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- An artificial reef at the edge of the deep: An interdisciplinary case studyPublication . Ramos, Jorge; Tuaty-Guerra, Miriam; Almeida, Mariana; Raposo, Ana C.; Gaudêncio, Maria J.; Silva, Alexandra D.; Rodrigues, Nuno; Leandro, Sérgio M.; Caetano, MiguelJust nearby the largest submarine canyon in Europe - off the western coast of Portugal - is located the Nazare acute accent artificial reef (NAR) deployed in 2010 and the first of its kind in this coast. NAR aimed to improve social and economic resilience of the local communities, mainly by creating a safer and closer area for fishing and to enhance commercially exploitable marine resources. The innovative part of this research lies on the fact that for the first time was developed a multidisciplinary approach for NAR. Scientific evidence from fieldwork shows that in 2015 the reef was already mature and colonized by abundant and diversified macrobenthic assemblages. No evidence of negative impacts of NAR on the soft bottom macrofauna was observed, as assemblage composition in the NAR area and in the vicinity areas is similar. In relation to the primary producers that support the subsequent food chain, there also seems to be a balance between NAR and the surrounding area since phytoplankton was equally abundant throughout the area. Experimental fisheries and underwater visual census results on ichthyofaunal communities in the reef revealed high abundance and low levels of species richness, pouting, Trisopterus luscus Linnaeus, 1758 being the most common fish species found. Concerning NAR socio-economic impact, results from direct site observations (DSOs) showed that only some small-scale fishing vessels were eligible to operate on the NAR area. Thus, comparatively to non-AR areas nearby reef use by fishing vessels differs according to spatial and temporal strata. In what perception was concerned, the NAR has contributed to fish aggregation, though being populated mostly by small fish. Fishers have stated that some factors seemed to have changed after reef deployment. Notwithstanding, the NAR may have been a valuable contribution to an apparently overall socio-economic positive impact on the local fishing community that can be corroborated by the presence of good biological indicators.
- A bayesian approach to infer the sustainable use of artificial reefs in fisheries and recreationPublication . Ramos, Jorge; Drakeford, Benjamin; Madiedo, Ana; Costa, Joana; Miguel de Sousa Leitão, FranciscoThe presence of artificial reefs (ARs) in the south of Portugal that were deployed a few decades ago and the corroboration of fishing patterns and other activities related to the use of these habitats have not been followed. It is important to note that monitoring the use of ARs was difficult in the past but is currently facilitated by the application of non-intrusive tools. In the present study, an approach is developed where, based on monitoring data from fishing and non-fishing boats, influence diagrams (IDs) are constructed to provide some evidence on fisheries or other use patterns and consequent AR effectiveness as coastal tools. These IDs allow us to infer various usefulness scenarios, namely catches, which are tangible, and satisfaction, which is intangible, and overall assessment of ARs and nearby areas in terms of human activities. After calibrating the Bayesian ID based on monitoring evidence, the obtained model was evaluated for several scenarios. In the base case, which assumes the occurrence of more fishing than recreation (assuming 3:1, respectively), the obtained utility is 18.64% (catches) and 31.96% (satisfaction). Of the scenarios run, the one that obtained the best results in the utility nodes together was the second one. The use of these tailored tools and approaches seems to be of fundamental importance for the adequate management of coastal infrastructures, particularly with regard to the inference of fishing resources and their sustainable use. An adequate interpretation based on the use of these tools implies being able to safeguard the ecological balance and economic sustainability of the communities operating in these areas.
- Tourism and work environment in sea salt pansPublication . Ramos, JorgeThe present study focuses on the perceptions of workers in traditional salt pans that receive visits from tourists in the south of Portugal. Methodologically, an ethnographic approach is taken. It is found that, on the one hand, for sea salt workers, the main incentive in their labour is the freedom to work outdoors. On the other hand, for tourists, their main motivations to visit the salt pans are related to the benefit of being outdoors in natural spaces, observe the telluric process of salt harvesting and participate in leisure activities related to this type of space. These findings also suggest that tourism in traditional salt pans enhances cultural heritage values and brings more economic sustainability to the activity.
- Stakeholders' conceptualization of offshore aquaculture and small-scale fisheries interactions using a Bayesian approachPublication . Ramos, Jorge; Caetano, Miguel; Himes-Cornell, Amber; Santos, Miguel Neves dosRecent coastal planning measures in south-east Portugal (Algarve), where offshore aquaculture developments were set up in fishing areas aiming to maximize expected utility of seafood production activities, raised some discontentment. Public policies created to safeguard offshore aquaculture (OSA) producers and limit small-scale fishing (SSF) activities must be adjusted accordingly in order to maximize income and keep discontentment at a minimum. We collected primary data from stakeholders, fishers (n = 18) and offshore aquaculture operators (n = 3) through participatory workshops and interviews by eliciting problematic issues derived from the offshore area creation and their relative relevance. We used these data to populate conditional probability tables and construct a related influence diagram (Bayesian belief networks) to model the affected system. We selected nine scenarios based on navigability and aquaculture area size with the aim of finding the best expected utility combinations for the OSA SSF system. The inferred results show that maximizing employment and keep pollution at low levels were the most influential factors to keep the system at a satisfactory level. The best decision was not to enlarge the aquaculture area, but to condition the access to other operational stakeholders, namely SSF operators from nearby areas. The overall results of the Bayesian belief network can be used to recommend coastal planners and decision-makers to deal with the interaction between OSA and SSF activities.(c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Activating an artisanal saltpan: tourism crowding in or waterbirds crowding out?Publication . Ramos, Jorge; Pinto, Patrícia; Pintassilgo, Pedro; Resende, Anabela; Cancela da Fonseca, LuísPurpose There is an increasing interest in visiting protected areas in the Algarve (Portugal). Tourists are interested in contact with nature activities. However, protected areas are quite sensitive to human pressure and are limited in their carrying capacity. The purpose of this study is to fill a literature gap concerning which features attract tourists who visit saltpans via a pedestrian tour and what sort of pressure they inflict on waterbirds' behaviour. Design/methodology/approach The tour consists of a predefined path with interpretive boards and guides who provide explanations to visitors. This study is threefold: to find out if waterbirds are disturbed by the presence of tourists, if tourists prefer to learn more about saltpans instead of finding waterbirds and if tourists have any preferred waterbird species. The methods used are direct observations with binoculars of the saltpan area and a short questionnaire. With the data collected, three hypotheses are tested. Findings The results show that the occurrence of waterbirds does not vary according to the presence or absence of tourist visits, tourists prefer visiting saltpans rather than watching waterbirds and there is some waterbird species preference. Practical implications Few people can visit the saltpan while keeping disturbance of both waterbirds and workers to a minimum. This study gives insights into sustainable ecotourism practices and how to articulate them with saltpan works. Originality/value The value of this study can be demonstrated by the interconnection between traditional salt production, waterbirds' habitat, visitors' interest and their interaction.
- Fleur de sel: how does a pinch of suitable choice practices value this sustainable natural resource?Publication . Ramos, JorgeAs mechanized processes developed, small producers of traditional sea salt ceased to be competitive. However, when the valuable salt flower (a.k.a. fleur de sel, flower of salt) market appeared, it gave new breath to the activity of traditional salt pan production. Salt flower sensitivity and delicateness became a part of modern food habits. Its crystals present some grain differentiation and these can fulfill diversified consumer tastes. In cooking art, a regular fine flower of salt can be used to finish dishes, whereas a longer and thin grain known as ‘scale’ (a.k.a. écaille de fleur de sel in French) can be used for a more gourmet-like palate. Here a suitable method is presented to sort and grade flower of salt to satisfy different palates. The method of salt flower selection is based on four main characteristics, which should be considered: cleansing, moisture, color, and size. It is the grain size that contributes most to demand allocation. The results show that what is produced (supply) and the demand from customers do not exactly match. The tiniest types of salt flower are usually completely absorbed by the market, whereas the largest types have no market at all.
- Local fishermen’s perceptions of the usefulness of artificial reef ecosystem services in PortugalPublication . Ramos, Jorge; Lino, Pedro; Himes-Cornell, Amber; Santos, Miguel N.Proponents of artificial reef (AR) deployment are often motivated by the usefulness of such structures. The usefulness of ARs is related to their capability of providing ecosystem services/additional functions. We present two distinct Portuguese AR case studies: (1) The Nazaré reef off the central coast of Portugal and (2) the Oura reef off the Algarve coast. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local fishermen in the fishing towns of Nazaré and Quarteira pre-and post-AR deployment. The main focus of the interviews was to understand fishermen's perception of AR usefulness (or lack thereof) in terms of nine ecosystem services/additional functions potentially provided by the ARs. We tested the null hypothesis that ARs do not provide additional ecosystem services/additional functions. When queried pre-AR deployment, fishermen indicated that ARs are most likely to provide three ecosystem services: "habitat and refuge," "biodiversity preservation" and "food production." Fishermen had similar perceptions post-deployment. For the Nazaré reef, fishermen tended to have a positive or neutral perception of ecosystem services/additional functions being provided by ARs. For the Oura reef, fishermen tended to have a mostly neutral perception of AR ecosystem services; however, there were also some positive and other negative perceptions. It was difficult for stakeholders to conceptualize some of the ecosystem services/additional functions provided by ARs prior to actively using them. As a result, some stakeholders changed their perception of the ecosystem services/additional functions after using the structures. These results indicate that stakeholders likely need to perceive ARs as useful in order for them to provide their support for AR installation. Likewise, their support is often needed to justify the use of public funds to install ARs, therefore making it imperative for resource managers to undertake similar interviews with fishermen when considering the use of ARs in other areas.
- (Un)wanted fish: potential consumers’ acceptability of landings in the Portuguese casePublication . Ramos, Jorge; Lino, Pedro G.; Aníbal, Jaime; Esteves, EduardoThe Landing Obligation (LO), introduced in 2015 by the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union (EU-CFP), has been subject to a transitional period until recently. The rationale behind the measure is that all fish species subject to a total allowable catch (TAC) must be landed to increase the sustainability of fishing activities. Through the analysis of official statistical data, it is possible to find out which species of fish were landed and their relative importance, including their monetary value, and verify the potential for consumer acceptance. Some insights are drawn from the interconnection between these three factors (i.e., social acceptability, landings of main fish species, and their market value) with empirical results and the scientific literature using data from Portugal.
- How important are artificial reefs to the tourism industry? A review of the literaturePublication . Ramos, JorgeThe main objective of the present study is to review the published scientific literature related to recreational or tourist activities and artificial reefs (AR). The paper covers different geographical contexts and determines the relevance of AR tourism. The content analysis methodology is in two parts: a protocol for reviewing the literature containing the words "artificial reef(s)" and "tourism" published in four different science portals, and a systematic review of the study objectives in the eligible literature. The results highlight the evolution of and trends in scientific production in the field of AR tourism from 1991 to 2020. While the number of AR papers generally has been increasing in the last decade, there are still few papers covering AR tourism. The results show which countries produce more literature related to AR tourism, the analytical methods used, the focus, the impact factor of the top ten countries, the areas/categories of knowledge covered, and the main tourism journals where papers are published. This literature analysis intends to make a connection between artificial reefs and potential interest aroused in the tourism industry.