There is increasing interest in the potential use of outdoor water environments, or blue space, in the promotion of human health and wellbeing. However, therapeutic nature-based practices are currently outpacing policy and the evidence base for health or wellbeing benefits of therapeutic interventions within blue space has not been systematically assessed. This systematic review aims to address the gap in understanding the impacts of blue space within existing interventions for targeted individuals. A systematic review was carried out, searching Google Scholar, SCOPUS, PubMed, etc. through to August 2017. Only blue space interventions were included that were specifically designed and structured with a therapeutic purpose for individuals with a defined need and did not include nature-based promotion projects or casual recreation in the outdoors. Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed. Overall, the studies suggest that blue care can have direct benefit for health, especially mental health and psycho-social wellbeing. The majority of papers found a positive or weak association between blue care and health and wellbeing indicators. There was also some evidence for greater social connectedness during and after interventions, but results were inconsistent and mixed across studies with very few findings for physical health. This is the first systematic review of the literature on blue care. In summary, it has been shown that mental health, especially psycho-social wellbeing, can be improved with investment in blue spaces. Key areas for future research include improving understanding of the mechanisms through which blue care can improve public health promotion.

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Social adaptation is often touted as a desirable and necessary response to continued decline in the fisheries sector, however little is currently understood about the impacts of adaptive strategies on people's broader sense of 'wellbeing', or how the spread of impacts affect people in different ways. This article draws from research in Northern Ireland to explore the types of adaptation strategising that takes place within fishing households, and to specifically address how such strategies interplay with the wellbeing of people affected. We demonstrate some of the hard choices that arise through becoming adaptive, and discuss how the costs of adaptation are sometimes disproportionality born by particular individuals, especially women. We argue that greater consideration of the impacts of adaptation on wellbeing can give useful insights into why some people thrive, whilst others struggle, and can point to opportunities to strengthen both resilient and wellbeing outcomes.

This paper focuses on the gender dimensions of wellbeing in fishing households in Northern Ireland. The impact of change in the fishing industry on women's wellbeing is outlined and linkages are made between changing access to fish and changing roles of women in fishing households. The paper explores what this change means for how women perceive and pursue their wellbeing needs and aspirations and how they negotiate their needs with the needs of the household. In an occupation as gender biased as fishing it is argued that in order for fisheries management and policy to be successful, a profile of what really matters to people is important. In particular, the paper highlights how such priorities link to the complex and dynamic role of women in fishing households.

The use of salt solutions in place of malachite green to control fungal infestations during salmonid egg incubation was studied from 1987 to 1989 in a series of experiments conducted at Robertson Creek Hatchery in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Several combinations of salt concentration (sea salt, NaCl, CaCh), treatment length, and treatment frequency were used on pre-eyed eggs of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The efficacy of salt solutions was assessed against that of malachite green by comparing the incidences of egg mortality and alevin abnormality. A solution containing a 26:1 mixture of sodium chloride and calcium chloride, applied at a concentration of 20 ppt for 60 min three times a week yielded mean egg mortalities of 6.2% (1988) and 9.7% (1989). These results compared favorably with a malachite green treatment of 1 ppm for 60 min applied three times a week that yielded mean egg mortalities of 5.2% (1988) and 8.8% (1989). Mortalities in salt treatments of 25 ppt or of 120 min duration were attributed to toxic overdose. Mortalities in salt treatments of 10 ppt resulted from fungus infestation. Data suggested that malachite green treatments produced a higher incidence of alevin abnormalities than salt treatments. Future investigations into the use of salt solutions for fungus control should consider the efficacy, logistics, and costs associated with treatment of large groups of eggs.