Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Students’ perspectives on sustainable development goals in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Leal, Susana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses

In this paper, we present a research about the understanding of sustainable development (SD) among students of public higher education institutions, in Portugal. It explores the students’ perspectives about SD through the analysis of their attitudes, skills and experiences on the theme. Their knowledge about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their opinion about the importance of SD as future professionals were also under consideration. The research design of the study follows a descriptive and exploratory approach with a quantitative reporting of results. It was used an on-line questionnaire, adapted from the National Union Students (2018), Chuvieco et al. (2018) and Dagiliūtė et al. (2018). A sample of 1257 students from the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) was obtained. In general, the results show that students have knowledge about environmental issues. Students study, at different degrees, subjects related to SD and SDGs, however participation and involvement is lacking. It is urgent to introduce SD education in all curricula. In addition, most students already have heard about SDGs and know what they are, however, only a small number of students are actively involved in activities organized by their HEIs. Students also consider that secondary education was the educational path that most encouraged to think and act in ways that help the environment and people. Students consider that HEIs can do more in terms of education for SD. From a global perspective, this study corroborate the three previous studies, namely the factors associated to more pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours are still poorly understood. This research has a national scope and the results should be interpreted only in the Portuguese context. Future studies should include a larger range of institutional actors within the faculty. The study helps to better understand the students’ perceptions about SD and the role of HEIs to improve it, namely in Portugal where the studies about the theme are scarce. The results could be used by HEIs to introduce the SD topics in formal and informal education, as well as to improve it integration on campus activities.

2020Conference object

Restricted access

Marine recreational fishing in Portugal: current knowledge, challenges, and future perspectives

Publication . Diogo, Hugo; Veiga, Pedro; Pita, Cristina; Sousa, A.; Lima, David; Pereira, João Gil; Gonçalves, Jorge M.S.; Erzini, Karim; Rangel, Mafalda

Marine recreational fishing (MRF) in Portugal is a traditional leisure activity with considerable importance for coastal populations. In the absence of available information from the national data collection framework, this article aims to review the existing information on MRF across the country. MRF was an open access fishery until recently, but with rising evidence of overexploitation of coastal resources, a precautionary approach was imposed topdown, without consulting recreational fishers. In Portugal, the MRF participation rate is comparable to the European average (2%). The most important fishing mode (according to the official issued licenses) is shore angling. Mainland Portugal marine recreational catches (0.8% of total commercial landings) are likely underestimated, while the estimate for the Azores (6% of total commercial landings) is probably closer to the national reality. The Portuguese MRF sector faces several challenges, including: (1) the need for a definition of a national data collection framework; (2) the inclusion of MRF harvest estimates in stock assessments for key captured species; (3) management approaches which also take into account the ecosystem approach to fisheries and any potential effects of climate change; (4) additional research on post-release mortalities for the most important MRF species; and (5) a stronger involvement of all stakeholders in the decision-making process of MRF. The latter would be critical to improve the adequacy of regulations to the MRF reality, mitigate conflicts with other sectors (e.g., commercial fishing), and potentially increase fishers compliance.

2020Journal article

Open access

Trophic web structure and ecosystem attributes of a temperate coastal lagoon

Publication . Bueno-Pardo, Juan; García-Seoane, Eva; Sousa, Ana I.; Coelho, João P.; Morgado, Mariana; Frankenbach, Silja; Ezequiel, João; Vaz, Nuno; Quintino, Victor; Rodrigues, Ana M.; Leandro, Sérgio; Luis, António; Serôdio, João; Cunha, Marina R.; Calado, António J.; Lillebø, Ana; Rebelo, José E.; Queiroga, Henrique

A high quality data collection has been carried out between 2004 and 2014 to develop the first trophic ECOPATH model for the functioning of the sub and intertidal zones of Ria de Aveiro. This schematic representation allows the characterization of the most important compartments of biomass and flows of energy representing the functioning of the ecosystem, and can be used in the fields of decision-making and management. The model considered 26 functional groups from primary producers to top-predators and two different fisheries (artisanal and leisure), and showed that Ria de Aveiro is a dynamic ecosystem dominated by a high biomass of primary producers, where the transference of energy among compartments is, to a large extent, accomplished through the detritus path. The model also provides several ecological indicators on the state of maturity of the ecosystem, showing that Ria de Aveiro is in an intermediate state of maturity with a relatively complex food web and resilience to environmental changes. As discussed, this state of maturity is probably determined by human action pervading the system to advance in the expectable ecological succession of a coastal lagoon. These aspects, together with indicators of elevated fishing pressure and predation within the system, underline the necessity of controlling illegal extraction activities and monitoring the biomass of the main functional groups of the system, especially top predators, in order to keep the functioning of the ecosystem of Ria de Aveiro in its current condition.

2018Journal article

Restricted access

Students’ perspectives on sustainable development goals in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Leal, Susana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses

2020Conference object

Restricted access

A student perspective on sustainable development in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Azeiteiro, Ulisses M.; Leal, Susana

This study presents a descriptive and exploratory research about the understanding of sustainable development (SD) among public higher education institutions’ students, in Portugal. It explores the student’s perspectives about SD through the analysis of their attitudes, skills and experiences on the theme. Their knowledge about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their opinion about the importance of SD as future professionals were also under consideration. The research design of the study follows a descriptive and exploratory approach with a quantitative reporting of results. It was used an on-line questionnaire, adapted, majority, from the National Union Students (2018), to obtain the data. A sample of 1257 students from the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) was obtained. Students consider that HEIs can do more in terms of education for SD, namely: (i) offer free SD courses/workshops; (ii) streamline/develop actions on SD; (iii) encourage volunteer actions in the community, and (iv) promote student participation in practical on-campus actions. Students also consider that secondary education was the educational path that most encouraged to think and act in ways that help the environment and people. Most students already have heard about SDGs and know what they are, however, only a small number of students are actively involved in activities organized by their HEI. This research has a national scope and the results should be interpreted only in the Portuguese context. Future studies should include a larger range of institutional actors within the faculty. The research aimed to better understanding student’s attitudes, skills and experiences of SD and SDG´s. This study provides valuable insights for future implementation processes supporting the integration to sustainability in HEIs. The results could be used by HEIs to introduce the SD topics in formal and informal education, as well as to improve it integration on campus activities.

2020Conference object

Restricted access