Making the most of data-poor fisheries: low cost mapping of small island fisheries to inform policy

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Data scarcity in small-scale fisheries hinders the effective management of marine resources. This is particularly true within small island developing states that often have limited capacity for monitoring activities that could inform policy decisions. This study estimates the spatial distribution of fishing activity in the data-poor nearshore reef fisheries of Barbados using low cost interview surveys of fishers combined with a geospatial platform. With data from over 150 fishers in the island's major reef fisheries, the estimated total annual yield ranged from 272.6 to 409.0 mt, with seine fishing accounting for 65% of landings. This estimate is substantially higher than the recorded landings in official databases. Fishing activity is concentrated on the sheltered and heavily populated West Coast of the island. Reef fishing effort decreases markedly during the months associated with the offshore pelagic fishery season, as many fishers switch fisheries during this time and rough sea conditions restrict access to the nearshore windward reefs. The high levels of fishing intensity and low yields per unit of reef area appear to validate anecdotal evidence that the nearshore reefs of Barbados are heavily overexploited. The qualitative nature of interview data and other data gaps hinder the precise estimation of fishing effort and yield, where relative values are likely to be more accurate than absolute values. Nonetheless, the spatially and temporally explicit data generated here demonstrates how simple cost-effective methods can be used to fill important information gaps for marine resource management and spatial planning.This work represents part of the research of the Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE) project funded by the European Union 7th Framework programme (P7/2007–2013) under grant agreement No. 244161. This work was supported by the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados

Econometric estimation of nested production functions and testing in a computable general equilibrium analysis of economy-wide rebound effects

Quantitative models, such as computable general equilibrium (CGE), that are increasingly used to inform policy processes rely on a number of assumptions concerning how good and services are produced. Previous research has shown that the elasticity of substitution between inputs and the structure in which these inputs interact can have large impacts on model output. However, the choice of elasticities and production structure is often made without the support of statistical evidence. This research aims to address these points by estimating nesting structure and the elasticities of substitution therein across a number of sectors in the UK then testing the implications of introducing these estimates to parameterise a CGE model that is then used to simulation the economy-wide impacts of increased efficiency in the productive use of energy

Input-output analyses of the pollution content of intra- and inter-national trade flows

This paper considers the application of input-output accounting methods to consider the pollution implications of different production and consumption activities, with specific focus on pollution embodied in intra-and inter-national trade flows. We consider the illustrative case studies of interregional trade flows between two regions of the UK and between five Mid-West regions/states within the US. We focus on different types of air pollutant of current policy concern in each case and demonstrate how use of the environmental input-output framework allows us to analyse the nature and significance of interregional pollution spillovers. Our results raise questions in terms of the extent to which authorities at regional level can control local emissions where they are limited in the way some emissions can be controlled, particularly with respect to changes in demand elsewhere within the national economy. This implies a need for policy co-ordination between national and regional level authorities to meet emissions reductions targets. Moreover, the existence of pollution trade balances between regions also raises issues in terms of net losses/gains in terms of pollutants as a result of interregional trade. In conducting analyses for different types of air pollutant (here CO2 as a global warming gas, GHG, in the UK case and ammonia, NH3, as a pollutant of more local concern in the US case) we also consider how pollution embodied in international trade flows may be accounted for and attributed

Precautionary labelling of foods for allergen content: are we ready for a global framework?

© 2014 Allen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Food allergy appears to be on the rise with the current mainstay of treatment centred on allergen avoidance. Mandatory allergen labelling has improved the safety of food for allergic consumers. However an additional form of voluntary labelling (termed precautionary allergen labelling) has evolved on a wide range of packaged goods, in a bid by manufacturers to minimise risk to customers, and the negative impact on business that might result from exposure to trace amounts of food allergen present during cross-contamination during production. This has resulted in near ubiquitous utilisation of a multitude of different precautionary allergen labels with subsequent confusion amongst many consumers as to their significance. The global nature of food production and manufacturing makes harmonisation of allergen labelling regulations across the world a matter of increasing importance. Addressing inconsistencies across countries with regards to labelling legislation, as well as improvement or even banning of precautionary allergy labelling are both likely to be significant steps forward in improved food safety for allergic families. This article outlines the current status of allergen labelling legislation around the world and reviews the value of current existing precautionary allergen labelling for the allergic consumer. We strongly urge for an international framework to be considered to help roadmap a solution to the weaknesses of the current systems, and discuss the role of legislation in facilitating this

Econometric estimation of Armington import elasticities and their system-wide impact in a regional CGE model of the Illinois economy

One of the main concerns associated with the development and use of regional CGE models is the determination of key parameter values, particularly substitution and other price elasticities. A common problem is the lack of appropriate regional data for econometric estimation. Consequently, it is important to identify key parameters that are likely to be important in determining quantitative results and then to prioritize these for estimation where appropriate data are available. In this paper, the focus is on the estimation of the regional trade (import) substitution parameters, which tend to be important in analysis for regional economies (given their openness to trade). Here, commodity import elasticities for the Illinois economy are estimated and tested in a single region CGE model of the Illinois economy. In our econometric estimation, we apply a model that takes account of market size and distance in estimating the substitutability between commodities produced in Illinois and other US states

Overview of the main methods used for estimating catastrophic health expenditure

Out-of-pocket payments are expenditures borne directly by an individual/household for health services that are not reimbursed by any third-party. Households can experience financial hardship when the burden of such out-of-pocket payments is significant. This financial hardship is commonly measured using the “catastrophic health expenditure” (CHE) metric. CHE has been applied as an indicator in several health sectors and health policies. However, despite its importance, the methods used to measure the incidence of CHE vary across different studies and the terminology used can be inconsistent. In this paper, we introduce and raise awareness of the main approaches used to calculate CHE and discuss critical areas of methodological variation in a global health context. We outline the key features, foundation and differences between the two main methods used for estimating CHE: the budget share and the capacity-to-pay approach. We discuss key sources of variation within CHE calculation and using data from Ethiopia as a case study, illustrate how different approaches can lead to notably different CHE estimates. This variation could lead to challenges when decisionmakers and policymakers need to compare different studies' CHE estimates. This overview is intended to better understand how to interpret and compare CHE estimates and the potential variation across different studies

Productivity Growth, Decoupling and Pollution Leakage

This paper examines the issue of decoupling economic growth and pollution through growth driven by productivity improvements; and the extent to which pollution effects spill over national borders. Focus is widened from conventional production measures of pollution to a consumption accounting principle (carbon footprints). This adds a useful dimension to understanding pollution leakage effects. Using an interregional empirical general equilibrium framework, we consider the impacts of productivity growth in one region in that region and a neighbour linked through trade in goods and services and in the factor of production that is targeted with the productivity improvement (here through interregional migration of labour). The key finding is that while economic growth resulting from the productivity improvement in one region is accompanied by increased absolute pollution levels across both regions, positive competitiveness effects lead to a reduction in imports and pollution embodied therein to both regions from the rest of the world

Ethnicity and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in east London

This work has been supported by a non-promotional educational grant from Novartis to Queen Mary University of London (through KS). KS has been supported by a Higher Education Funding Council for England Clinical Senior Lectureship

Elementary processes governing the evolution of road networks

Urbanisation is a fundamental phenomenon whose quantitative characterisation is still inadequate. We report here the empirical analysis of a unique data set regarding almost 200 years of evolution of the road network in a large area located north of Milan (Italy). We find that urbanisation is characterised by the homogenisation of cell shapes, and by the stability throughout time of high-centrality roads which constitute the backbone of the urban structure, confirming the importance of historical paths. We show quantitatively that the growth of the network is governed by two elementary processes: (i) `densification', corresponding to an increase in the local density of roads around existing urban centres and (ii) `exploration', whereby new roads trigger the spatial evolution of the urbanisation front. The empirical identification of such simple elementary mechanisms suggests the existence of general, simple properties of urbanisation and opens new directions for its modelling and quantitative description.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

A major genetic locus in <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> is a determinant of host pathology

The progression and variation of pathology during infections can be due to components from both host or pathogen, and/or the interaction between them. The influence of host genetic variation on disease pathology during infections with trypanosomes has been well studied in recent years, but the role of parasite genetic variation has not been extensively studied. We have shown that there is parasite strain-specific variation in the level of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly in infected mice and used a forward genetic approach to identify the parasite loci that determine this variation. This approach allowed us to dissect and identify the parasite loci that determine the complex phenotypes induced by infection. Using the available trypanosome genetic map, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified on T. brucei chromosome 3 (LOD = 7.2) that accounted for approximately two thirds of the variance observed in each of two correlated phenotypes, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, in the infected mice (named &lt;i&gt;TbOrg1&lt;/i&gt;). In addition, a second locus was identified that contributed to splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and reticulocytosis (&lt;i&gt;TbOrg2&lt;/i&gt;). This is the first use of quantitative trait locus mapping in a diploid protozoan and shows that there are trypanosome genes that directly contribute to the progression of pathology during infections and, therefore, that parasite genetic variation can be a critical factor in disease outcome. The identification of parasite loci is a first step towards identifying the genes that are responsible for these important traits and shows the power of genetic analysis as a tool for dissecting complex quantitative phenotypic traits