A sustainable development model for the coastal tourism and fishing industry

Our coasts are on the edge. With a global race being run to exploit coastal resources, we push these areas of economic, environmental, and social importance closer to the tipping point. Assuming these pressures will not subside in the foreseeable future, we must begin to identify and implement sustainable development strategies for the planet’s coastal areas if we’re to continue to enjoy the treasures they bring to society. One small piece of the puzzle is the creation of sustainable production methods and responsible consumption strategies. In Costa Rica fishers are using sustainable techniques to catch snappers. They then sell these snappers to local hotels whose guests are encouraged to participate in the purchase and consumption of a locally produced product. The project is being implemented in Costa Rica and has yielded sustainable fishing strategies and a responsible tourism industry that benefit one another in environmental protection efforts and the socioeconomic development of local residents. When replicated, the project will contribute to the sustainable development of entire coastlines.

Submitted by Andy Bystrom
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While coastal zones occupy less than 15% of Earth’s land surface, they are inhabited by nearly two thirds of the human population, making coastal development and urbanized seascapes inevitable. Marine infrastructures, such as coastal defence structures, marinas, and ports, are mainly composed of concrete, which is known as a poor substrate for biological recruitment. As a result, coastal development is considered the prime cause for habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and damaged ecosystem services. In order to solve the conflict between societal and environmental needs in coastal cones, ECOncrete™ presents an innovative yet simple solution; making coastal and marine infrastructures biologically and ecologically active without compromising their original function. By manipulating concrete infrastructures in three levels: concrete composition, surface texture and macro-design, we can elevate their ability to provide valuable ecosystem services by integrating nursing grounds, hubs for filter feeding organisms improving water quality, and shallow water habitats into the infrastructure. In addition, such ecological designs will increase the operational life span and stability of marine infrastructures by encouraging biogenic buildup that protects them from damages associated with aggressive salt-water environments. ECOncrete™ can reshape coastal and marine infrastructures worldwide and help bridge development and sustainability.

Submitted by Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel
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We are just truly beginning to understand the full impact that humans are having on the coasts. Our lack of information management and data sharing is severely crippling our ability to manage our impact on the oceans, shape effective ocean policy, maintain food security and fish sustainably. FishNET allows for a better understanding of location-specific threats, and allows for a more targeted response to address the monitoring, control, surveillance, and protection of ocean environments. Our solution integrates data between regions, countries, and organizations, which allows governments to benefit from collaborative protection efforts. It opens up additional avenues of reporting, and even allows dispersed communities to easily report offenses. This low-cost solution feeds into the various traditional protection activities, and new ones, to make them more targeted and effective. The tragedy of the commons can be seen, real-time, in areas where small-scale fishermen clash with unregulated industrial operations. They need a voice, enabled by technology, to protect the future of these ocean environments.

Submitted by Shah Selbe
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Sriya’s CS2 Process innovation has transformed the process of high temperature/energy synthesis of cement, ceramics, oxides to a low temperature energy surplus technology. Sriya has changed the science and the process of cement production for the 1st time since Romans first built paved roads 2000+ years ago. Our process enables rapid, economical conversion of 100 million GPD seawater into 80 MGD fresh water. 3000 TPD brine for production of alkali chemicals like Caustic, and Chlorine, 108 TPD cement, 10 MWH Green Power, 36 TPD Acids. CS2 Process will use 100% CO2 sequestration by dissolving the gases into sea water to produce natural limestone and Magnesium Carbonates for cement production, only Solar Energy and Biomass as Fuel Sources, Other natural materials like clay, slag etc and finally No fossil Fuels. There will be no mining or quarrying activity needed for cement that will protect the environment.

Submitted by Srinivas Kilambi
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Wind is the most powerful, the cheapest and greenest source of energy on the high seas.
With SkySails – an innovative propulsion technology based on large towing kites modern cargo ships can use the wind as a source of power – not only to lower fuel costs, but significantly reduce emission levels as well. The latest SkySails generation has a maximal propulsion power of 2 MW and can save up to 10 tons of oil and simultaneously 32 tons of CO2 per day. SkySails is the only wind propulsion system that can not only be installed on new builds, but retrofitted onto most existing cargo ships as well. It thus offers a solution that can make a major environmental impact: The international Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that up to 100 million tons of climate-damaging carbon emissions can be eliminated worldwide every year with the help of SkySails technology alone – an amount equivalent to 11% of Germany’s CO2 emissions.

Submitted by Sonja Schreiner
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Our oceans are in crisis. 80% of the population lives within 20 miles of our coasts, so that’s where the main impact is. Our coasts are not being managed properly due to a lack of information. The Rapid Assessment Towfish (RATFish) is a concept developed by MARE engineers and biologists to economically gather this critical underwater video and oceanographic information, in order to assess and monitor the health of our ocean, and to determine which management techniques work best.

Submitted by Dirk Rosen
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Mangroves are a key component of the coral reef ecosystem, as the breeding ground for reef fish and a sink for carbon dioxide. Despite their ecological and economic significance, mangroves are in severe decline.
Mangrove Action Project is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) that implements Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) worldwide, as published and demonstrated in Florida by Roy Robin Lewis III, Map’s Board Vice President. Reaching far beyond just planting of seedlings, EMR restores natural water flows, greatly increases the overall success rate for restoring large areas of degraded mangroves producing a biodiverse restoration with long term results. MAP experts train local community members to restore damaged mangroves. The goal is to restore full biodiversity to large degraded areas. This scientifically proven technique is presented to active mangrove managers at conferences to enlist and expand MAP’s network of restoration practitioners among co-managers, government, non-government, academic and local community-based organizations worldwide. The network spans 60 nations, 500 ngo’s and 350 scientists.
EMR entails six steps:
1. Understand individual species and community ecology at the site.
2. Understand the normal hydrology that controls establishment of mangrove species.
3. Assess environmental modifications that prevent natural succession.
4. Select cost effective appropriate restoration areas, with available labor, monitoring to meet goal, and secure land rights.
5. Design the restoration to restore appropriate hydrology and natural plant recruitment.
6. Work with communities to plant propagules only after exploring all previous steps and natural recruitment is not viable.

EMR is Shaping the Future of Our Coasts; it’s feasible and easily implemented.

Submitted by Alfredo Quarto
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Our solution helps ensure healthier oceans and coastlines. It provides a reliable, low cost, 24/7-unmanned eyes and ears along our coasts for enforcement of MPAs and other zones, oceanographic research and disaster assessment. The vessel developed by Marine Advanced Research, WAM-V® (or Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel) is the perfect solution for these needs. The WAM-V® has many technology advantages over existing platforms: modularity, low invasiveness, manageable cost, shock mitigation, sea-keeping, range and speed. The Navigator Award will help us add the missing link to a full solution: energy harvesting. With energy harvesting the WAM-V® will have unlimited endurance and station-keeping abilities in addition to speed. Savannah Ocean Exchange could play a pivotal role in the creation of a hybrid platform that can serve a critical set of needs.

Submitted by Isabella Conti
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