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Different coasts for different folks: Place-based community values and experience mediate social acceptability of low-trophic aquaculture
Get PDFThe expansion of low-trophic aquaculture (shellfish and sea plants) is limited in many regions by a fragmented regulatory process that is difficult for smallholder farmers to navigate. Small-scale Aquaculture Development Areas (ADAs) can remove some of this regulatory burden by establishing pre-approved zones for aquaculture development; however, an understanding of local support for low-trophic aquaculture is needed to understand the potential of ADAs. A survey was used to solicit information about community support for shellfish and sea plant aquaculture in Pictou County, a coastal area of Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants had a positive impression of low-trophic aquaculture, but residents in one coastal area reported greater perceived negative impacts on the recreational use and enjoyment of coastal areas and views, while residents in another coastal area reported a higher level of support for shellfish aquaculture. In general, participants also valued community involvement in aquaculture management, local ownership of farms, and community benefits from the presence of farms. Results suggest that top-down communication is unlikely to play a significant role in acceptability. Instead, experience of low trophic aquaculture and place-based values are important for understanding social acceptability. Community involvement in the development of ADAs and the distribution of benefits from farming could support trust in ADAs and social licence for low-trophic aquaculture
The Pain of Thinking at Light Speed: Posthuman Play as Response to “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream"
No full textSearching for solutions to the coming extinction brought on by the anthropocene, some turn their attention to increasingly powerful computation. Billionaires, transhumanists but also James Lovelock write of technological salvation as a solution to climate destruction. In contrast to this, apocalyptic science fiction warns against placing too much faith in supercomputers. Harlan Ellison’s short story “I have no Mouth and I Must Scream” serves as a starting point for discussing digital technologies in and after the Anthropocene. I suggest – with reference to both Ellison’s short story and the videogame inspired by it – that supercomputation is unlikely to be a viable solution to humanity’s extinction. Thinking as a supercomputer, looking for answers at light speed, the solution would emerge, as in Ellison’s work, that humanity is already doomed. Instead, embracing a rejection of standard of duration and experience, I champion an emphasis on the possibility, necessity, and unique power of play and making ‘odd kin’ in the face of a computationally unavoidable Armageddon
Use of scenarios with multi-criteria evaluation to better inform the selection of aquaculture zones
Get PDFThe allocation of zones for aquaculture development is a strategic problem as it involves long-term outcomes and many stakeholders with competing interests. Resource planners require tools to support such complex allocation decisions, but these are either lacking or with serious limitations. This paper presents an approach that improves the traditional method of developing aquaculture zoning model. Four scenario narratives describing potential development pathways for aquaculture in Nigeria were used to guide the model development, from selection of suitability factors to evaluation of alternatives. The modelling objective was to identify a suitable location for zoning small-to-medium scale commercial pond catfish production in Nigeria. So, a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) was used to produce a suitability map, from which five alternative zones were extracted. These zones were then compared using three sustainability criteria that were designed based on future uncertainties highlighted by the four scenarios. Results show that 4 of the 5 zones are concentrated in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, while the other one occurred in the north-west. Furthermore, this study found two top-ranking zones that can be selected in all the scenarios, meaning the two zones with the most potential to support the sustainable development of small-to-medium scale aquaculture in Nigeria. As these two were almost tied in ranking, sensitivity analyses across the scenarios revealed the most stable zone to changes in the criteria scores. These findings can be used to inform aquaculture expansion policy in Nigeria and integrate the activity into wider land use planning. Overall, the new approach advances the traditional method of developing GIS-based MCE models for aquaculture zoning, as it generates options and relevant information to facilitate strategic decision-making
Interactions between nutritional programming, genotype, and gut microbiota in Atlantic salmon: Long-term effects on gut microbiota, fish growth and feed efficiency
Get PDFNutritional programming (NP) is a tool for developing adaptive changes that can be expressed in adulthood by exposing individuals to a stimulus early in life. This study investigated the interactions between nutritional programming (NP), genotype and gut microbiota in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) across the life cycle, to potentially improve feed efficiency and fish health. Approximately 5100 eggs from six families characterised by high (HP) or low pigment retention (LP) were incubated and divided into four groups (HPM, HPV, LPM, LPV) that received a stimulus diet based on marine (M) (61 % fishmeal and 8 % fish oil) or vegetable (V) (5 % fishmeal, plant proteins and rapeseed oil) ingredients. This stimulus phase lasted three weeks, followed by a 49-week freshwater intermediate phase with fish fed a commercial feed subsequent to seawater transfer. In seawater, the fish were initially fed a commercial feed for 13 weeks and then switched to a plant-based “challenge” diet with approximately 3 % EPA + DHA until the end of the experiment, at 101 weeks, at which point fish were 4 kg. During the study, survival rates, SGR, and FCR were monitored. Samples for microbiota analysis were collected at T0 (after the stimulus), T1 (before the challenge), T2 (challenge, after the feed change), and T3 (end of the feeding trial). Gut and feed microbiota were analysed by bacterial DNA extraction, Illumina NGS library preparation and raw sequencing data analysis using QIIME 2 and PICRUSt software. Gut microbiota composition changed with fish age, independent of NP and pigmentation genotype, emphasising the importance of developmental stage. Early diet influenced beta diversity and increased the number of specific bacteria, but these changes decreased with time. NP influenced the gut microbiota during the stimulus phase but not during the challenge phase, showing that the current diet has a greater influence than the earlier diet. Some microbial genera were associated with different genotypes and diets, suggesting interactions between genotype and stimulus diet. Differences in the metabolic potential of the gut microbiota due to the stimulus diet were observed but were not associated with differences in growth and feed utilisation. The study concludes that early nutritional programming with a plant-based diet has a transient effect on growth and gut microbiota, with long-term growth performance being more strongly influenced by pigmentation genotype. Further studies on the interactions between genotype, diet and microbiota are required
Marine aquaculture sites have huge potential as data providers for climate change assessments
Get PDFIn-situ data is essential in understanding climate change in coastal and marine environments, especially in nearshore locations that are challenging for models to simulate and are often lacking in downscaled climate projections. Environmental parameters such as sea temperature and oxygen are often recorded at fish farms, and this information could be useful for observing coastal changes and climate change assessment. For aquaculture, Norway's BarentsWatch portal is one of the most advanced open-data platforms in the sector. The aim of this study was to inspect the weekly sea temperature data collected from salmon lice monitoring within the Fish Health dataset in BarentsWatch and consider if the recorded temperatures could have value for monitoring climate change due to the spatial and temporal coverage of the farm data. Initial inspection of the dataset found many inconsistencies and suspected errors. In total there were 667 sites where suspected errors were removed. Suspected errors amounted to 7797 data points. Following data cleaning there were 1129 sites and 303,792 data points in total, covering much of the Norwegian coastline. The positions offered good insight into the range of conditions, with data from sheltered inner fjords as well as more exposed locations. Analysis of the BarentsWatch temperatures revealed some sites in southern and western Norway that have already experienced temperatures above 20 °C, challenging conditions for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. The results showed differences between sites within the same production regions due to site-specific characteristics, illustrating the need for more local-scale data that represents the actual conditions the fish experience, rather than a reliance on regional averages. Although the BarentsWatch platform provided some insight into the temperatures experienced at Norwegian salmon farms, the lack of standardised reporting and uncertainties about data collection and aggregated values meant that detailed analysis was not possible at present. The BarentsWatch analysis was complemented by data from two farms that further demonstrated the need for better guidance and standardised data collection and reporting. Standardised data collection and reporting would ensure that data from different farms is directly comparable. When considered in context with other conditions and fish health parameters, more standardised and robust monitoring of water temperatures at farms would aid the identification of potential challenging conditions and allow for more targeted adaptation responses. Improved data collection and reporting in the present day would have huge value in the future by facilitating the creation of long-term datasets spanning multiple decades at hundreds of locations along the Norwegian coastline, offering exceptional insight into coastal climate change
Fostering Health Behaviour Change in Overweight Male Football Fans Through the European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) Program: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective
Get PDFThe European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) program integrated need-supportive motivational strategies from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in the design of a healthy lifestyle program delivered to overweight or obese male football fans (n = 1113; mean age of 45.9 [SD = 9.0] years old and BMI of 33.2 kg/m2 [SD = 4.6]) in professional football club settings in the UK, Portugal, Norway and the Netherlands. With a critical realist approach, we developed a structured thematic framework analysis based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to investigate the process of change in men who participated in the EuroFIT randomized controlled trial (RCT). We examined whether men’s experiences of the social context of EuroFIT, and whether their engagement with the program’s motivational strategies supported or frustrated their basic psychological needs while attempting to change their lifestyle behaviours. We found that men in all countries perceived the social contexts of the EuroFIT program as mostly needs-supportive, and that they found engagement with most of the program components helpful in supporting their psychological needs when initiating health behaviour changes. However, some of the program elements in the EuroFIT program were perceived as needs-frustrating by some participants and need-supportive by others. Implications for the use of need-supportive motivational strategies in designing future lifestyle interventions in sport settings to promote health behaviour change among male football fans are discussed
Assembling Sustainable and Resilient Futures with Small Heritage Organisations: Social Purpose, Creativity and Practices of Care
No full textThis collaborative doctoral research with Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) addresses a significant gap in our knowledge and understanding of how sustainability frameworks, policies, and everyday heritage practices intersect in small Scottish heritage organisations with social purpose. In the context of reduced funding and resources, such organisations are exploring how they can re-orientate to fulfil a wider range of public and social benefit agendas in addition to economic and urban regeneration value. I explore GBPT’s everyday heritage practices ethnographically to reveal how small heritage organisations create sustainable and resilient futures while working with social purpose. I consider concepts of sustainability, resilience, creativity, common good, and participation as configured in practice in the context of Scottish policies, strategies and academic scholarship. Qualitative interviews were undertaken in the Scottish heritage sector for a wider perspective on these concepts. Social media research was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of everyday heritage practices and adaption to the pandemic. Finally, short-term ethnography in Norway created a deeper, comparative understanding of the concepts explored.
The research has important findings that can inform heritage policies and practice offering insights into processes of sustainable development, community resilience and organisational heritage practices. It contributes new knowledge in three key areas: 1) It gives insights into the role of small heritage organisations as curators and narrators of heritage operating at the intersection of national and local policies, funding strategies, and creative heritage practices with communities; 2) It makes visible the intense labour involved in heritage practices as practices of care that address societal challenges in the context of sustainable development and resilience agendas; 3) It contributes to a better understanding of the role of networks of relations as infrastructures of care within sustainable development as a transformative process and its relationship with resilience
Corporate social and digital responsibility in esports
Get PDFPurpose The esports industry has experienced a dynamic growth. In this context, a significant evolution in the logic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be observed, particularly in the digital sphere. By extending Carroll's three-dimensional model to include corporate digital responsibility (CDR), this paper addresses a key research question: How does CSR evolve and develop in the dynamic digital industry of esports? Design/methodology/approach This study employed a qualitative multiple case study research design. It drew on secondary data from 50 professional esports organisations and key players in CSR development in the global esports industry, such as game publishers, pro-teams, pro-athletes, event organisers, and governing bodies. A content analysis of 50 official websites and 72 public annual, CSR, and environmental reports for the financial years ending in 2021 and 2022 was conducted. Findings Our empirical findings not only map the territory of esports CSR and CDR but also provide practical insights. These insights are later synthesized to develop an esports CSR/CDR framework that extends Carroll's three-dimensional model. CSR and CDR domains of esports are theoretically grounded (business performance, responsiveness, social issues, and digital responsibilities), while practical implications for managers and academics are forwarded. Originality/value This paper stands out as a pioneering empirical study, filling a significant research gap in the fields of CSR and CDR in esports. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first to illuminate these concepts within the unique ecosystem of esports, thereby contributing to the evolving understanding of CSR in the digital context.Paper type Research pape
Health visiting in the UK in light of the COVID-19 pandemic experience: (RReHOPE) findings from a realist review
Get PDFBackground: Child health programmes in the United Kingdom offer every child and their family an evidence-based programme to support child health and development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health visiting services in many areas were reduced to a partial service, with significant variability between and within the four United Kingdom countries. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on health visiting services and developed recommendations for policy and practice. Objectives: Conduct a realist review of relevant literature. Engage with key stakeholders in policy, practice and research across the United Kingdom. Identify recommendations for improving the organisation and delivery of health visiting services, with a focus on services being equitable, effective and efficient. Review methods: The realist review followed Pawson's five iterative steps and involved key stakeholder representatives at every step. We searched five electronic databases and references of included articles, as well as relevant organisational websites, to find quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and grey literature related to health visiting services in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. An assessment of their relevance to our initial programme theory determined inclusion in the review. Data were extracted, organised and presented as draft context, mechanism and outcome configurations. These were iteratively refined through meetings with 6 people with lived experience of caring for babies during the pandemic and 23 professional stakeholders. Context, mechanism and outcome configurations were then translated into findings and recommendations. Results: One hundred and eighteen documents contributed to the review and collectively revealed the far-reaching, uneven and enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on babies and families. Data uncovered significant concerns of families and practitioners amidst the pandemic, along with the service's corresponding actions. These concerns and responses underscored the critical importance of fostering and sustaining trusting relationships between health visitors and families, as well as conducting holistic assessments for early intervention. Although we found minimal evidence of decision-making within organisational/managerial levels, the data illustrated the diverse and complex nature of health visiting work and the need for flexibility and resourcefulness. Limitations: The primary limitation of this review was a lack of specific evidence from the United Kingdom nations other than England. There was also a lack of data focusing on changes during the COVID-19 pandemic at a local management level. Conclusions: The needs of babies, children and families, and the delivery of services to support them, were not prioritised in the early phase of the pandemic response. Our data show that the health visiting service was concerned with maintaining visibility of all children, and especially supporting families with a new baby. Health visiting services adapted in numerous ways to respond to these concerns. Implications for policy and practice are presented, identified from our analysis and discussions with stakeholders. Future work: The RReHOPE study is part of a jigsaw of evidence, which will provide a much stronger evidence base for future policy and practice. This realist review presents several areas for future research, including how health visiting is organised at local management level; how to optimise limited resources; factors affecting differing uptake in different regions; and analysis of the effectiveness of health visiting using large cohort studies
Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa
Get PDFThe white-bellied pangolin is subject to intense trafficking, feeding both local and international trade networks. In order to assess its population genetics and trace its domestic trade, we genotyped 562 pangolins from local to large bushmeat markets in western central Africa. We show that the two lineages described from the study region (WCA and Gab) were overlapping in ranges, with limited introgression in southern Cameroon. There was a lack of genetic differentiation across WCA and a significant signature of isolation-by-distance possibly due to unsuspected dispersal capacities involving a Wahlund effect. We detected a c. 74.1–82.5% decline in the effective population size of WCA during the Middle Holocene. Private allele frequency tracing approach indicated up to 600 km sourcing distance by large urban markets from Cameroon, including Equatorial Guinea. The 20 species-specific microsatellite loci provided individual-level genotyping resolution and should be considered as valuable resources for future forensic applications. Because admixture was detected between lineages, we recommend a multi-locus approach for tracing the pangolin trade. The Yaoundé market was the main hub of the trade in the region, and thus should receive specific monitoring to mitigate pangolins’ domestic trafficking. Our study also highlighted the weak implementation of CITES regulations at European borders
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