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International Fisheries Law (IFL) provides innovative approaches to fisheries governance at national levels. The emergence of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) is phenomenal for fisheries because it creates new means for implementing IFL. Under SDG 14, fisheries governance for sustainable fisheries has become a complex and challenging task for any state. Developing States like Pakistan are struggling to achieve SDG 14 with new approaches to fisheries governance. The current situation of fisheries governance in Pakistan motivated the content of this research paper. This research paper adopted the comprehensive literature review (CLR) methodology to analyse existing fisheries governance mechanisms in Pakistan. Besides CLR, the paper also analysed a 'case study' on fisheries governance of Pakistan entitled 'National Policy and Strategy for Marine Fisheries. Furthermore, one hundred sixty-seven research articles and national and international legislation on fisheries governance from 2010 - 2023 are analysed. The results of the CLR methodology suggested that an extensive integrated mechanism under a comprehensive framework should be developed for fisheries governance. The framework forwarded a policy mechanism incorporating sustainable development goals with SDG 14 that should be implemented coherently for sustainable fisheries. The discussion followed the analysis and suggested that regional to local and bottom-up and top-down approaches in fisheries governance are required to address the challenges to sustainable fisheries in Pakistan. The conclusion of the discussion portrayed that future research related to fisheries governance in Pakistan shall be based on the practical implementation of SDG 14.

In Bangladesh, fishing communities are one of the most climate-vulnerable groups, though they play an important role in economic development. The main objective of this study was to identify vulnerability by exploring exposure (i.e., lack of regulating services or household capitals), susceptibility (i.e., lack of access to provisioning services), and lack of resilience (i.e., lack of alternative livelihoods and capacity) and to explore adaptation options, and challenges to understand risk governance. The study considered 45 published research articles for analysis following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Keywords were used in combinations (e.g., fishing communities and Bangladesh) to identify and screen published articles. Articles published in English focusing on vulnerability and/or risk governance, published between 2011 and 2022, featuring original empirical data or a comprehensive systematic review, and published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Articles were excluded if vulnerability and risk governance were evaluated but did not fit or match the definition used in this study. The study found frequent disasters and ocean warming caused different stresses, such as reduced fish catch and income, and resulted in an increased risk of fisheries conflict. Moreover, fishing communities have limited access to properties, modern fishing equipment, financial institutions, and fisher-centered organizations. Adaptation strategies include ecosystem-based (e.g., plantation, payment for ecosystem services) and non-ecosystem-based (e.g., temporary migration, getting help from neighbors) approaches. To boost fish production, the Government of Bangladesh instituted fishing restrictions and social safety net programs (e.g., distributing rice during the fishing restrictions); both initiatives were helpful. However, the conservation policies are not being implemented properly, and there is no particular social welfa

The Introduction of this paper argues that current coastal and ocean management approaches like marine spatial planning (MSP) often do not adequately acknowledge and integrate Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK). This is problematic because how humans value and perceive coastal and marine resources is integrally linked to how they use and manage these resources, especially in adapting to social-ecological change. Coastal and marine resources are situated within complex social-ecological systems that are culturally, economically, historically and politically embedded. Therefore, management approaches have to integrate transdisciplinary and contextual perspectives in order to be relevant, sustainable and adaptive. Following extensive research in Algoa Bay, South Africa this article highlights several pathways to bridge the gap between existing ILK and current coastal and ocean management approaches. The Methods section discusses how the authors worked in tandem with a bottom-up (engaging with Indigenous and local coastal and marine resource users) and top-down (engaging with coastal governance authorities and practitioners) approach. In order to answer the primary research question "How can ILK be integrated into area-based ocean management like MSP"? the authors employed arts-based participatory methods as well as in-depth interviews and workshops with coastal governance authorities and practitioners over several months. This work then culminated in a one-day multi-stakeholder workshop which brought both ILK holders and coastal authorities and practitioners together to collaboratively identify pathways to integrate this knowledge into coastal and ocean management. In the Results and Discussion section the authors present and discuss five co-identified pathways to integrate ILK in coastal and ocean management which include: adopting contextual approaches to coastal and ocean management; increasing transparency and two-way communication between coastal authorities and

WA Greens slam the federal government for approving Point Peron marina.

What Kenya's government can do to protect, and benefit from, ocean resources.

In 2011, several non-governmental and government agencies established the Kenya Marine Mammal Network (KMMN) to provide a platform for the consistent collection of data on marine mammals along the Kenyan coast, identify areas of importance and engage marine users and the general public in marine mammal conservation. Prior to the KMMN, relatively little was known about marine mammals in Kenya, limiting conservation strategies. The KMMN collects data nationwide through dedicated surveys, opportunistic sightings and participative citizen science, currently involving more than 100 contributors. This paper reviews data on sightings and strandings for small cetaceans in Kenya collated by the KMMN. From 2011 to 2019, 792 records of 11 species of small cetaceans were documented. The most frequently reported inshore species were the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Offshore species, included killer whales, short-finned pilot whale and long-snouted spinner dolphin. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, long-snouted spinner dolphins, striped dolphins and Risso's dolphins were recorded through stranding reports. The efforts of the KMMN were disseminated through international meetings (International Whaling Commission, World Marine Mammal Conference), national status reports, outreach and social media. Data has also supported the identification of three IUCN Important Marine Mammal Areas and one Area of Interest in Kenya. Further research is needed to improve estimates of cetacean abundance and distribution, particularly in unstudied coastal areas, and to assess the extent of anthropogenic threats associated with fisheries, coastal and port development, seismic exercises and unregulated tourism. The expansion of the network should benefit from the participation of remote coastal fishing communities, government research agencies, tourism and seismic operations, among others. The KMMN demonstrated the value of dedicated and citizen science data to enh

- Government moves to protect waters around Saint Martin's Island, home to Bangladesh's only coral reef and threatened Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and whale sharks - The new MPA covers 1,743 square kilometers (672 square miles) and brings Bangladesh one step closer to the goal of protecting 10 percent of its marine waters in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals - The decision recognizes the importance of a partnership between the government, communities and NGOs to manage marine protected areas, reverse decades of environmental degradation, and safeguard fisheries that many Bangladeshis rely on for food and livelihoods

Recently, the rights of small-scale fishers have increasingly been acknowledged in ocean governance because coastal development and various maritime activities have reduced traditional fishing grounds. More specifically, small-scale fisheries (SSF) are increasingly being threatened by ocean grabbing, pollution, and a lack of inclusiveness in decision-making processes. Although there are guidelines to resolve and reduce conflict, formal avenues to include fisher concerns, particularly in the context of ocean development and governance, remain a difficult task. Moreover, there is insufficient information on how fishers are impacted by coastal and marine development and how their concerns are included in the decision-making process. Hence, this study contributes to the SSF discourse by understanding and describing the characteristics and concerns of small-scale fishers from two coastal towns in East Africa with different levels of port development. Using data from perception surveys, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping, we discuss how fishers were involved in the decision-making processes to develop ports in Lamu, Kenya, and Bagamoyo, Tanzania. We found that fishers rely on nearshore ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs because of their accessibility since most fishers only use low-powered boats for fishing. Moreover, we found that the fishers' livelihoods were severely affected by port development and that they were excluded from the decision-making process concerning the port's construction and fishers' compensations. While some fishers believe that new ports in the region can increase their livelihoods by creating new markets and jobs, this is unlikely to happen since most fishers are not qualified to work in formal port-related jobs. We propose three steps that will allow fishermen to participate in port development decision-making processes and contribute to the development of a sustainable SSF. These include improving engagement with fisher

Kenya is committed to the global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation as seen through investments in various sustainable green and blue economy projects. In this review paper, we present the current status of what has been done, particularly on the blue carbon offset initiatives undertaken in the mangrove and seaweed ecosystems as well as the decarbonization activities at the port of Mombasa and which should form reference information for local, regional, bilateral/multilateral partners, scientists and other climate change stakeholders. The blue carbon offset projects involve mangrove conservation, reforestation and carbon credit sale as well as seaweed farming. The initiatives have several unique features amongst which are the community-led income generation systems that simultaneously act as an inducement for ecosystem preservation, co-management and benefits sharing which are recipes for economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. A notable project impact is the conferment of economic power to the locals, particularly the women and the youth The model used embraces a collaborative approach involving multisectoral engagements of both the government, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and local communities. This integrated top-down (government) and bottom-up (local community) method deliberately targets the strengthening of economic development while ensuring sustainability.

With piracy spreading along large swathes of Africa's coast, shipping firms and governments are deploying hi-tech weapons in the fight against the raiders.

With piracy spreading along large swathes of Africa's coast, shipping firms and governments are deploying hi-tech weapons in the fight against the raiders.

Private student loans gov payment is mainly used to help students use tuition in addition to a federal loan. In contrast to federal loans, for the promotional criteria private loans vary the interest rates and terms of lender to lender.

Australian government says analysis on two pieces of debris indicates they are 'highly likely' to have come from missing craft, fuelling confidence further remains will be found soon.

Australian government says analysis on two pieces of debris indicates they are 'highly likely' to have come from missing craft, fuelling confidence further remains will be found soon.

While noting the progress made to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, the United Nations political chief today said that a sustained long-term solution must include the presence of effective Government and State institutions that provide basic services and alternative ways for people to make a living.

* Finding efficient and effective ways to respond to both climate change and biodiversity loss is critical, particularly for small island states (SIDS). * An analysis of Indian Ocean SIDS' NDCs demonstrates that they have committed to NbS which can simultaneously support marine and coastal biodiversity conservation. * Identifying ways to implement NDC commitments through integrated law, policy and governance frameworks is vital.

For Pacific islands like Palau, Tuvalu and Kiribati, the implications of climate change are clear - and devastating. Already, these governments have begun to plan for a future in which entire populations have to relocate as their islands vanish under the rising sea. But climate change also threatens ways of life in subtler ways, leaving families around the world to work out for themselves how to cope.

Yemen's state weakness due to fragmentation and ongoing conflicts allowed Al Qaeda and affiliates to take and hold territory, possibly enabling them to seize the Port of Aden. If Al Qaeda establishes safe havens in the southern Abyan province, supported by local Yemeni inhabitants, attacks at sea or in near by ports similar to the "USS COLE bombing" in 2000 could become a threat, increasing the danger to Red Sea shipping. Yet Al Qaeda is of secondary concern for the Yemeni government, with secessionist insurgencies in the north and the south threatening the state's unity. Only a stable Yemen can effectively deny Al Qaeda a stable base in the long run.

In the Maldives, one of the world's lowest-lying countries, new and urgent solutions are needed to protect the islands from the impacts of climate change. Tourist resort owners and local communities are joining government authorities in efforts to make the islands more resilient.

Fisheries bycatch is known as the major threat to Threatened shark species (herein, sharks, skates, and rays) in Bangladesh. But bycatch is not appropriately addressed under the existing wildlife and fisheries conservation management regime. This policy brief evaluates the current scenario of shark conservation and identifies priorities for future interventions. The literature review finds 71 shark species and only four peer-reviewed publications from Bangladesh suggesting the species already known have not yet been studied. In addition, inconsistencies in legal frameworks have limited the capacities and mandates of responsible government agencies. We recommend actionable changes in policy to regulate shark trade, reduce bycatch of Threatened species, improve fisheries data reporting system, and bring consistency between institutional mandate and the capacity of conservation and management agencies.

Mangrove forests are dynamic ecosystems found along low-lying coastal plains along tropical, subtropical, and some warm-temperate coasts, predominantly on tidal flats fringing deltas, estuaries, bays, and oceanic atolls. These landforms present varied hydrodynamic and geomorphological settings for mangroves to persist and could influence the extent of within-site propagule transport and subsequent local regeneration. In this study, we examined how different landform characteristics may influence local genetic diversity, kinship, and neighborhood structure of mangrove populations. To do so, we considered independent populations of Avicennia marina, one of the most abundant and widespread mangrove species, located in estuarine and coastal bay environments spread across the Western Indian Ocean region. A transect approach was considered to estimate kinship-based fine-scale spatial genetic structure using 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers in 475 adult A. marina trees from 14 populations. Elevated kinship values and significant fine-scale structure up to 30, 60, or 90 m distances were detected in sheltered systems void of river discharge, suggesting a setting suitable for very local propagule retention and establishment within a neighborhood. Slopes of a linear regression over restricted distance within 150 m were significantly declining in each sheltered transect. Contrastingly, such a spatial structure has not been detected for A. marina transects bordering rivers in the estuarine systems considered, or alongside partially sheltered creeks, suggesting that recruitment here is governed by unrelated carried-away mixed-origin propagules. South African populations showed strong inbreeding levels. In general, we have shown that A. marina populations can locally experience different modes of propagule movement, explained from their position in different coastal landforms. Thus, the resilience of mangroves through natural regeneration is achieved by different responses in

​IMO continues to support international efforts to respond to the oil spill in Mauritius, following the break up of the MV Wakashio. IMO and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) have jointly deployed an expert, who is advising the Government of Mauritius on the mitigation of the impacts on the environment and coastal communities.