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This paper aims to determine the implications of Covid-19 on the livelihood of marine fishermen. It gives a concrete picture of how vulnerable communities like marine fishermen are affected due to the lockdown policies. The paper examines these communities' present status and the extent of vulnerability during the post-Covid period.

The study uses an exploratory research design to find the solution to the research problem. 298 samples were collected and analysed within a sustainable livelihood theoretical framework. The scope of the study is limited to marine fishermen in Kerala, residing in six districts out of the nine coastal districts. The impact of the lockdown on income was analysed using paired t-test and results linked with the theory.

The study has done an empirical analysis for three periods: before lockdown, lockdown and after lockdown, to identify the impact of lockdown on marine fishermen. The study's significant findings are that these fishermen's livelihood is at risk during the post-lockdown period, and many families are moving into a “debt-trap”.

Policymakers can develop appropriate policy strategies to enhance the livelihood assets of vulnerable communities to include them in a sustainable framework.

Only a few studies are highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable communities in India. The effects of climate change on the marine ecosystem are already endangering marine fisher folks' livelihoods. In this light, it is vital to study the extent of the impact of income shock on the livelihood assets of marine fishermen due to the lockdown policy implemented in the State to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0192

This study aims to explore how operational resilience can be achieved within supply ecosystems in the delicate yet harsh natural environments of the Arctic.

An in-depth, multiple qualitative case study of offshore supply operations in Arctic oil and gas field projects is conducted. Data from semi-structured interviews, personal observations and archival materials are analysed through institutional work and logics approaches.

The findings suggest that achieving social-ecological resilience depends on the interaction between social and natural (irreversible) systems, which are shaped and influenced by various institutional dynamics. Different resilience solutions were detected.

This study develops a comprehensive understanding of how social-ecological resilience emerges in supply ecosystems through institutional dynamics. The study’s empirical basis is limited to offshore oil and gas projects in the Arctic. However, due to anticipated future growth of Arctic economic activities, other types of supply ecosystems may benefit from the study’s results.

This research contributes with empirical knowledge about how social-ecological resilience is created through institutional interaction within supply ecosystems to prevent disruptions of both social and ecological ecosystems under the harsh natural conditions of the Arctic.

The aim of this paper was to analyze the role of the Cooperative of Farmers and Fishermen of the Lago do Cuniã Extractive Reserve (COOPCUNIÃ) in the inclusion of residents in the caiman meat value chain in Porto Velho, Brazil.

A total of six interviews were conducted with key actors to investigate the research problem in the Lago do Cuniã EXRES, namely the president and project advisor of the cooperative, two extractivist members of the cooperative and two non-member residents. The key actors were selected based on the following criteria: being over 18 years old, residing within the reserve and having participated in some stage of the caiman meat value chain.

The results demonstrate that the cooperative contributes to the inclusion of extractivist residents in the value chain, income generation and poverty reduction, enabling the production and marketing of caiman meat. Additionally, it overcomes challenges and improves the quality of life of the local population.

This study emphasizes the social and economic benefits for isolated regions with low productive development. For public policymakers, the results demonstrate that inclusion has enabled access to technology and markets. For the cooperative, it showcases actions oriented towards development, social inclusion and quality of life.

The originality of the article lies in the analysis of the role of a value chain within an environmental protection area in the Amazon, balancing economic, social and environmental factors.

O objetivo foi analisar o papel da Cooperativa dos Agricultores e Pescadores da Reserva Extrativista Lago do Cuniã (COOPCUNIÃ) na inclusão dos moradores na cadeia de valor da carne de jacaré em Porto Velho, Brasil.

Foram realizadas 06 (seis) entrevistas com atores-chave para investigar o problema de pesquisa na RESEX Lago do Cuniã, a saber: o presidente e o assessor de projetos da cooperativa, dois extrativistas cooperados e dois moradores não cooperados. Os atores-chave foram selecionados com base nos seguintes critérios: ser maior de 18 anos, residir na reserva e ter participado de alguma etapa da cadeia de valor da carne de jacaré.

Os resultados demonstram que a cooperativa contribui para a inclusão dos extrativistas na cadeia de valor, com a geração de renda e redução da pobreza, viabilizando a produção e comercialização da carne de jacaré. Além disso, supera desafios e melhora a qualidade de vida da população local.

Este estudo enfatiza os benefícios sociais e econômicos para regiões isoladas e com baixo desenvolvimento produtivo. Para os formuladores de políticas públicas, os resultados demonstram que a inclusão possibilitou o acesso à tecnologia e aos mercados. Para a cooperativa, mostra ações voltadas para o desenvolvimento, inclusão social e qualidade de vida.

A originalidade do artigo está na análise do papel de uma cadeia de valor dentro de uma área de proteção ambiental na Amazônia, equilibrando fatores econômicos, sociais e ambientais.

As the global push for renewable energy intensifies, it becomes imperative to critically assess the socio-territorial repercussions of some of these initiatives in local communities and their environments. The emergence of certain “eco-blind projects” serves as a reminder of situations where innovative modern solutions, although environmentally friendly, fail to acknowledge and safeguard territorial identity and the surrounding landscape. Within this comprehensive framework, the chapter emphasizes the pressing need to strike a delicate equilibrium between the pursuit of energy transition goals and the preservation of local traditions, and ecosystems. By considering the socio-territorial ramifications and fostering community engagement, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders can collectively chart a path that leads toward a more sustainable and inclusive renewable energy landscape. This approach encapsulates not only the imperative of curbing climate change and alleviating energy poverty but also the crucial task of upholding the identity of local communities and safeguarding the irreplaceable natural and cultural resources that form the bedrock of their territory.

The purpose of this paper is to model a process for moving toward sustainable ecosystem service decisions in a Coastal Biodiversity and discuss the directions of the process for decision-makers to apply in ocean ecosystem services.

After the development of theoretical approaches to understand their prospects for the future development of ecosystem services, the authors worked on a process for developing factors for sustainable decision-making. It uses the Delphi method to develop all the factors supported by six dimensions in two specific moments: deductive-inductive and inductive-deductive.

This process of modeling the factors expands the possibility of adaptive governance to make prior and subsequent decisions using factors related to dimensions, stakeholders and benefits, risks, opportunities and costs.

Considering the limitations, future studies could use another database to widen the view in terms of the studies, factors, dimensions and other additional information to maintain the evolution of this process in ocean ecosystem services decision-making. Another limitation arose in the number of projects and experts defining the factors. This may prevent the opportunity to have more impact in terms of future decisions if more sources are used in the market. In addition, time and the access to experts during this modeling process demonstrate a limitation, as does the time for feedback.

This set of factors developed for adaptive governance decision-making can be applied to develop a prior alignment of stakeholder interests with sustainable practices.

This set of factors developed with the intervention of experts reinforces the importance of sustainable collective decisions on ocean ecosystem services. This is a joint approach with participants in the NextOcean project, sponsored by the European Commissions (EC)’s Horizon 2020 program. An Earth Observation-based Consortia aims to create sustainable value for Space, Land and Oceans.

This modeling process generated dimensions and factors to support adaptive governance stakeholders in making sustainable decisions in a coastal biodiversity zone.

In an urban environment, different types of actors (individuals, households, community groups, institutions, governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO) and public and private organizations, etc.) play critical roles in enhancing urban resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change. To identify and prioritize aspects of climate resilience planning, this study aims to examine the potential impacts of climate change on diverse urban systems and evaluate the capacities of various actors to adapt to climatic stress.

This research selects Mongla, a coastal as well as port town in south-western Bangladesh that faces climate risks including frequent cyclones, storm surges and salinity intrusion due to sea-level and temperature rise, as reported in the National Climate Vulnerability Index 2018. This research uses the methodology proposed by ICLEI South Asia’s Climate Resilient Cities Action Plan and accesses different urban actors’ adaptive capacity for contributing to enhancing climate resilience based on three broad characteristics: the capacity to organize and respond, availability of resources and access to information. The cumulative scores of these characteristics aid in determining the climate adaptive capacity of each urban actor.

The identified 53 actors are grouped into four categories: government (local and national); international/local NGOs, CBOs and associations; community representatives and private sectors and groups and individuals. The group of NGOs, CBOs and associations has a higher overall adaptive potential than all other actor groups, according to the study. When it comes to practicing adaptive capacity, government institutions are in the second-highest position. But, the Khulna development authority, the government agency that is in charge of overseeing all forms of urban development, scored poorly on all fragile urban systems. However, the performance of the fourth group of urban actors is very subpar when it comes to adapting to climatic stress, which emphasizes the need for focused interventions.

Variations in adaptive capacities to climate change across different actors are particularly useful for targeting actors with lower levels of climate adaptive capacities in Mongla town.

This paper particularly addresses the research gap in assessing the adapting capacity of urban actors in Mongla port-town. Policymakers and practitioners can create and carry out targeted interventions that address the particular needs and concerns of vulnerable actors by making use of the insights obtained from this kind of study, thereby assisting in the development of climate resilience in any urban area.

This case study is designed to enable students to understand the demand for flexible containment products in India, understand the need for a joint venture (JV) with an international company, assess Agastya Inventions Private Limited’s (AIPL) cost and benefits of acceptance of the JV offer, evaluate the growth possibilities in the Indian biogas sector, and conduct the valuation of AIPL for its better positioning during the JV deal.

The case study is about the dilemma faced by Prantik Sinha, co-founder and director of Indian company AIPL, to accept or decline a JV offer from a French industrial conglomerate Serge Ferrari Group SA (SFG). AIPL is a leading manufacturer and trader of biogas storage tanks, water storage tanks, airlifting bags, floating boom barriers, trash floating boom barriers and inflatable swimming pools. The company adopts business-to-business and direct-to-customer business models. It develops products as per clients’ specifications and their exact requirements. In 2022, SFG proposed collaborating with AIPL to market its biogas digesters in India and abroad. As per the partnership deal, AIPL needed to split its biogas digester portfolio and sell it to the proposed JV for a specific one-time value. Sinha believed that the JV was an opportunity to scale the business globally and would likely shape the company’s future. However, he was in a quandary about making a final decision on accepting the JV offer because biogas digesters remained the company’s highest revenue-generating product portfolio. It was against this backdrop, what would Sinha do to accomplish his business objective and protect the interest of the company? The case study highlights Sinha’s commitment to nurture and expand AIPL’s business in India and beyond. It provides ample scope for students to analyze the pros and cons of AIPL’s JV initiative with SFG and suggest whether the company can leverage this offer for business growth.

This case study is meant for MBA-level students as part of their strategic management and financial management curriculum.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 1: Accounting and finance

Through a comprehensive examination of the significance of conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources, this chapter sheds light on how such endeavors contribute to sustainable development across social, economic, and environmental realms. Drawing on a plethora of case studies and analyses, the chapter also underscores the central role of marine ecosystems in supporting livelihoods, cultural identities, and economic growth. It showcases how tailored conservation strategies, rooted in the unique territorial identities of places, can yield better outcomes. By recognizing the intrinsic value of marine ecosystems and their interconnectedness with human well-being, the chapter underscores the urgency of collaborative efforts to achieve SDG 14, which seeks to establish a harmonious coexistence between humanity and the oceans for present and future generations.

Marine seaweeds, characterised by high-valued bioactive compounds, are used worldwide for several applications, including human food, animal feed, pharmaceutics and cosmetics, bioplastics, agricultural fertilisers, biofuels, and others. Seaweed production can be carried out through different approaches, from on-land or sea-based cultivation to the harvesting of wild stocks. The latter can be of particular importance in the case of seasonal algal over-proliferations, often caused by eutrophic conditions associated with intensive human industrial activities, and which wreak havoc with ecosystem functioning and hinder economic activities. In Europe, Italy experiences seaweed blooms in several coastal basins, such as the Lagoon of Venice and the Lagoon of Orbetello (Tuscany). Here, the proliferating seaweed represents a disturbance to the natural ecosystem and to local business and touristic activities. These biomasses hold no economic value in the country and are systemically removed and disposed of. Re-purposing the biomass to produce seaweed-derived commercial goods would provide benefits for the environment and local economic activities while promoting a sustainable business within a Circular Economy framework and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals number 12 (‘Responsible consumption and production’), and number 14 (‘Life under water’), among others.