Yoshitaka Ota
Biographic Data
| ID | 6015909 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Yoshitaka Ota |
| GIVEN NAMES | Yoshitaka |
| FAMILY NAME | Ota |
| SIGNATURE | OTA Y |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Washington |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3478-2720 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 16 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Toxic tides of change: Ocean pollution as a cultural tipping point
This paper offers a new perspective on the valuation of the impacts of industrial ocean pollution. Rising levels of industrial pollutants have a profound impact on marine resource-dependent peoples, particularly those dependent on seafood consumption. We argue that current regulation of these pollutants is both insufficient and inequitable, as it only accounts for impacts on physical health while ignoring cultural implications. This paper introdu…
Introduction to the Special Issue: Marine plastic pollution is an equity issue
Social equity indicators for a Blue Economy: Guidelines for application
Social equity goals are specifically stated in most new ocean management and development plans, notably those aligned with a Blue Economy that recognizes the significant and rising inequities across ocean spaces and sectors. However, the deeper significance of social equity has still not been fully integrated in policy and management practices, which often ask why it is relevant and how it can be measured in ways comparable to more familiar ecolo…
Rethinking blue economy governance – A blue economy equity model as an approach to operationalise equity
The blue economy was originally conceptualised as having a strong focus on social equity; however, in practice, these equity considerations have been overshadowed by neo-liberal capitalist agendas, which have become dominant in blue economy discourse. A continued expansion of ocean industry developments and activities has resulted in an inequitable share of the burdens and benefits of utilising ocean spaces and has exacerbated wealth disparities …
Rethinking plastic realities in Ghana: A call for a well-being approach to understanding human-plastics entanglements for more equitable plastics governance
Plastics and plastic waste have emerged as one of the major challenges of the Anthropence, a so-called “wicked problem” complicated by a myriad of political, economic, cultural, and historical factors. The ubiquity of plastic waste has garnered increased attention from governments, non-profit organizations and the media, in turn expanding mitigative efforts. Yet much of this action has been ineffective, or in some cases, even harmful. Governance …
Enrollment, retention, and inclusivity of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelling certifications
Marine litter and social inequities entangle Ecuadorian mangrove communities: Perceptions of plastic pollution and well-being concerns in Puerto Hondo and Isla Santay, Ecuador
Decent work in fisheries: Current trends and key considerations for future research and policy
Labor issues and human rights violations have become the subject of rising concern in fisheries and seafood production. This paper reviews recent research on labor issues in the fishing industry, especially by environmental researchers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which are emerging as key players in research and policy arenas. Recent research has focused largely on severe violations such as forced labor, particularly in ‘hotspot’ geo…
A practical take on the duty to uphold human rights in seafood workplaces
Too many fishing crew have died aboard vessels known for fisheries crime. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ‘fundamental’ rights of all people working in the seafood sector and the business duty to prevent rights violations, as it is organized as minimum workplace procedures that are legally-established in international law, in customary use and effective. The authours searched for workplace guidance for respecting rights and…
Enabling conditions for an equitable and sustainable blue economy
Global decline in capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services
Pathways to sustaining tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies during climate change
Climate-driven redistribution of tuna threatens to disrupt the economies of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and sustainable management of the world’s largest tuna fishery. Here we show that by 2050, under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), the total biomass of three tuna species in the waters of ten Pacific SIDS could decline by an average of 13% (range = −5% to −20%) due to a greater proportion of fish occurring in…
Changing the narrative on fisheries subsidies reform: Enabling transitions to achieve SDG 14.6 and beyond
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is in the final stages of negotiating an agreement to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies, thereby achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.6. An effective agreement should be viewed as an opportunity for nations to proactively transition towards sustainable and equitable fisheries and pave the path for other SDGs. Supporting fishers does not require harmful subsidies, and we provide evidence-based op…
Considering Indigenous Peoples and local communities in governance of the global ocean commons
The United Nations are currently negotiating a new international legally-binding instrument to govern the global ocean commons, a vast area beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) owned by everyone but not cared for by any single entity. Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) have been underrepresented in the debate about governance of ABNJ despite their internationally recognized rights and their role as custodians of many globally-signifi…
The Retail Food Sector and Indigenous Peoples in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review
Indigenous Peoples in high-income countries experience higher burdens of food insecurity, obesity, and diet-related health conditions compared to national averages. The objective of this systematic scoping review is to synthesize information from the published literature on the methods/approaches, findings, and scope for research and interventions on the retail food sector servicing Indigenous Peoples in high-income countries. A structured litera…
Climate impacts on the ocean are making the Sustainable Development Goals a moving target travelling away from us
Climate change is impacting marine ecosystems and their goods and services in diverse ways, which can directly hinder our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set out under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through expert elicitation and a literature review, we find that most climate change effects have a wide variety of negative consequences across marine ecosystem services, though most studies have highlighted…
A rapid assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs among Sustainable Development Goals
Achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) results in many ecological, social, and economic consequences that are inter-related. Understanding relationships between sustainability goals and determining their interactions can help prioritize effective and efficient policy options. This paper presents a framework that integrates existing knowledge from literature and expert opinions to rapidly assess the relationships bet…
An ocean of surprises – Trends in human use, unexpected dynamics and governance challenges in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Fluid Bodies in the Sea: An Ethnography of Underwater Spear Gun Fishing in Palau, Micronesia
Underwater spear gun fishing is the most popular fishing method used in indigenous inshore fishing in Palau, West Micronesia. Two major characteristics of this method are: first, the opportunity offered to fishermen to enter and experience another sphere of the seascape, the underwater world; and, second, the extreme physical challenge involved in the fishermen's constant bodily movement in and under the water. Fishermen skin-dive deep into coral…
An ocean of surprises – Trends in human use, unexpected dynamics and governance challenges in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Rethinking blue economy governance – A blue economy equity model as an approach to operationalise equity
The blue economy was originally conceptualised as having a strong focus on social equity; however, in practice, these equity considerations have been overshadowed by neo-liberal capitalist agendas, which have become dominant in blue economy discourse. A continued expansion of ocean industry developments and activities has resulted in an inequitable share of the burdens and benefits of utilising ocean spaces and has exacerbated wealth disparities …
Fluid Bodies in the Sea: An Ethnography of Underwater Spear Gun Fishing in Palau, Micronesia
Underwater spear gun fishing is the most popular fishing method used in indigenous inshore fishing in Palau, West Micronesia. Two major characteristics of this method are: first, the opportunity offered to fishermen to enter and experience another sphere of the seascape, the underwater world; and, second, the extreme physical challenge involved in the fishermen's constant bodily movement in and under the water. Fishermen skin-dive deep into coral…
Pathways to sustaining tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies during climate change
Climate-driven redistribution of tuna threatens to disrupt the economies of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and sustainable management of the world’s largest tuna fishery. Here we show that by 2050, under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), the total biomass of three tuna species in the waters of ten Pacific SIDS could decline by an average of 13% (range = −5% to −20%) due to a greater proportion of fish occurring in…
Fluid Bodies in the Sea: An Ethnography of Underwater Spear Gun Fishing in Palau, Micronesia
Underwater spear gun fishing is the most popular fishing method used in indigenous inshore fishing in Palau, West Micronesia. Two major characteristics of this method are: first, the opportunity offered to fishermen to enter and experience another sphere of the seascape, the underwater world; and, second, the extreme physical challenge involved in the fishermen's constant bodily movement in and under the water. Fishermen skin-dive deep into coral…
An ocean of surprises – Trends in human use, unexpected dynamics and governance challenges in areas beyond national jurisdiction
A rapid assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs among Sustainable Development Goals
Achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) results in many ecological, social, and economic consequences that are inter-related. Understanding relationships between sustainability goals and determining their interactions can help prioritize effective and efficient policy options. This paper presents a framework that integrates existing knowledge from literature and expert opinions to rapidly assess the relationships bet…
Climate impacts on the ocean are making the Sustainable Development Goals a moving target travelling away from us
Climate change is impacting marine ecosystems and their goods and services in diverse ways, which can directly hinder our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set out under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through expert elicitation and a literature review, we find that most climate change effects have a wide variety of negative consequences across marine ecosystem services, though most studies have highlighted…
Changing the narrative on fisheries subsidies reform: Enabling transitions to achieve SDG 14.6 and beyond
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is in the final stages of negotiating an agreement to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies, thereby achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.6. An effective agreement should be viewed as an opportunity for nations to proactively transition towards sustainable and equitable fisheries and pave the path for other SDGs. Supporting fishers does not require harmful subsidies, and we provide evidence-based op…
Considering Indigenous Peoples and local communities in governance of the global ocean commons
The United Nations are currently negotiating a new international legally-binding instrument to govern the global ocean commons, a vast area beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) owned by everyone but not cared for by any single entity. Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) have been underrepresented in the debate about governance of ABNJ despite their internationally recognized rights and their role as custodians of many globally-signifi…
The Retail Food Sector and Indigenous Peoples in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review
Indigenous Peoples in high-income countries experience higher burdens of food insecurity, obesity, and diet-related health conditions compared to national averages. The objective of this systematic scoping review is to synthesize information from the published literature on the methods/approaches, findings, and scope for research and interventions on the retail food sector servicing Indigenous Peoples in high-income countries. A structured litera…
Enabling conditions for an equitable and sustainable blue economy
Global decline in capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services
Pathways to sustaining tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies during climate change
Climate-driven redistribution of tuna threatens to disrupt the economies of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and sustainable management of the world’s largest tuna fishery. Here we show that by 2050, under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), the total biomass of three tuna species in the waters of ten Pacific SIDS could decline by an average of 13% (range = −5% to −20%) due to a greater proportion of fish occurring in…
Decent work in fisheries: Current trends and key considerations for future research and policy
Labor issues and human rights violations have become the subject of rising concern in fisheries and seafood production. This paper reviews recent research on labor issues in the fishing industry, especially by environmental researchers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which are emerging as key players in research and policy arenas. Recent research has focused largely on severe violations such as forced labor, particularly in ‘hotspot’ geo…
A practical take on the duty to uphold human rights in seafood workplaces
Too many fishing crew have died aboard vessels known for fisheries crime. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ‘fundamental’ rights of all people working in the seafood sector and the business duty to prevent rights violations, as it is organized as minimum workplace procedures that are legally-established in international law, in customary use and effective. The authours searched for workplace guidance for respecting rights and…
Rethinking plastic realities in Ghana: A call for a well-being approach to understanding human-plastics entanglements for more equitable plastics governance
Plastics and plastic waste have emerged as one of the major challenges of the Anthropence, a so-called “wicked problem” complicated by a myriad of political, economic, cultural, and historical factors. The ubiquity of plastic waste has garnered increased attention from governments, non-profit organizations and the media, in turn expanding mitigative efforts. Yet much of this action has been ineffective, or in some cases, even harmful. Governance …
Enrollment, retention, and inclusivity of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelling certifications
Marine litter and social inequities entangle Ecuadorian mangrove communities: Perceptions of plastic pollution and well-being concerns in Puerto Hondo and Isla Santay, Ecuador
Rethinking blue economy governance – A blue economy equity model as an approach to operationalise equity
The blue economy was originally conceptualised as having a strong focus on social equity; however, in practice, these equity considerations have been overshadowed by neo-liberal capitalist agendas, which have become dominant in blue economy discourse. A continued expansion of ocean industry developments and activities has resulted in an inequitable share of the burdens and benefits of utilising ocean spaces and has exacerbated wealth disparities …
Introduction to the Special Issue: Marine plastic pollution is an equity issue
Social equity indicators for a Blue Economy: Guidelines for application
Social equity goals are specifically stated in most new ocean management and development plans, notably those aligned with a Blue Economy that recognizes the significant and rising inequities across ocean spaces and sectors. However, the deeper significance of social equity has still not been fully integrated in policy and management practices, which often ask why it is relevant and how it can be measured in ways comparable to more familiar ecolo…
Toxic tides of change: Ocean pollution as a cultural tipping point
This paper offers a new perspective on the valuation of the impacts of industrial ocean pollution. Rising levels of industrial pollutants have a profound impact on marine resource-dependent peoples, particularly those dependent on seafood consumption. We argue that current regulation of these pollutants is both insufficient and inequitable, as it only accounts for impacts on physical health while ignoring cultural implications. This paper introdu…
Business (14 works) · Political science (13 works) · Economics (11 works) · Ecology (10 works) · Geography (9 works) · Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies (8 works) · Fishing (8 works) · Environmental resource management (7 works) · Fishery (7 works) · Biology (6 works)