Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Theses/Dissertations

Theses and Major Papers

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year

Articles 1 - 30 of 403

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

On The Management Of Blue Marlin And White Marlin In The Atlantic: Implications For Foreign Longlining And Domestic Sportsfishing, Tundi M. Agardy Jun 2011

On The Management Of Blue Marlin And White Marlin In The Atlantic: Implications For Foreign Longlining And Domestic Sportsfishing, Tundi M. Agardy

Theses and Major Papers

The twentieth century has wjtnessed the exponential growth of world-wide populations, and with it the over-exploitation of previously abundant resources. The limits inherent in terrestrial food production have necessitated increased utilization of wor1d marine resources. Improved technology has enabled fishing fleets to harvest with a level of efficiency that in many cases has endangered the existence of commercial fishstocks. In the northwestern Atlantic, the price of ever-increasing harvesting has been the near decimation of several species. Haddock, herring and bluefin tuna are only a few stocks which have suffered from over-fishing. Blue marlin and white marlin are two species which …

Go to article

An Analysis Of A Management Case: Green Hill Beach Development Of The Rhode Island Coastal Zone, John R. Braddon Jun 2011

An Analysis Of A Management Case: Green Hill Beach Development Of The Rhode Island Coastal Zone, John R. Braddon

Theses and Major Papers

One of the most valuable and misused assets possessed by the United States is the rich and highly varied coastal zone. The genesis of much of our material wealth and the basis for success of the early colonies has been our national fascination with the sea. As our industry and population have expanded, the coastal zone has been neglected seriously to the detriment of both current and future generations of Americans. Abuse of the coastal zone stems from employing it as a dumping ground, using the rivers flowing into it for effluent disposal and haphazard, poorly planned development. Since the …

Go to article

Comparative Costs Of Competitive Shipping, Stephen E. Donlon Jun 2011

Comparative Costs Of Competitive Shipping, Stephen E. Donlon

Theses and Major Papers

During the mid-sixties, shipping lines operating on most of the world's main trade routes have abandoned the break-bulk handling methods employed since 1900. The two main drawbacks that are association with traditional handling methods are: too much time is spent by vessels in port because of the limited speed of manual handling systems; and high labor costs. Containerization is one means to permit vessels to spend much more time at sea earning revenue; and it also reduces the dependencies of the vessel on dockside work forces.

Go to article

The Evolution Of International Fisheries Management In The North Pacific Ocean And Prospects For The Future, Paul Augustus Flynn Jan 1996

The Evolution Of International Fisheries Management In The North Pacific Ocean And Prospects For The Future, Paul Augustus Flynn

Theses and Major Papers

The abundant resources of the North Pacific Ocean have been the subject of international disputes and negotiations through the 20th century. The management of species which range throughout this vast area, are not under the jurisdiction of a single state. That fact has required the establishment of a framework in which allocation and conservation measures can be researched and agreed upon. This has been accomplished through various multilateral and bilateral agreements. From the voluntary Japanese suspension of a directed salmon fishery off the coast of Alaska in 1938 to recently completed multilateral treaties, significant advances have been made in Pacific …

Go to article

A Policy Analysis Of The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act Of 1988, Peter Decola Jan 1996

A Policy Analysis Of The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act Of 1988, Peter Decola

Theses and Major Papers

During the mid-1980's, the crisis in marine insurance and growing concern over fishing vessel safety combined to stimulate passage of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. This law was enacted with the goal of improving the overall safety of commercial fishing industry vessels. However, the Act as passed by Congress contained no provisions for marine insurance reform. As a result, the commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act offered little incentive for the industry to improve upon its dubious safety record. With the exception of self-insurance clubs, the vast burden of implementing the Act has fallen upon the …

Go to article

International Organizations And Tuna Management; Problems And Future Prospects, Yuh-Chen Chern Jan 1996

International Organizations And Tuna Management; Problems And Future Prospects, Yuh-Chen Chern

Theses and Major Papers

A large number of marine species migrate within and without national jurisdictions and a small number occur entirely outside any national jurisdiction. Thus, the species migrating through waters under the jurisdiction of coastal states to high seas beyond the jurisdiction of any single state are defined as highly migratory species (HMS). International organizations play a key role in the management of highly migratory species. Most of the international organizations concerned with HMS focus on tuna management.

Go to article

Sacrificing Conservation For Pesos: An Analysis Of Select Marine Fisheries In The Political Environment Of Mexico, Sephen W. Bourgeois Jr. Jan 1996

Sacrificing Conservation For Pesos: An Analysis Of Select Marine Fisheries In The Political Environment Of Mexico, Sephen W. Bourgeois Jr.

Theses and Major Papers

The decline of most Mexican fisheries has occurred so rapidly that few Mexicans and Americans alike fully appreciate the loss. The major focus of this paper will examine the false impression that Mexico is engaging in marine conservation; in reality, its conservation efforts are responses to after-the-fact actions brought on by world critics and as a vehicle to pacify conservationists. The Mexican government can pass a law but lacks the resources to administer and enforce the law and subsequently manage its fisheries in an effective manner. Rather than survey the state of every fishery found in Mexican waters, this paper …

Go to article

Federal Legislation Needed To Improve Towing Vessel Safety, Paul J. Keenan Jr. Jan 1996

Federal Legislation Needed To Improve Towing Vessel Safety, Paul J. Keenan Jr.

Theses and Major Papers

To the casual observer, towing vessels and barges, with their low profile and unassuming presence, may seem to be an uninspiring and small part of the shipping scene. However, tank and dry cargo barges actually carry sixty-nine percent of our nation's domestic waterborne commerce. Regulations for large ships, especially oil tankers, have touched every aspect of the shipping industry, including naval architecture, engineering, damage control, manning, training, licensing, etc. Towing vessels and barges however, have largely managed to escape the proliferation of regulation. Current legislation does not provide for the inspection of sea-going towing vessels under three hundred gross tons …

Go to article

Democratization Of Ocean Research: A Model For The Post-Cold War Era?, Maureen A. Kennelly Jan 1996

Democratization Of Ocean Research: A Model For The Post-Cold War Era?, Maureen A. Kennelly

Theses and Major Papers

Since the end of World War II the field of oceanography has enjoyed the generous patronage of the federal government under the "social contract" model for the support of science. This model is based on the principles of freedom and autonomy for scientists, insulation of science from politics, and emphasis on basic research. With the recent ending of the Cold War, the simple science policies of the post-World War II years are being philosophically and politically challenged and the rationales for the support of science are being questioned. National security is no longer the driving force behind science funding in …

Go to article

Integration Of Natural Hazard Mitigation Into Municipal Harbor Management Plans In The United States, Frank J. Mcneilly Jan 1996

Integration Of Natural Hazard Mitigation Into Municipal Harbor Management Plans In The United States, Frank J. Mcneilly

Theses and Major Papers

Harbor management planning is a relatively new concept in this country. What is believed to be the first municipal level harbor management plan (HMP) in the United States originated from a need to resolve a problem of encroachments on a Federal navigation channel in Connecticut. This method of harbor planning was soon recognized as an effective management tool and was used as a model for other coastal communities in the Northeast. While early HMPs primarily focused on mooring management, today's plans address many more harbor issues. The Coastal Zone Management Act was intended to form a national coastal zone management …

Go to article

Trends In Abundance Of The Gulf Of Maine Population Of Harbor Porpoise, Paula Ann Olson Jan 1996

Trends In Abundance Of The Gulf Of Maine Population Of Harbor Porpoise, Paula Ann Olson

Theses and Major Papers

Hundreds of harbor porpoise die each year as bycatch in the Gulf of Maine's sink gillnet fishery. In recent years, concern has arisen whether the Gulf of Maine population of harbor porpoise can sustain this level of bycatch. It is believed that the population may have declined, or is declining as a result of the incidental moralities. This paper reviews what is known about Gulf of Maine harbor porpoise demographics and how that information is incorporated into the management of the porpoise/fishery interaction. Included in this paper is a new study on the trend of relative abundance of harbor porpoise …

Go to article

Protection Of Marine Fish Habitat: Towards An Integrated Approach To Management, Andrea L. Oliver Jan 1996

Protection Of Marine Fish Habitat: Towards An Integrated Approach To Management, Andrea L. Oliver

Theses and Major Papers

This paper focuses on the problems associated with marine fish habitat protection and conservation at the federal level in the United States. The intent of the study is to provide a general overview of the issues, impacts, management problems and potential solutions. Federal statutory legislation that impacts marine fish habitat and agency authority derived from those legislative mandates are examined with a view toward promoting integrated management for marine biodiversity and overall ecosystem health. The concepts of coordinated and integrated approaches to management are discussed in the context of the present management regimes. Given the fragmented authority over the policy …

Go to article

The Influence Of Sea Power Upon Oceanography: A Historical And Policy Analysis Of Governmental Support For Marine Science, Daniel Stuart Schwartz Jan 1996

The Influence Of Sea Power Upon Oceanography: A Historical And Policy Analysis Of Governmental Support For Marine Science, Daniel Stuart Schwartz

Theses and Major Papers

In a time of austere funding for national ocean science R & D programs and Congressional balanced budget constraints, marine science investigators and program managers must increasingly ponder how committed to the support of oceanography our government will continue to be. The questions might better be phrased as how, in the absence of a credible open-ocean naval threat (the traditional focus of both basic and applied research), will policy makers justify the expenditure of scarce public revenues on marine science programs? Sea Power-as broadly defined in the works of Alfred Thayer Mahan and Sergei Gorshkov-has driven, and will continue to …

Go to article

Applying The Concept Of Recreational Specialization To Rhode Island Alliance Anglers, Eric Asadorian Jan 1996

Applying The Concept Of Recreational Specialization To Rhode Island Alliance Anglers, Eric Asadorian

Theses and Major Papers

Many recreationally popular marine species of fish are at or near historic lows in terms of their overall numbers. Many of these species, such as cod, summer flounder, winter flounder, and bluefish, are also commercially valuable. Fishery managers must be able to make allocation and management decisions that both protect the resource and maintain user satisfaction. The basis for achieving this goal lies in the understanding of what the users expectations, satisfactions and perceptions are related to their marine recreational fishing experience. It is often the case that a population of anglers are managed as a homogeneous group, with similar …

Go to article

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs: An Assessment Of Public Participation As A Means Of Fostering Environmental Stewardship, Christopher Damon Jan 1996

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs: An Assessment Of Public Participation As A Means Of Fostering Environmental Stewardship, Christopher Damon

Theses and Major Papers

Volunteer water quality monitoring organizations from across the country were surveyed (n=516) to determine the relationship between public involvement and the generation of stewardship within the community. Program coordinators were asked first to rate the level of stewardship values within the community, and then respond to questions covering four broad areas of public involvement: pre-existing conditions, public education, volunteer behavior, and communal involvement. For each question, organizations were aggregated by response, and a frequency analysis was performed to discover the most common responses in each of the four public involvement categories. the mean of perceived stewardship values was graphed as …

Go to article

Limits To Private Aquaculture On Cape Cod, Kevin Robert Cute Jan 1996

Limits To Private Aquaculture On Cape Cod, Kevin Robert Cute

Theses and Major Papers

This study examined the potential of social conflict related to private and public rights, to constrain aquaculture on Cape Cod. While the ability of social conflict to constrain aquaculture has been demonstrated in a few cases, its current potential to constrain aquaculture on Cape Cod had not been established prior to this study. This study was based on information gathered from town records and public hearings related to proposed aquaculture ventures. In addition, town officials were interviewed to obtain additional information related to cases. The finding of this study is that private riparian proprietors, and interests in shell-fishing tend to …

Go to article

Maritime Fisheries Enforcement Analysis Of The Nmfs Northeast Region, John Thomas Davis Jan 1996

Maritime Fisheries Enforcement Analysis Of The Nmfs Northeast Region, John Thomas Davis

Theses and Major Papers

The success or failure of fishery management plans (FMP's) is dependent upon many factors. One of those factors is the level of compliance to the regulations implementing the conservation and management decisions of the FMP's that is achieved. Although compliance with regulations does not guarantee the success of management efforts, failure to ensure adequate compliance with management objectives results in failed conservation and management efforts. Enforcement is a crucial element towards achieving conservation and management goals. The objective of this paper is to analyze the maritime fisheries enforcement system in the geographic bounds of the national marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) …

Go to article

Shoreline Setbacks Vs. Regulatory Takings Law In Massachusetts, Deborah Fraize Jan 1996

Shoreline Setbacks Vs. Regulatory Takings Law In Massachusetts, Deborah Fraize

Theses and Major Papers

this thesis examines whether the current shoreline setback scheme provided for under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act may be deemed unconstitutional under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution in light of recent holdings of the U.S. Supreme Court. In so doing, the thesis addresses what latitude regulators in Massachusetts may have under the merging case law. Because this area of law -- regulatory takings -- is still evolving, it was necessary to look at the evolution of the law in the U.S. Supreme Court and the Massachusetts appellate level courts. Research reveals that …

Go to article

A Partnership For Coral Reef Protection: A Case Study Of The International Coral Reef Initiative, Karla M. Boreri Jan 1996

A Partnership For Coral Reef Protection: A Case Study Of The International Coral Reef Initiative, Karla M. Boreri

Theses and Major Papers

Coral reef are considered the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on earth. They are a world-wide symbol of the economic and ecological importance of all types of coastal environments. The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was developed in 1994 to increase the awareness of the human and anthropogenic threats facing reefs. Initially a U.S.-focused initiative, ICRI now includes over 70 like-minded governments and a growing list of UN organizations, science and academic organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector as its partners. This qualitative case study was developed based on actual participation in the initiative and hundreds of pages of …

Go to article

The Role Of The Federal Aid In Sportfish Restoration Program In Promoting State Marine Artificial Reef Development Activities, Loren Clark Evans Jan 1996

The Role Of The Federal Aid In Sportfish Restoration Program In Promoting State Marine Artificial Reef Development Activities, Loren Clark Evans

Theses and Major Papers

The passage of the Wallop-Breaux Amendments to the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration Program (FASRP), in 1984, significantly increased the funding available to states participating in the Program. Subsequently, the FASRP became the largest single source of funding for state marine artificial reef development activities. In recent years, there has been concern among program constituents that FASRP funds are not being utilized as intended. The principle question of the current research focused on how effective FASRP subsidies have been in providing meaningful benefits to state fisheries management programs. Specifically, the research focused on the application of FASRP monies in promoting …

Go to article

The Cumulative Impacts Of Management Decisions On Nitrogen Loading To The Rhode Island Salt Ponds, Laura M. Ernst Jan 1996

The Cumulative Impacts Of Management Decisions On Nitrogen Loading To The Rhode Island Salt Ponds, Laura M. Ernst

Theses and Major Papers

Calculations and measurements of nitrogen in groundwater, stream flow and atmospheric deposition were used to see if the cumulative impacts of management decisions over a fifteen year period of time resulted in measurable changes in nitrogen loading to six of the salt ponds on the south shore of Rhode Island. The changes in the source and transmission of nitrogen were tested by comparing calculated and measured nitrogen data from 1980 and 1995. The calculated method included a nitrogen budget based on land-use and literature values for nitrogen loss to groundwater. The second method compared concentrations of nitrogen in groundwater taken …

Go to article

The Expanding Role Of State Government In Oil Pollution Prevention Through Regulation Of The Coastal Tug And Barge Industry, Elise Erica Golden Jan 1996

The Expanding Role Of State Government In Oil Pollution Prevention Through Regulation Of The Coastal Tug And Barge Industry, Elise Erica Golden

Theses and Major Papers

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was enacted by Congress in order to streamline the legislative and regulatory framework governing oil spill prevention, liability, and response. However, in the six years since this law was enacted, a proliferation of oil pollution prevention laws have been enacted at the state level. Many of these state laws directly target the oil transportation industry, and such legislation has ignited controversy among marine safety experts as to the appropriate role of state government in preventing oil spills through industry regulation. This thesis examines one such law, recently enacted by the State of Rhode Island …

Go to article

Massachusetts Angler Typologies: The Recreation Specialization Approach, Jonathan S. O'Neil Jan 1996

Massachusetts Angler Typologies: The Recreation Specialization Approach, Jonathan S. O'Neil

Theses and Major Papers

As the abundance of fish stocks in the Northeast continues to decline, the need to regulate the marine recreational catch is a topic receiving much attention. Yet, the move to manage recreational anglers' fishing activities raises a host of new questions. How should the resource be allocated among different groups of fishermen? Which group should take precedence over others; or should resources be divided equally among all? To manage the Massachusetts recreational fishery, many of these questions will have to be answered to ensure the success of conservation goals. With a comprehensive understanding of anglers and their relationship to fishery …

Go to article

Public Health Hazards Associated With The Consumption Of Molluscan Shellfish In The State Of Rhode Island, Jeffrey F. Nussbaum Jan 1996

Public Health Hazards Associated With The Consumption Of Molluscan Shellfish In The State Of Rhode Island, Jeffrey F. Nussbaum

Theses and Major Papers

The principal objective of this thesis was to descriptively and empirically assess shellfish consumption hazards in the state of Rhode Island and to evaluate the use of a shellfish hazard warning label to modify unsafe consumptive behaviors. To accomplish this task, three research problems were examined using a survey instrument. The survey instrument was a questionnaire which included both closed and open-ended questions. The survey questions were designed to identify four primary research variables; shellfish consumptive behaviors, consumer knowledge of shellfish hazards and related government advisories, perceptions of risk regarding personal shellfish consumption, and response to warning label information. The …

Go to article

The New Certificates Of Financial Responsibility: Environmental Progress Or National Economic Disaster?, Paul R. Younes Jan 1995

The New Certificates Of Financial Responsibility: Environmental Progress Or National Economic Disaster?, Paul R. Younes

Theses and Major Papers

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) is the first comprehensive oil spill legislation passed in the United States. Included in the law were new provisions governing the liability and financial responsibility of both the company responsible for the spill and the insurer. These provisions, while well-intentioned, have created a dangerous situation for both the environment and the economy of the United States. This paper will examine the financial responsibility and liability regime that was in place prior to the passage of OPA 90, and the provisions of OPA 90 that establish new requirements shipowners must meet to qualify …

Go to article

Management Of The Omani Abalone Haliotis Mariae: An Integrated Policy, Kadhim M. Al-Bahrani Jan 1995

Management Of The Omani Abalone Haliotis Mariae: An Integrated Policy, Kadhim M. Al-Bahrani

Theses and Major Papers

The Sultanate of Oman is a small coastal nation with a maritime history, regional trade and fisheries exploitation. Among those fishery industries is Oman's coastal abalone fishery, which command the highest prices per unit of weight among the other marine living resources. This study analyzes the fishery's biological aspects, structure, socioeconomic, policies, and management practices in an attempt to provide an understanding of the prime parameters, that in turn could be utilized for sound management purposes. it also provides a description of an integrated development and management policy for the abalone fishery. Finally, it is hoped that this research will …

Go to article

The National Marine Sanctuary Designation Process And Its Impact On Naval Operations, Gregory E. Bolan Jan 1995

The National Marine Sanctuary Designation Process And Its Impact On Naval Operations, Gregory E. Bolan

Theses and Major Papers

This paper addresses the basis of potential and real conflicts derived by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process, as identified within and between NOAA and the United States Navy. This conflict is often exacerbated due to either a lack of communication, coordination, or both. A recent proliferation of proposed and designated marine sanctuaries in traditional Naval operating areas has complicated or hindered Naval operations (or will) to a degree where EIS derived restrictions negatively impact the Naval operations, based on (1) response readiness, and (2) increased cost of operations. Two specific conflicts are examined in a case study approach …

Go to article

Dispersants For Oil Spill Response: Issues, Policy, And Planning Considerations, Tina M. Burke Jan 1995

Dispersants For Oil Spill Response: Issues, Policy, And Planning Considerations, Tina M. Burke

Theses and Major Papers

The purposes of this paper are four-fold. First, dispersant use as an oil spill response option and the issues surrounding dispersant use will be discussed. Second, the past dispersant use policy will be reviewed, as will the recent changes to the policy in terms of the attempt to make dispersants a viable response option in the United States. Third, the role of interest groups in oil spill response issues and the importance of including them in contingency planning efforts, specifically dispersant planning, will be discussed. Lastly, the results of the study to determine the involvement of interest groups in the …

Go to article

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Management, Jeffrey C. Fisher Jan 1995

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Management, Jeffrey C. Fisher

Theses and Major Papers

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and federal management under the U.S. National marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has certainly been contentious. Atlantic bluefin tuna have been managed at the international level by ICCAT for the past 25 years. NMFS is the organization responsible for implementing ICCAT recommended conservation and management measures in the United States. In an attempt to halt an apparent decline in the abundance of bluefin tuna in the western Atlantic, ICCAT has recommended strict management measures including catch quotas, minimum sizes, "no-sale" provisions, and spawning area protection since 1981. ICCAT had recommended in …

Go to article

The Use Of Targeting In Port State Control, Mary E. Landry Jan 1995

The Use Of Targeting In Port State Control, Mary E. Landry

Theses and Major Papers

This study will examine two separate, but related matters; (1) expansion of port State control through new treaties and international practice, and (2) the port State's use of targeting to focus its attention on substandard performance. It will also outline and clarify the practice of targeting which has been employed under several regional port State control agreements throughout the world. This study will examine targeting as an economic sanction; in essence, a coercive measure using financial disincentives to discourage substandard performance in the maritime community. Targeting was designed or developed as an economic sanction. Rather, it was marketed as a …

Go to article

Next Last