Assessing tourist demand for traditional coastal dependent businesses on the South Carolina coast

Tourism driven development and coastal gentrification have resulted in a notable decline in traditional coastaldependent businesses on the South Carolina (SC) coast. We examined the sustainability of these businesses by assessing tourists’ demand for local, traditional, and marine related products and services. The research integrated focus groups and an intercept-based mail survey. This paper reports selected survey results and discusses how the findings will be incorporated into small-business training materials. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Comparison of resident and tourist preferences for public beach access

As coastal destinations continue to grow, due to tourism and residential expansion, the demand for public beach access and related amenities will also increase. As a resultagencies that provide beach access and related amenities face challenges when considering both residents and visitors use beaches and likely possess different needs, as well as different preferences for management decisions. Being a resident of a coastal county provides more opportunity to use local beaches, but coastal tourism is an important and growing economic engine in coastal communities (Kriesel, Landry, & Keeler, 2005; Pogue & Lee, 1999). Therefore, providing agencies with a comprehensive assessment of the differences between these two groups will increase the likelihood of effective management programs and policies for the provision of public beach access and related amenities. The purpose of this paper was to use a stated preference choice method (SPCM) to identify the extent of both residents’ and visitors’ preferences for public beach management options. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Marine protected areas and artisanal fisheries in Brazil

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are being promoted around the world as an effective means of protecting marine and coastal resources and biodiversity. However, concerns have been raised about their impact on the livelihoods, culture and survival of small-scale and traditional fishing and coastal communities. Yet, as this study from Brazil shows, it is possible to use MPAs as a tool for livelihood-sensitive conservation. Based on detailed studies of three sites–the Peixe Lagoon National Park in Rio Grande do Sul, and the marine extractive reserves (MERs) of Mandira, São Paulo, and Corumbau, Bahia – the study shows how communities in Brazil have been able to use protected areas to safeguard their livelihoods against development and industrialization projects, like shrimp farms and tourist resorts. (68 pp.)

Conservation Biology of Elasmobranchs

Elasmobranchs are vital and valuable components of the marine biota. From an ecological perspective they occupy the role of top predators within marine food webs, providing a regulatory control that helps balance the ecosystem. From an evolutionary perspective, this group represents an early divergence along the vertebrate line that produced many unusual, but highly successful, adaptations in function and form. From man's perspective, elasmobranchs have been considered both an unavoidable nuisance, and an exploitable fishery resource. A few of the large shark species have earned a dubious notoriety because of sporadic attacks on humans that occur in coastal areas each year worldwide; the hysteria surrounding an encounter with a shark can be costly to the tourist industry. More importantly, elasmobranchs are often considered a detriment to commercial fishing operations; they cause significant economic damage to catches and fishing gear. On the other hand, consumer attitudes have changed concerning many previously unpopular food fishes, including elasmobranchs, and this group of fishes has been increasingly used by both recreational and commercial fishing interests. Many elasmobranchs have become a popular target of recreational fishermen for food and sport because of their abundance, size, and availability in coastal waters. Similarly, commercial fisheries for elasmobranchs have developed or expanded from an increased demand for elasmobranch food products. (PDF file contains 108 pages.)

A note on freshwater research in China, with some observations on the algae from Doupe Pool, Guizhou Province

This article provides insights into a particular aspect of freshwater research in China and its wider implications for western researchers. The senior author has collaborated with Professor Zhang Zhaohui from Guizhou Normal University to investigate the travertines of China. Travertines are freshwater carbonate deposits accumulating in hard-water springs and rivers. In some areas they develop rapidly, forming picturesque ascades and magnificent travertine-dammed lakes. Some of China's most famous tourist sites are the result of travertine formation. The travertine-depositing environment is a unique fast-flowing ecosystem inhabited by specialist plants and animals. The authors examine the freshwater algae of the Doupe Pool travertine situated on the Beishuihei River in Guizhou Province and compare their distribution on travertines elsewhere in the world.

Comparative limnology of waters in a coniferous forest: is a generalisation possible?

The high density of meres and mosses in the Delamere area comes from numerous moraine-hollows formed after the melting of stranded ice-blocks following last glaciation. The main vegetation is of conifers along with some deciduous species and the area was designated as a National Forest Park in 1987. It has been managed since the beginning of the 19th century and is a popular tourist area with walking, orienteering, cycling and educational activities. In recent years this forest park has been attracting over half a million people per year. This paper studies the limnology of different aquatic habitats in the Delamere Forest area in order to give some insight into the waters of a coniferous, temperate forest area, which has so far been largely unexplored. The authors assume therefore, thought that despite apparent large variability in origin, age, surface area, morphometry, catchment size and hydraulic regime, the waters of Delamere Forest might share some revealing chemical and biological features. Seven water-bodies in the Delamere Forest Park area, namely, Black Lake, Blakemere Moss, Delamere Lake, Delamere Quarry, Hatchmere, Windyhowe Farm Spring and Fir Brook were sampled, their water chemistry and dissolved organic carbon and the occurrence of phytoplankton and zooplankton species examined. In a final chapter the authors analyse their findings for patterns.

Bassenthwaite Lake: a general assessment of environmental and biological features and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

A general assessment of environmental and biological features of Windermere and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

Coral reef resources of East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the Seychelles

Coral reefs are widespread along the east African coast and Seychelle islands. Their roles in island building and coastal protection are often underestimated, they are also important fishery habitats and major tourist attractions. The east African marine fishery production, estimated at 1.4-4.9 tonnes per km super(2), is principally a result of artisanal fishing. Siltation, trampling, and destructive fishing methods are the main cause of coral reef degradation along the east African coast and associated islands. Legislation has been implemented to protect coral reefs by establishing marine parks and reserves. However, poaching and anchor damage are widespread on these protected reefs. Legislative provision to increase the benefit to fishing communities may reduce poaching. The establishment of exclusive nature reserves may be one way to ensure preservation of some coral reefs in the region.

Estado de conservación de la ictiofauna arrecifal en sitios de buceo turístico de cuatro regiones del Archipiélago Sabana-Camagüey, Cuba.

Los peces constituyen uno de los atractivos principales en los arrecifes coralinos para el buceo turístico, por lo cual resulta necesario monitorear su abundancia y valores estéticos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el estado de conservación de las asociaciones de peces arrecifales en cuatro de los principales polos turísticos del Archipiélago Sabana-Camagüey, Cuba en el año 2010. Se muestrearon 23 sitios de buceo turísticos en áreas adyacentes a las regiones de Varadero (5 sitios), cayos de Villa Clara (6 sitios), Cayo Coco (6 sitios) y Santa Lucia (6 sitios). En cada uno de ellos se realizaron seis réplicas de censos visuales de todas las especies de peces en recorridos lineales de 50 m de largo por 2 m de ancho, ocupando un área total de 600 m2. El puntaje más alto de conservación lo presentó los cayos de Villa Clara (37), siguiéndole en orden decreciente Cayo Coco (35), y con valores más bajos Varadero (24) y Santa Lucia (22). Los puntajes de las cuatro regiones fueron inferiores a los encontrados en otros arrecifes de Cuba y el Caribe. Los valores de Varadero y Santa Lucia se correspondieron con los de arrecifes de hábitats degradados y sometidos a explotación pesquera. En general, en la mayoría de las regiones predominaron peces de talla pequeña (<20 cm) pertenecientes a las familias Pomacentridae y Labridae y hubo poca abundancia de peces carnívoros y herbívoros de mediana (20-40 cm) y gran talla (>40 cm). ABSTRACT Fish are one of the main attractions on coral reefs for diving tourism; therefore, it is necessary to monitor their condition and aesthetic values. The objective of this research was to evaluate the status of reef fish assemblages in four tourist areas of Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, Cuba in 2010. Twentythree tourist diving sites were sampled in adjacent areas to regions of Varadero (five sites), Villa Clara keys (6 sites), Coco key (6 sites) and Santa Lucia (6 sites). In each region, six replicated visual census of all fish species were conducted along belt transects of 50 m length and 2 m width, occupying a total area of 600 m2. The highest conservation score was obtained by Villa Clara keys (37), followed in decreasing order by Coco key (35), and with lower values Varadero (24) and St. Lucia (22). The scores of the four regions were lower than the values of other Cuban and Caribbean reefs. The values of Varadero and Santa Lucia corresponded to reefs with degraded habitats and subject to overfishing. In general, small fish (< 20 cm) from families Pomacentridae and Labridae, and low abundance of carnivore and herbivore fish of middle (20-40 cm) and large size (> 40 cm) predominated in most regions.

Private sector to invest in off-shore fishing and to encourage the financial incentives to be introduced for deep-sea fishing in Sri Lanka

The author discusses the financial aspects of private sector investment in off-shore fishing, with particular attention to tax incentives, such as those offered to tourist hotels, which are considered applicable to the current case of fishing vessel purchase, and the operation of the vessels themselves, hiring, publicity and profitability. Tax incentives which were introduced to encourage investment in the tourist industry should be introduced to encourage investment in the fishing industry on the lines presented. It is essential that wide publicity be given for the incentives introduced so as to achieve the desired results.