Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Oceans".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 5936

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ying-Ning Ho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Marine Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
Interests: environmental microbiology; bioremediation; marine plastisphere; environmental sustainability; discovery of marine microbial resource

Dr. Te-Hua Hsu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202301, Taiwan
Interests: aquaculture; mollusc breeding; population genetics; genetic breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hung-Tai Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
Interests: sustainable fisheries; fish ecology; fish physiology; marine biodiversity and resource conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The journal Sustainability now presents a Special Issue on " Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans". There are a lot of biological resources in the ocean. However, chemical contamination, plastic pollutant, and mismanaged industrial activities cause the biodiversity loss of the ocean. Therefore, the eco-friendly treatment/management of marine contamination for the conservation of the oceans draw more and more attention.

Papers related to marine microbial resource discovery for the remediation of marine contaminants (such as emerging contaminants, POPs, marine litter, and oil) are considered the one important part in this Special Issue.

In addition, there is a considerable demand for fisheries resources in the world. Hence, the assessment, enhancement, and management of fisheries resources are both crucial and challenging for their sustainable utilization. In this regard, original studies dealing with these issues are highly encouraged for this Special Issue, particularly those research works with innovative conceptual frameworks and /or novel methods such as Vessel monitoring systems (VMS), Environmental DNA (eDNA), next-generation sequencing (NGS), portable and rapid DNA sequencing, etc. Those studies that can provide information fundamental and valuable for the sustainability of biological resources are also potentially considered for this Special Issue.

We welcome contributions from across bioremediation of marine contamination, discovery of marine biological resources, sustainable marine aquaculture, biological resources survey with innovative methods and eco-friendly fish stocking.

Thus, the themes of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following topics:

Sustainable management of marine pollutants;
Discoveries of marine microbial resources for bioremediation;
Applications of novel marine species;
Sustainable marine aquaculture;
Fish stocking management;
Fisheries resources survey with innovative methods.

Dr. Ying-Ning Ho
Dr. Te-Hua Hsu
Dr. Hung-Tai Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainability management
aquaculture
fisheries
biotechnologies
rapid sequencing methods
eDNA monitoring
marine contaminations
marine microbial resources
marine bioremediation

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

21 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Differences in Marine Environment Quality in China and the Influencing Factors

by Yiying Jiang, Yang Liu, Zhaobin Pei, Jia Kang, Yongzheng Wang, Na Xia and Zirui Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083298 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 392

Abstract

Based on 2011–2020 panel data for China’s coastal cities and provinces, this study used the entropy method and Theil index to measure marine environment quality (MEQ) and construct MEQ indicators. We used the Theil index to measure heterogeneity in regional MEQ and a geographic detector model to explore the driving factors of MEQ. Our study resulted in the following findings: (1) MEQ increased in waves, but the overall quality was relatively low, forming a spatial distribution pattern of high in the north and south, and low in the east. Moreover, MEQ was polarized between provinces. (2) Regional MEQ showed a distribution pattern of significant differences between the east and the north but small differences in the south. The regional gap was significant but gradually narrowing, with the contribution rate of intra-regional differences reaching over 90%. Meanwhile, interregionalinter-regional differences were relatively small and showed a balanced development trend. (3) Agricultural and aquaculture pollution were found to be the main factors affecting MEQ. The effect of marine engineering pollution was significantly increasing while that of environmental regulation intensity was relatively weak. The interaction between different driving factors mainly manifested as dual-factor enhancement and nonlinear enhancement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

International Legal Framework for Joint Governance of Oceans and Fisheries: Challenges and Prospects in Governing Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) under Sustainable Development Goal 14

by Shijun Zhang, Qian Wu, Muhammad Murad Zaib Butt, (Judge) Yan-Ming Lv and (Judge) Yan-E-Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062566 - 21 Mar 2024

Viewed by 643

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) was launched in 2015 to provide an overarching governance framework for long-term sustainable ocean development. This research paper analyzes the extent to which global and regional organizations are coherent with SDG 14 under the existing frameworks of international law. This research paper further assessed Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) under the framework of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and International Environmental Law (IEL) in the context of joint governance of ocean and fisheries as Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). According to its objectives, the research indicated that coherence across governing instruments should be increased for the governance of LMEs, leading to the development of a mechanism representing consistency with SDG 14. As a result, a mechanism that demonstrates the coherence of SDG 14 with Agenda—2030 is made, which indicates that, in order to govern fisheries and oceans as LMEs jointly, coherence among governing instruments must be increased. The conclusion followed SDG 14’s recommended actions, which are sly in line with UNCLOS and IEL, although the current initiatives of the regional organizations should be updated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Intelligence for Marine Biodiversity: Integrating Citizen Science with AI for Enhanced Intertidal Conservation Efforts at Cape Santiago, Taiwan

by Vincent Y. Chen, Day-Jye Lu and Yu-San Han

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010454 - 04 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1132

Abstract

Marine biodiversity underpins the formation of marine protected areas (MPAs), necessitating detailed surveys to account for the dynamic temporal and spatial distribution of species influenced by tidal patterns and microhabitats. The reef rock intertidal zones adjacent to urban centers, such as Taiwan’s Cape Santiago, exhibit significant biodiversity, yet they are increasingly threatened by tourism-related activities. This study introduces an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered citizen science (CS) approach within the local community to address these challenges. By integrating CS with AI, we establish a hybrid intelligence (HI) system that conducts in situ biological surveys and educational programs focused on reef ecological conservation. This initiative not only facilitates the collective gathering and AI-assisted analysis of critical data but also uses machine-learning outputs to gauge data quality, thus informing subsequent data collection and refinement strategies. The resulting collectivity and iterative enhancement foster a mutual and continuous HI learning environment. Our HI model proves instrumental in fostering community engagement and public involvement in CS endeavors, cultivating the skills necessary for documenting rocky intertidal biodiversity shifts. These efforts are pivotal for informing the design and governance of future MPAs, ensuring their efficacy and sustainability in marine conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cultivation of Brackish Water Microalgae for Pig Manure Liquid Digestate Recycling

by Yung-Cheng Chang, Yen-Ju Pan, Tzu-Hsuan Huang, Ting-Hsun Hsiao, Liang-Yu Wei and Te-Hua Hsu

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16278; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316278 - 24 Nov 2023

Viewed by 818

Abstract

Sustainability and recycling of agricultural and animal husbandry waste are important. Pig manure contains relatively high concentrations of organic matter, such as nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and phosphate, and a direct discharge can cause environmental pollution. This study successfully culturing four brackish water microalgae, including Tetraselmis chuii, Isochrysis galbana, Chlorella vulgaris, and Proteomonas sulcata, by using a diluted digestate solution of pig manure (NH₃ concentration is lower than 10 mg/L). These microalgae can reach their highest cell concentration within 3–7 days of cultivation. The small microalgae, C. vulgaris and I. galbana, reached a cell density of 2.5 × 10⁷ and 1.5 × 10⁷, respectively, whereas lower cell densities were documented for large microalgae T. chuii (1.4 × 10⁶) and P. sulcata (1.6 × 10⁶). Our findings highlight the feasibility of sustainable treatment of animal manure using brackish water microalgae. These results provide opportunities to reduce freshwater usage and environmental pollutions, and support microalgae production for further aquaculture application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 6737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Harmful Algal Bloom Detection Model Combining Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Multi-Factor and Meteorological Heterogeneous Data

by Xiangfeng Bu, Kai Liu, Jingyu Liu and Yunhong Ding

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15386; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115386 - 27 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1330

Abstract

Over the past few decades, harmful algal blooms (HABs) have occurred frequently worldwide. The application of harmful algal bloom detection when based solely on water quality measurements proves challenging in achieving broad generalization across various regions. Satellite remote sensing, due to its low risk, cost effectiveness, and wide ground-coverage capabilities, has been extensively employed in HAB detection tasks. However, relying solely on remote sensing data poses issues of false positives, false negatives, and the incomplete consideration of contributing factors in HAB detection. This study proposes a model for harmful algal bloom detection by integrating MODIS multifactor data with heterogeneous meteorological data. Initially, a dataset named MODIS_MI_HABs is constructed by gathering information from 192 instances of harmful algal bloom events worldwide. Subsequently, remote sensing data corresponding to specific regions are collected; all were obtained from a moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard an ocean-color-detecting satellite. This dataset encompasses variables such as chlorophyll-a concentration, the sea surface temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, the relative radiation stability differences, the six seawater-absorption coefficients, and three scattering coefficients. By fusing six meteorological factors, latitude and longitude information, and remote sensing data, a regression dataset for harmful algal bloom detection is established. Finally, employing harmful algal bloom cell concentration as the data label, seven machine learning models are employed to establish correlations between the remote sensing data, heterogeneous meteorological data, and harmful algal bloom cell concentrations. The root mean square error (

R M S E

), mean absolute error (

M A E

), explained variance (

E V

), and coefficient of determination (

R^{2}

) parameters are used to evaluate the regression performance. The results indicate that the extreme gradient boosting (XGR) model demonstrates the best predictive capability for harmful algal blooms (leave-one-out:

R M S E

M A E

= 0.0714). The XGR model, trained with the entire dataset, yields the optimal predictive performance (

R M S E

= 0.0236,

M A E

= 0.0151,

E V

= 0.9593,

R^{2}

= 0.9493). When compared to the predictions based on the fixed-area water quality analysis and single-source remote sensing data usage, the proposed approach in this paper displays wide applicability, offering valuable support for the sustainable development of marine ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 1377 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Harvested Predator–Prey Models Considering Marine Reserve Areas: Systematic Literature Review

by Arjun Hasibuan, Asep Kuswandi Supriatna, Endang Rusyaman and Md. Haider Ali Biswas

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612291 - 11 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1016

Abstract

The United Nations has predicted the growth of the human population to reach 8.405 billion by mid-2023, which is a 70% increase in global food demand. This growth will significantly affect global food security, mainly marine resources. Most marine resources exist within complex biological food webs, including predator–prey interactions. These interactions have been researched for decades by mathematicians, who have spent their efforts developing realistic and applicable models. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews articles related to predator–prey models considering the harvesting of resources in marine protected areas. The review identifies future remodeling problems using several mathematical tools. It also proposes the use of feedback linearization consisting of both the approximation and exact methods as an alternative to Jacobian linearization. The results show that in an optimal control analysis, adding a constraint in the form of population density greater than or equal to the positive threshold value should be considered to ensure an ecologically sustainable policy. This research and future developments in this area can significantly contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Oceans

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (6 papers)

Research

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI