Area-based management tools, including marine protected areas (MPAs) and time-area closures, are accepted and effective forms of management utilized to mitigate local human impacts on marine species and ecosystems. In the Hadera Stream estuary in Israel, two vulnerable shark species aggregate every winter in a highly active coastal area frequented by snorkelers, SCUBA divers, recreational fishers, and motorized and non-motorized water sports enthusiasts. The interaction between humans and sharks raises important concerns for the safety of individuals near these apex predators and for the sharks' welfare. The Hadera Stream estuary, impacted by heated water discharged from the nearby Hadera power station, experiences significant anthropogenic effects, leading the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority to disqualify it from designation as an MPA. By employing the Delphi technique with relevant experts, we identified activities posing the greatest threats in human-shark interactions. Using this information, we have proposed restricting human activities to only during specific times. Our research findings provide valuable insights for potential regulators. This study represents the initial step in promoting area-based conservation in Israel, aiming to dynamically balance human recreational needs with shark conservation. The study underscores how utilizing specific technological advancements in shark tracking can advance an ecosystem-based approach, enabling tailored management practices that account for both conservation and recreational uses.

Water management has shifted from solely technical and engineering approaches towards nature-based solutions (NBS), like natural water retention measures (NWRM), offering benefits beyond hydrology, such as improved well-being and biodiversity conservation. Determining the best type and location of these measures is challenging due to diverse options with varying benefits and effects depending on measure type and location characteristics. While most studies regarding the optimal allocation and implementation of NBS focus on the urban environment, this study presents a methodology for decision-makers focusing on inter-urban regions with limited data on NWRM implementation. Through hydrological modeling and cost-benefit analysis (CBA), we identify Pareto optimal NWRM sites and types, considering water quantity and quality alongside economic, environmental, and social objectives. We defined optimal locations that seek the most significant reduction of runoff, sediment, and pollutants, whilst optimal NWRM types are defined to seek the most cost-effective measures based on hydrological, ecological, and social criteria. Using the Open Non-point Source Pollution and Erosion Comparison Tool (OpenNSPECT), we simulated increased infiltration in different inter-urban areas and identified the optimal placement. The criteria for selecting suitable NWRM types for the identified areas are derived from the EU Directorate General for the Environment (DG-ENV) NWRM database. The results show different effective areas for reducing runoff, sediment, and pollutants. While one NWRM (natural bank stabilization) was identified as most beneficial for reducing sediment, several measures were selected for runoff reduction. Interestingly, measures with high potential for pollutant reduction seem to offer limited social and biodiversity benefits, suggesting conflicting objectives and highlighting the importance of accounting for multiple criteria. By employing simplified models and qualitative benefit assessments, this paper presents a practical decision-making approach to facilitate NWRM implementation in data-scarce areas.

Growing human use of the marine environment increases the proximity of humans to marine wildlife and thus likely increases human–wildlife interactions. Such interactions influence perceptions of nature and promote or undermine conservation. Despite their importance, human–wildlife interactions are rarely considered in ecosystem-based marine spatial planning (MSP). Ideally, these interactions should be identified and considered in ecosystem-based management (EBM), which is often purported to be the basis for MSP. We used Marxan software and data from a citizen science project documenting location, species, age, sex, and activity type to identify regions along Israel's coast with a high probability of encounters between people and 2 species of guitarfish. We considered the geographic distribution of these encounters and the various activities undertaken by the reporting observers. We ran 4 scenarios in Marxan. Two had conservation goals of 30% and 50% guitarfish habitat protection. In the third and fourth scenarios, we added a 50% conservation goal of human leisure activities to each guitarfish conservation goal. We also conducted a gap analysis between our guitarfish conservation goals and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority's master plan for marine protected areas. We found the park authority was close to meeting the 30% goal but was far from meeting the conservation goal of 50% of guitarfish habitat conservation. Different human uses were more likely to interact with different life stages of guitarfish, and different recreational activities occurred in different areas. Identifying areas of specific human use showed which activities should be addressed in conservation management decisions. Our addition of certain recreational uses to the model of habitat conservation showed how enhancing human dimensions in conservation planning can lead to more holistic ecosystem-based conservation necessary for effective marine planning.

This paper aims to contribute to the current discourse regarding the incorporation of geospatial technology in marine spatial planning (MSP) by drawing lessons from some existing initiatives. MSP is a continuously growing policy field under extensive research, and geospatial technologies (e.g., remote sensing, GPS, and GIS) are well-suited for acquiring and analyzing location-based data for marine planning needs. However, the role, extent, and nature of geospatial technology in the MSP process remain relatively underexplored. Here, we draw insights from interviews with seventeen global marine practitioners involved in developing or implementing eleven marine spatial plans worldwide to understand how extensively geospatial technology-derived data is utilized in existing practices. We briefly discuss the potential benefits of enhancing this type of data in MSP and then highlight some issues that need to be considered when shaping geospatial technology's input into the process. Based on the interviews, these considerations suggest that we need to develop a more critical and deeper understanding of how various interests frame the underutilization of geospatial technologies in some regions of the world. Additionally, we explore how the interviewed practitioners view their role in shaping the practices of geospatial technology use in the planning process. These findings highlight the importance of several key issues raised in the interviews as barriers to enhancing the use of geospatial technology. We conclude with suggestions for what priorities that could support the future enhancement of geospatial technology in MSP.

Climate change has recently received a lot of media attention as a serious phenomenon; as a result of witnessing losses in lives and property, people are becoming increasingly aware of its effects. If climate change issues are misunderstood, people may be less likely to participate in adaptation and mitigation efforts and in the co-production of climate services. This paper contributes to the field of perception studies by providing a case study that could advise local policymaking. Residents of the Greek coastal city of Mytilene (Lesvos Island) were questioned about their opinions on climate change issues. According to the study's findings, respondents recognize the existence of climate change and are likely to take actions to address it. They also acknowledge that various anthropogenic causes, activities, and uses contribute to climate change (i.e., greenhouse gasses, pollution, and transportation). Most participants associate climate change with global warming and sea level rise/coastal erosion, whereas at a local level, they associate it primarily with weather-related phenomena. They are more likely to rely on formal institutions to address climate change challenges but are skeptical of management outcomes. The majority of respondents appear to be positive about making lifestyle changes, and half are willing to pay for mitigation/adaptation measures, primarily to ensure environmental protection and intragenerational justice. Because respondents appear to be unaware of their critical role, authorities must invest in a continuous effort of empowering and engaging them in both adaptation and mitigation practices and include them in the co-production of locally oriented climate services.

Newer water management approaches aim to better utilize runoff by treating it as a resource rather than a nuisance and by promoting a more holistic handling of runoff. These approaches use nature-based green infrastructure solutions to increase infiltration and detain water. Identifying optimal placement for these solutions is challenging due to multiple and sometimes competing objectives. Here, we propose a methodology to help planners and stakeholders maximize the benefits of flood mitigation projects by identifying opportunities for sustainable development. Most studies examine placement decisions based on metrics obtained from hydrological models. However, solely depending on hydrological indicators, without accounting for social and ecological indicators, might bias the placement decisions. We propose combining hydrological and land-use planning models. We used the revised version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) known as SWAT+ to simulate existing hydrological conditions and the results as initial input for the conservation decision support software MARXAN. We added data on endangered species and distance from the human population as ecological and social indicators. This addition shifted the selected areas and provided a more complete view of runoff management than only hydrological indicators. Furthermore, we show that coupling SWAT+ and MARXAN can effectively balance hydrological concerns with ecological and social factors.

Bycatch of non-target species is a pressing problem for ocean management. It is one of the most concerning issues related to human-wildlife interactions and it affects numerous species including sharks, seabirds, sea turtles, and many critically endangered marine mammals. This paper compares different policy tools for ocean closure management around a unique shark aggregation site in Israel's nearshore coastal waters. We provide a set of recommendations based on an optimal management approach that allows humans to enjoy marine recreational activities such as fishing, while maintaining safe conditions for these apex predators which are vital to the local marine ecosystem. To learn more about recreational fishers' derived benefits, we use a benefit transfer method. Our main conclusion is that dynamic time-area closures offer sustainable and effective management strategies. Since these closures are based on near real-time data, they might successfully preserve specific species in limited areas (i.e., small areas).

Including sea-level rise (SLR) projections in planning and implementing coastal adaptation is crucial. Here we analyze the first global survey on the use of SLR projections for 2050 and 2100. Two-hundred and fifty-three coastal practitioners engaged in adaptation/planning from 49 countries provided complete answers to the survey which was distributed in nine languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. While recognition of the threat of SLR is almost universal, only 72% of respondents currently utilize SLR projections. Generally, developing countries have lower levels of utilization. There is no global standard in the use of SLR projections: for locations using a standard data structure, 53% are planning using a single projection, while the remainder are using multiple projections, with 13% considering a low-probability high-end scenario. Countries with histories of adaptation and consistent national support show greater assimilation of SLR projections into adaptation decisions. This research provides new insights about current planning practices and can inform important ongoing efforts on the application of the science that is essential to the promotion of effective adaptation.

Common marine spatial planning challenges include lack of data on the marine environment, high mobility of both animals and humans, and plan implementation challenges including lack enforcement and compliance with regulations along with monitoring deficiencies. These can be potentially addressed using geospatial technologies (GTs) such as remote sensing, GPS and GIS. This research presents geospatial tools that are available for the process of developing, implementing, and monitoring marine spatial plans. Tools include satellites and water-based platforms carrying various sensors and receivers for environmental ocean data, vessel tracking and animal telemetry via multispectral, acoustic, radar, and other means. Planners and ocean managers might not always be aware of technological solutions available for the development and implementation of marine spatial plans. Here, urgent planning needs, summarized from various publications, are linked to GTs solutions published in relevant literature between the years 2015–2020. The GTs were used for data collection, dynamic human activities’ management, environmental monitoring and enforcement, all as required by marine spatial plans. This paper concludes with insights into GT solutions that can enhance the process of evidence-based management and spatial planning in marine environments.

Studying perceptions about reuse of alternative water sources informs about conditions necessary for transition to large-scale decentralized water reuse. We administered a perceptions survey to the public based on results of initial open interviews of water management experts in Israel. Experts indicated their views on impediments to widespread household water reuse which became the basis for developing the questionnaire. The latter aimed to understand views among the general public of: (a) willingness to adopt reuse practices from three sources: greywater, air conditioner condensate and roof-harvested rainwater; and (b) preferences for targeted use of these three types of reused water. The survey elicited 372 responses. A maximum-likelihood regression analysis was conducted using independent variables (i.e., demographic characteristics, individual positions regarding the state of the country's water resources and plans for the provision of domestic water (i.e., desalination), knowledge of the reuse practices and views about risks from various uses of the reused water, including off-premise uses). Willingness to implement reuse practices served as the dependent variable. We found that respondents indicating that they heard of the reuse of the particular types of reuse practices (variable: ‘Knowledge’) was the most significant of the independent variables for all three alternative water sources. Also, using an analytic hierarchy process, we determined that health risks were much more important when compared to convenience of use and costs under hypothetical scenarios of both moderate and significant savings in monthly water expenditures.