Simulating the Effects of Alternative Management Measures of Trawl Fisheries in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Application of a Multi-Species Bio-economic Modeling Approach

In the last decades, the Mediterranean Sea experienced an increasing trend of fish stocks in overfishing status. Therefore, management actions to achieve a more sustainable exploitation of fishery resources are required and compelling. In this study, a spatially explicit multi-species bio-economic modeling approach, namely, SMART, was applied to the case study of central Mediterranean Sea to assess the potential effects of different trawl fisheries management scenarios on the demersal resources. The approach combines multiple modeling components, integrating the best available sets of spatial data about catches and stocks, fishing footprint from vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and economic parameters in order to describe the relationships between fishing effort pattern and impacts on resources and socio-economic consequences. Moreover, SMART takes into account the bi-directional connectivity between spawning and nurseries areas of target species, embedding the outcomes of a larvae transport Lagrangian model and of an empirical model of fish migration. Finally, population dynamics and trophic relationships are considered using a MICE (Models of Intermediate Complexity) approach. SMART simulates the fishing effort reallocation resulting from the introduction of different management scenarios. Specifically, SMART was applied to evaluate the potential benefits of different management approaches of the trawl fisheries targeting demersal stocks (deepwater rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, the giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea, the European hake Merluccius merluccius, and the red mullet Mullus barbatus) in the Strait of Sicily. The simulated management scenarios included a reduction of both fishing capacity and effort, two different sets of temporal fishing closures, and two sets of spatial fishing closures, defined involving fishers. Results showed that both temporal and spatial closures are expected to determine a significant improvement in the exploitation pattern for all the species, ultimately leading to the substantial recovery of spawning stock biomass for the stocks. Overall, one of the management scenarios suggested by fishers scored better and confirms the usefulness of participatory approaches, suggesting the need for more public consultation when dealing with resource management at sea

Copernicus Ocean State Report, issue 6

The 6th issue of the Copernicus OSR incorporates a large range of topics for the blue, white and green ocean for all European regional seas, and the global ocean over 1993–2020 with a special focus on 2020

Yield and nitrogen fixation potential from white lupine grown in rainfed Mediterranean environments

ABSTRACT There is renewed interest in white lupine (Lupinus albus L.), which is appreciated for its high protein content, full range of essential amino acids and as N source to rainfed cropping systems. Unfortunately, information on its N2 fixation ability is limited. This study aimed to: (i) quantify the N2 fixation ability of white lupine crop at the plot field scale in three different environments of Sardinia (Italy) under Mediterranean climate; (ii) determine the allocation of the plant-fixed N into different organs; and (iii) establish the relationship between fixed N and DM within plant organs. In a 2-year experiment, N2 fixation was estimated using the 15N isotopic dilution method. The productive performances and ability of white lupine to fix N2 widely differed in the three environments; peak values exceeded 300 kg ha−1 of fixed N. There were significant differences in the quantity of fixed N found in each plant organ at physiological maturity with 5, 20, 19 and 57 % of fixed N partitioned to roots, shoots, pod valves and grain, respectively. After grain harvesting, the net N balance ranged from negative values to 160 kg N ha−1. The relationship between fixed N and DM yield indicated 60, 34, 8 and 6 kg of fixed N per t of grain, pod valves, shoots and root, respectively, showing that fixed N preferentially accumulated in seeds at physiological maturity. Due to its high potential for N2 fixation and N benefit, white lupine represents a valuable crop option under rainfed Mediterranean conditions

Cropping systems sustainability: Inoculation and fertilisation effect on sulla performances in a new cultivation area

To assess the feasibility of the sulla [Sulla coronaria (L.) Medik] forage legume in a new agroecosystem, its host-specific symbiotic interaction needs to be taken into account. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inoculation and nitrogen (N) fertiliser on productive performances and N-fixation ability of sulla established in a new habitat within a Mediterranean agropastoral area. Sulla plants, previously inoculated (with peat-based, liquid inoculants, and using soil from an existing sulla field) and unfertilised or N fertilised were evaluated in Sardinia (Italy). During 2013-2014, sulla plants were sampled at four growing stages, from vegetative stage to seed set, and shoot length, shoot dry matter (DM) yield and N content were monitored. Moreover, atom% 15N isotopic excess, proportion of N derived from the atmosphere and fixed N of sulla shoots were quantified. Inoculation and N fertilisation both affected growth, DM and N yields, and N-fixation of sulla. Compared to the best inoculated treatment, the DM yield and fixed N of the control only represented 10 to 22% and 2 to 11%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilisation caused temporary decreases in the N fixing ability of sulla. Results pointed out that rhizobial inoculation is essential for the exploitation of sulla outside its traditional cropping area

Characteristics of road traffic accidents involving powered two-wheelers in Europe and Australia - results from PIONEERS

28th Annual Congress EVU, Barcelone, ESPAGNE, 24-/10/2019 - 26/10/2019Comprehensive literature review has been performed related to analyses of road traffic accidents involving powered two-wheelers. It became obvious that many projects, in particular European research projects by the EU, studies from French and Italian research institutes and from Australia have been working on this topic; however, results can hardly be compared since the definitions of many variables fluctuates, different injury coding are used and all analysed in-depth accident datasets are based on greatly differing inclusion criteria. The PIONEERS project took this burden and established definitions for relevant Accident Scenarios and Body Regions which may form a new common understanding and will accelerate harmonization processes in this research field. Furthermore, several datasets from Europe and Australia (Compilation of macrostatistical European accident data as well as data from national statistics and in-depth accident investigations) of latest years have been analysed to provide a current understanding of the accident occurrence of powered two-wheelers

Adaptation, Biometric Traits and Performances of Guayule Lines Grown in Two Mediterranean Environments

The perennial shrub guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) has gained interest as a potential source of natural and hypoallergenic rubber in Southern Europe. Although, native to northern Mexico, it is suited to semi-arid and Mediterranean environments. A research study was conducted in Sardinia (Italy) to evaluate adaptation and biometric traits of introduced guayule lines and to determine the contents and yields of rubber and resin obtainable from its aboveground biomass. Seedlings of the accessions AZ-1, AZ-2, P803, and 11591 were field transplanted in 2015 at two locations of southern, and northern Sardinia, respectively, differing for annual precipitation. Plant survival rate, height and width, trunk diameter, leaf chlorophyll concentration and photosystem photochemical efficiency were monitored. Shoots were harvested at 30 months after transplanting and were partitioned into twigs and remaining stems and its rubber and resin contents were determined. Location markedly affected plant survival rates and biometric traits. Dry matter yield of aboveground components as well as contents of rubber and resin and plant rubber and resin yields differed significantly among accessions under comparison. We found that AZ1 and 11591 were the most successful accessions at southern Sardinia site, whereas 11591 was the only accession exhibiting a satisfactory plant survival rate in the northern location

Deliverable D.6.2 Safety and Economic Benefits - Project PIONEERS - Protective Innovations of New Equipment for Enhanced Rider Safety

The main goal of the PIONEERS project is to improve the safety of Powered-Two-Wheelers by providing an integrated approach to rider protection considering on-rider (Personal Protective Equipment) and on-board systems. The implementation of the PIONEERS' main results will contribute to reducing PTW fatalities and injuries by defining test methods to develop protective systems and on-board systems to reduce impact severity. In order to assess if this major conclusion of the PIONEERS project is being fulfilled and to quantify the benefit, an Impact Evaluation has been developed in this document. This evaluation concerns both economical and safety benefits (in terms of avoided or mitigated accidents, reduction of morbidity and severity of injuries) of the following proposed PTW safety countermeasures that have been developed in PIONEERS: PreCrash Braking System, Airbag jacket and the PTW-PPE communication system, Motorcycle and scooter leg protector. Concerning the PCB, the evaluation was obtained via computer simulations of a set of 60 real-world in-depth crashes. The effects were assessed in terms of a reduction of the absolute and relative impact speed of the PTW. A parametric approach in which PCB intervention parameters were varied (field of view, range, deceleration, fade-in jerk, triggering strategy...) was adopted to compute the effects of the system for different conditions. Such approach led to the identification of three combinations of parameters to represent typical system effects assuming a pessimistic (low efficiency), average, and an optimistic approach (high efficiency). Depending on the set of parameters, benefits in terms of speed reduction can go until a median value of 15km/h. Then societal benefits have been calculated in terms of casualties' reduction or crashes using Injury Risk Function and the new relative impact speed distribution. Results show that global benefits for slight, serious or fatal injuries are included between -4% to -31%. Finally, economic benefits in terms of cost were evaluated using the SafetyCube software. Several configurations were considered like the implementation rate of PCB among all motorcycles in Europe, the cost to promote such systems, the horizon, etc. In a 5 years period, this cost will be balanced by savings from health and social expenses, and in a high rate of implementation (with the average evaluation) Europe could save, at least, 30 human lives in this period. With an optimistic configuration, the net value of the benefits could reached between approximately 500k€ until more than 90 M€. Concerning the Airbag jackets, the societal benefits calculation was first based on the establishment of Injury Risk Function for slight, serious and fatal injuries on the trunk without the airbag. In order to establish these IRF, four accident databases were considered and 382 accidents concerned a rider with at least one injury in trunk body region. Then, according to the work performed in others WP's of the Pioneers project, three hypotheses have been considered for the level of protection and the reduction of injuries. They considered that the airbag jacket provides a reduction of an AIS-1 for speed impact lower than 20km/h, respectively 30km/h and 40km/h. Results of the societal evaluation show that between 1,3% until 19% of injuries could be avoided in function of the configuration. From an economical point of view, with a high implementation rate (6%) in the next 5 years, a net value of more than 140M€ could be saved. Concerning the Lateral Protectors, Injury Risk Function of the Lower Leg in lateral impact configuration were first established based on 81 accidents. Then, based on the findings from the lateral protection devices that have been developed in the PIONEERS project (in particular WP3), two hypotheses have been retained for the level of protection of such systems: one considered as a « low-speed » countermeasure (only effective until 15km/h) and one considered as « medium-speed » countermeasure (only effective between 15 to 30km/h). Global societal and economic benefits have been observed but results have to be taken very cautiously. Indeed, the economic evaluation show that an amount of more than 5M€ for the net benefits could be saved with the best configuration. But it is important to remind that these systems are not still available in the market, so these evaluations have to be considered as a theoretical exercise. In conclusion, this work allowed to evaluate safety and economic benefits of several protective systems: Pre-Crash Braking, airbag jackets, Lateral protectors. But because some of these systems are prototypes and not yet on the market, all the evaluations have to be taken very carefully. In particular, results from societal and economical evaluations are sensible and have to be considered cautiously. Beyond these specific evaluations, theroretical methodologies have been defined and could be applied on other systems

Livrable D1.1 - Powered Two-Wheelers - Road Traffic Accident Scenarios and Common Injuries - Project PIONEERS - Protective Innovations of New Equipment for Enhanced Rider Safety

Comprehensive literature review has been performed related to analyses of road traffic accidents involving powered two-wheelers (PTW). It became obvious that many projects, in particular European research projects, studies from French and Italian research institutes and from Australia have been working on this topic; however, results can hardly be compared since the definitions of many variables vary, different injury coding are used and all analysed in-depth accident datasets are based on greatly differing inclusion criteria. The PIONEERS project took this burden and established definitions for relevant Accident Scenarios and body regions which may form a new common understanding and will accelerate harmonization processes in this research field. Furthermore, several datasets from Europe and Australia (Compilation of macrostatistical European accident data as well as data from national statistics and in-depth accident investigations) of latest years have been analysed to provide a current understanding of the accident occurrence of powered two-wheelers