests and basophil activation tests were performed in patients with confirmed IgE-mediated relevant food allergies (n = 24). A wine consumption questionnaire and detailed history on possible reactions to wine was obtained in a multinational cohort of milk, egg or fish allergic patients (n = 53) and patients allergic to irrelevant foods as controls (n = 13).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fining agents were not detectable in wines with the available laboratory methods. Nevertheless, positive skin prick test reactions and basophil activation to the relevant wines were observed in the majority of patients with allergy to milk, egg or fish, correlating with the concentration of the fining agent. Among patients consuming wine, reported reactions were few and mild and similar with the ones reported from the control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Casein, isinglass or egg, remaining in traces in wine after fining, present a very low risk for the respective food allergic consumers. Physician and patient awareness campaigns may be more suitable than generalized labeling to address this issue, as the latter may have negative impact on both non-allergic and allergic consumers.</p

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

The goal of ecosystem-based marine spatial management is to maintain marine ecosystems in a healthy, productive and resilient condition; hence, they can sustainably provide the needed goods and services for human welfare. However, the increasing pressures upon the marine realm threaten marine ecosystems, especially seabed biotopes, and thus a well-planned approach of managing use of marine space is essential to achieve sustainability. The relative value of seabed biotopes, evaluated on the basis of goods and services, is an important starting point for the spatial management of marine areas. Herein, 56 types of European seabed biotopes and their related goods, services, sensitivity issues, and conservation status were compiled, the latter referring to management and protection tools which currently apply for these biotopes at European or international level. Fishing activities, especially by benthic trawls, and marine pollution are the main threats to European seabed biotopes. Increased seawater turbidity, dredged sediment disposal, coastal constructions, biological invasions, mining, extraction of raw materials, shipping-related activities, tourism, hydrocarbon exploration, and even some practices of scientific research, also exert substantial pressure. Although some first steps have been taken to protect the European sea beds through international agreements and European and national legislation, a finer scale of classification and assessment of marine biotopes is considered crucial in shaping sound priorities and management guidelines towards the effective conservation and sustainability of European marine resources