Economic impact and conservation potential of shark-diving tourism in the Azores Islands

Gonzáles-Mantilla, Pedro G.; Gallagher, Austin J.; León, Carmelo J.; Vianna, Gabriel M. S.

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104869

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Porbeagle or Thresher Shark; Higgs et al, 2014). Species, such as Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus ), Brill ( Scophthalmus rhombus ) and Blue Shark ( Prionace glauca ), can also support ecosystem services including food supply (Simpfendorfer et al, 2011) and tourism (Cisneros‐Montemayor et al, 2013; Gonzáles‐Mantilla et al, 2022). Associating the extinction risk to the impact of a given species on the entire food web—like the complexity of its interactions with other species—would be relevant to move toward efficient ecosystem conservation plans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If functionally rare species were to disappear, we could see significant changes in the functioning of ecosystems in connection with irreparable losses of functions (Carmona et al, 2021). Looking back to the unique functions already mentioned, such as highly specialized predation (Mouillot, Bellwood, et al, 2013), top‐down trophic regulation (Barley et al, 2017a, 2017b; Ruppert et al, 2013), transfer of matter through the ocean layers (Atwood et al, 2018; Higgs et al, 2014; Williams et al, 2018), access facilitation to organic matter (Higgs et al, 2014; O'Shea et al, 2012), protein supply (Simpfendorfer et al, 2011) and ecotourism (Gonzáles‐Mantilla et al, 2022), we realize that entire ecosystems are at stake, from coral reefs to abyssal plains to the continental shelves on which our marine resource exploitation relies. We also should highlight that several non‐threatened species were functionally distinct, such as deep‐sea lizardfish ( Bathysaurus ferox ), Alepocephaliformes, Stomiiformes, that can perform vertical migrations (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Threatened fish species in the Northeast Atlantic are functionally rare

Coulon,

Lindegren,

Goberville

et al. 2023

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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AimThe criteria used to define the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories are essentially based on demographic parameters at the species level, but they do not integrate species' traits or their roles in ecosystems. Consequently, current IUCN‐based protection measures may not be sufficient to conserve ecosystem functioning and services. Some species may have a singular combination of traits associated with unique functions. Such functionally distinct species are increasingly recognized as a key facet of biodiversity since they are, by definition, functionally irreplaceable. The aim of this study is to investigate whether threatened species are also functionally rare and to identify which traits determine extinction risk.LocationEuropean continental shelf seas.Time period1984–2020.Major taxa studiedMarine fish.MethodsUsing newly compiled trait information of 425 marine fish species in European waters, and more than 30 years of scientific bottom trawl surveys, we estimated the functional distinctiveness, restrictedness and scarcity of each species and cross‐referenced it with their IUCN conservation status.ResultsIn European continental shelf seas, 38% of the species threatened with extinction (9 out of 24 species) were identified as the most functionally distinct. By mapping extinction risk in the multidimensional species trait space, we showed that species with the greatest risk of extinction are long‐lived and of high trophic level. We also identified that the most functionally distinct species are sparsely distributed (4% of the total area on average) and have scarce abundances (<1% of the relative mean abundance of common species).Main ConclusionsBecause a substantial proportion of threatened species are functionally distinct and thus may play unique roles in ecosystem functioning, we stress that species traits—especially functional rarity—should become an indispensable step in the development of conservation management plans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Threatened fish species in the Northeast Atlantic are functionally rare

Coulon,

Lindegren,

Goberville

et al. 2023

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…This is the path that has largely been followed to protect sharks and sea turtles, with shark diving and turtle related ecotourism activities providing far more revenue than previous activities, focusing on killing these animals. Anderson & Waheed (2001), Topelko & Dearden (2005), Clua et al (2011), Conte (2011), Tanner (2013, Mieras et al (2017), andGonzáles-Mantilla et al (2022) provide prime examples for such conservation strategies. Conservation projects must become more engaged in the real world and be able to operate under human impact.…”

Section: Consequences -Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ conservation powered by Public Aquaria

Correia,

Kube,

Florisson

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC) includes 150 members and is an important association for the European public aquarium community. Since 2004, over one quarter of a million euros were awarded by the EUAC Conservation Fund to approximately 50 projects, which spanned across the globe. While projects varied greatly in content and scope, several achieved a significant impact in local populations and/or their focus species. This paper reports on results achieved by these conservation efforts and what improvements can be made, to ensure that the funding is indeed invested in conservation efforts per se. Perhaps the most valid conclusion to be drawn from the list of projects covered in this work is the fact that, regardless of the outcome, as far as preservation of the species are concerned, local communities were actively engaged in a subject that would, otherwise, remain unknown to them. Additionally, these EUAC funded projects highlight how public aquarium activities reach far beyond the acrylic panels surrounding the tanks and indeed the walls of the institution, as they spread around the world and raise awareness within local communities to preserve biodiversity. These results further suggest that a future direction for EUAC, as well as the public aquaria it consists of, could – indeed should - include more strenuous lobbying with legislating bodies, to ensure more adequate – and stronger – in situ conservation measures. In conclusion, with so many doubts being raised by different movements about the existence of aquaria and zoos, it is important that the public is aware that it is their visit to see the ambassadors of different species of animals that supports the funding of many of these pilot projects that aim to preserve species in their natural environment.

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“…The management action group studied, economic values/mechanisms, comprises measures related to the economic value of the activity and, consequently, the local economy of diving destinations. User-pay fees for divers have been studied either for access to marine parks [73] to finance conservation [74] or simply as an instrument to manage specialist activities such as diving with sharks [15,18,75]. Access fees are suggested as an instrument to manage demand while generating revenue for park management and conservation.…”

Section: Economic Values/mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Critical Approach to Existing Management Perspectives in Scuba Diving: A Step in Defining Ecological Carrying Capacity

Hipólito,

Lopes,

Gonçalves

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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There are a considerable number of studies reporting the negative impacts of recreational diving and their causes, yet there is a gap in the information regarding the aspects of activity management. This paper presents a systematic approach to the management measures found in the literature. A large part of the measures identified address stakeholders’ awareness, data on the activity, and implementing adapted management measures. Stakeholders need to be integrated into the entire process of managing the activity because they are the target for correcting actions. A knowledge gap of the evaluation of the “ecological carrying capacity” of dive sites exists, along with a lack of methods for its assessment. This study informs future steps on the development of an integrated management and monitoring model that encompasses the assessment of ecological carrying capacity in further research. It also brings a vision of sustainable management of the recreational diving activity by advancing the conceptual framework of scuba diving and tourism integrated management.

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Economic impact and conservation potential of shark-diving tourism in the Azores Islands

Cited by 10 publications

References 62 publications

Threatened fish species in the Northeast Atlantic are functionally rare

Threatened fish species in the Northeast Atlantic are functionally rare

In situ conservation powered by Public Aquaria

A Critical Approach to Existing Management Perspectives in Scuba Diving: A Step in Defining Ecological Carrying Capacity

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