Accommodating Dynamic Oceanographic Processes and Pelagic Biodiversity in Marine Conservation Planning

Pelagic ecosystems support a significant and vital component of the ocean's productivity and biodiversity. They are also heavily exploited and, as a result, are the focus of numerous spatial planning initiatives. Over the past decade, there has been increasing enthusiasm for protected areas as a tool for pelagic conservation, however, few have been implemented. Here we demonstrate an approach to plan protected areas that address the physical and biological dynamics typical of the pelagic realm. Specifically, we provide an example of an approach to planning protected areas that integrates pelagic and benthic conservation in the southern Benguela and Agulhas Bank ecosystems off South Africa. Our aim was to represent species of importance to fisheries and species of conservation concern within protected areas. In addition to representation, we ensured that protected areas were designed to consider pelagic dynamics, characterized from time-series data on key oceanographic processes, together with data on the abundance of small pelagic fishes. We found that, to have the highest likelihood of reaching conservation targets, protected area selection should be based on time-specific data rather than data averaged across time. More generally, we argue that innovative methods are needed to conserve ephemeral and dynamic pelagic biodiversity

An Empirical Taxonomy for Logistics Service Providers

The paper investigates the existence of different types of logistics service providers (LSPs) and the relationship of type with service performance. A cluster analysis of survey data from 221 LSPs resulted in the identification of four types of LSPs. A taxonomy was developed that reveals that LSPs are at various stages of development in terms of service capability. The taxonomy highlights the service strategies of different LSP types and their performance implications. In addition, the taxonomy provides insights into the characteristics of different types of LSPs, which underpin different market segments of the logistics service business. Discussions of the use of the taxonomy, to improve LSP service capability and performance, are provided. Maritime Economics & Logistics (2004) 6, 199–219. doi:10.1057/palgrave.mel.9100109

Benefits, risks, selection criteria and success factors for third-party logistics services

The need to reduce logistics costs is well recognised, often, however, without identification of the factors that could contribute to such a reduction. Third-party logistics (3PL) is an augmenting activity of the transport system, which can strengthen the cooperation of different transport modes. As a new practice, conditions of success are driven from personal or empirical situations, often hiding the real causes. To tackle this problem, a major survey has been conducted among both buyers and suppliers of logistics services in the United Kingdom. From the survey, several key findings of customer perceptions of logistics services provided by 3PL companies were derived. Results of the survey show a clear difference in points of view between suppliers and buyers. The results of the survey shed light on how the architecture of logistics outsourcing can be improved

A conceptual framework for outsourcing of materials handling activities in automotive:differentiation and implementation

This article discusses the outsourcing of materials handling activities and investigates different options for its implementation. The article uses descriptive case studies found in literature from the Western European automotive industry to map out differences in current practice and to evaluate frameworks found in the literature. These frameworks appear to be limited to decision making at a strategic level. In addition, they only allow decisions relating to the outsourcing of the logistics function in general, not of materials handling in particular. Based on this study and other descriptions of materials handling practice in the literature, a new conceptual framework for outsourcing of materials handling is proposed, which facilitates decision making at a tactical/operational level. The functionality of the framework is tested in a series of cases at a major production and logistics facility of Scania