No abstract
Marine megafauna has always elicited contrasting feelings. In the past, large marine animals were often depicted as fantastic mythological creatures and dangerous monsters, while also arousing human curiosity. Marine megafauna has been a valuable resource to exploit, leading to the collapse of populations and local extinctions. In addition, some species have been perceived as competitors of fishers for marine resources and were often actively culled. Since the 1970s, there has been a change in the perception and use of megafauna. The growth of marine tourism, increasingly oriented towards the observation of wildlife, has driven a shift from extractive to non-extractive use, supporting the conservation of at least some species of marine megafauna. In this paper, we review and compare the changes in the perception and use of three megafaunal groups, cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers, with a special focus on European cultures. We highlight the main drivers and the timing of these changes, compare different taxonomic groups and species, and highlight the implications for management and conservation. One of the main drivers of the shift in perception, shared by all the three groups of megafauna, has been a general increase in curiosity towards wildlife, stimulated inter alia by documentaries (from the early 1970s onwards), and also promoted by easy access to scuba diving. At the same time, environmental campaigns have been developed to raise public awareness regarding marine wildlife, especially cetaceans, a process greatly facilitated by the rise of Internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, all the three groups (cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers) may represent valuable resources for ecotourism. Strikingly, the economic value of live specimens may exceed their value for human consumption. A further change in perception involving all the three groups is related to a growing understanding and appreciation of their key ecological role. The shift from extractive to non-extractive use has the potential for promoting species conservation and local economic growth. However, the change in use may not benefit the original stakeholders (e.g. fishers or whalers) and there may therefore be a case for providing compensation for disadvantaged stakeholders. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that even non-extractive use may have a negative impact on marine megafauna, therefore regulations are needed.
No abstract
Natural markers (δ 13 C and δ 18 O stable isotopes) in the cuttlebones of the European common cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis ) were determined for individuals collected across a substantial portion of their range in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (NEAO) and Mediterranean Sea. Cuttlebone δ 13 C and δ 18 O were quantified for core and edge material to characterize geochemical signatures associated with early (juvenile) and recent (sub-adult/adult) life-history periods, respectively. Regional shifts in cuttlebone δ 13 C and δ 18 O values were detected across the 12 sites investigated. Individuals collected from sites in the NEAO displayed more enriched δ 13 C and δ 18 O values relative to sites in the Mediterranean Sea, with the latter also showing salient differences in both markers among western, central and eastern collection areas. Classification success based on cuttlebone δ 13 C and δ 18 O values to four geographical regions (NEAO, western, central and eastern Mediterranean Sea) was relatively high, suggesting that environmental conditions in each region were distinct and produced area-specific geochemical signatures on the cuttlebones of S. officinalis . A modified δ 13 C and δ 18 O baseline was developed from sites proximal to the Strait of Gibraltar in both the NEAO and Mediterranean Sea to assess potential mixing through this corridor. Nearly, all (95%) of δ 13 C and δ 18 O signatures of S. officinalis collected in the area of the NEAO closest to the Strait of Gibraltar (Gulf of Cadiz) matched the signatures of specimens collected in the western Mediterranean, signifying potential movement and mixing of individuals through this passageway. This study extends the current application of these geochemical markers for assessing the natal origin and population connectivity of this species and potentially other taxa that inhabit this geographical area.
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