Marine conservation

Coral reefs have a great amount of biodiversity.

Marine conservation refers to the study of conserving physical and biological marine resources and ecosystem functions. It is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas through planned management in order to prevent the exploitation of these resources. Marine conservation is driven by the manifested negative effects being seen in our environment such as species loss, habitat degradation and changes in ecosystem functions[1] and focuses on limiting human-caused damage to marine ecosystems, restoring damaged marine ecosystems, and preserving vulnerable species and ecosystems of the marine life. Marine conservation is a relatively new discipline which has developed as a response to biological issues such as extinction and marine habitats change.

Marine conservationists rely on a combination of scientific principles derived from marine biology, oceanography, and fisheries science, as well as on human factors such as, demand for marine resources and marine law, economics and policy, in order to determine how to best protect and conserve marine species and ecosystems. Marine conservation may be described as a sub-discipline of conservation biology.

Coral reefs

Coral reefs are the epicenter of immense amounts of biodiversity and are a key player in the survival of entire ecosystems. They provide various marine animals with food, protection, and shelter which keep generations of species alive.[2] Furthermore, coral reefs are an integral part of sustaining human life through serving as a food source (i.e., fish and mollusks) as well as a marine space for ecotourism which provides economic benefits.[3] Also, humans are now conducting research regarding the use of corals as new potential sources for pharmaceuticals (i.e. steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs).[4][5]

Unfortunately, because of the human impact on coral reefs, these ecosystems are becoming increasingly degraded and in need of conservation. The biggest threats include overfishing, destructive fishing practices, sedimentation, and pollution from land-based sources.[6] This, in conjunction with increased carbon in oceans, coral bleaching, and diseases, means that there are no pristine reefs anywhere in the world.[7] Up to 88% of coral reefs in Southeast Asia are now threatened, with 50% of those reefs at either "high" or "very high" risk of disappearing, which directly affects the biodiversity and survival of species dependent on coral.[6]

This is especially harmful to island nations such as Samoa, Indonesia, and the Philippines, because many people there depend on the coral reef ecosystems to feed their families and to make a living. However, many fishermen are unable to catch as many fish as they used to, so they are increasingly using cyanide and dynamite in fishing, which further degrades the coral reef ecosystem.[8] This perpetuation of bad habits simply leads to the further decline of coral reefs and therefore perpetuates the problem. One way of stopping this cycle is by educating the local community about why the conservation of marine spaces that include coral reefs is important.[9]

Human impact

Increasing human populations have resulted in increased human impact on our ecosystems. Human activities has resulted in an increased extinction rate of species which has caused a major decrease in biological diversity of plants and animals in our environment[10]. These impacts include increased pressure from fisheries including reef degradation and overfishing as well as pressure from the tourism industry which has increased over the past few years [11]. The deterioration of coral reefs is mainly linked to human activities – 88% of reefs are threatened through various reasons as listed above, including excessive amounts of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions. Oceans absorb approximately 1/3 of the CO2 produced by humans, which has detrimental effects on the marine environment. The increasing levels of CO2 in oceans change the seawater chemistry by decreasing the pH, which is known as ocean acidification.

Oil spills also impact marine environments, contributing to marine pollution as a result of human activity. The effects of oil on marine fish have been studied following major spills in the United States.

Techniques

Strategies and techniques for marine conservation tend to combine theoretical disciplines, such as population biology, with practical conservation strategies, such as setting up protected areas, as with marine protected areas (MPAs) or Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas. These protected areas may be established for a variety of reasons and aim to limit the impact of human activity. These protected areas operate differently which includes ares that have seasonal closures and/or permanent closures as well as multiple levels of zoning that allow people to carryout different activities in separate areas; including, speed, no take and multi-use zones [12].

Other techniques include developing sustainable fisheries and restoring the populations of endangered species through artificial means.

Another focus of conservationists is on curtailing human activities that are detrimental to either marine ecosystems or species through policy, techniques such as fishing quotas, like those set up by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, or laws such as those listed below. Recognizing the economics involved in human use of marine ecosystems is key, as is education of the public about conservation issues. This includes educating tourists that come to an area who might not be familiar with certain regulations regarding the marine habitat. One example of this is a project called Green Fins based in Southeast Asia that uses the scuba diving industry to educate the public. This project, implemented by UNEP, encourages scuba diving operators to educate their students about the importance of marine conservation and encourage them to dive in an environmentally friendly manner that does not damage coral reefs or associated marine ecosystems.

Technology and halfway technology

Marine conservation technologies are used to protect endangered and threatened marine organisms and/or habitat. These technologies are innovative and revolutionary because they reduce by-catch, increase the survivorship and health of marine life and habitat, and benefit fishermen who depend on the resources for profit. Examples of technologies include marine protected areas (MPAs), turtle excluder devices (TEDs), autonomous recording unit, pop-up satellite archival tag, and radio-frequency identification (RFID). Commercial practicality plays an important role in the success of marine conservation because it is necessary to cater to the needs of fishermen while also protecting marine life.[13]

Pop-up satellite archival tag (PSAT or PAT) plays a vital role in marine conservation by providing marine biologists with an opportunity to study animals in their natural environments. These are used to track movements of (usually large, migratory) marine animals. A PSAT is an archival tag (or data logger) that is equipped with a means to transmit the collected data via satellite. Though the data are physically stored on the tag, its major advantage is that it does not have to be physically retrieved like an archival tag for the data to be available, making it a viable independent tool for animal behavior studies. These tags have been used to track movements of ocean sunfish,[14] marlin, blue sharks, bluefin tuna, swordfish and sea turtles. Location, depth, temperature, and body movement data are used to answer questions about migratory patterns, seasonal feeding movements, daily habits, and survival after catch and release.[15][16][17]

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) remove a major threat to turtles in their marine environment. Many sea turtles are accidentally captured, injured or killed by fishing. In response to this threat the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) worked with the shrimp trawling industry to create the TEDs.[18] By working with the industry they insured the commercial viability of the devices. A TED is a series of bars that is placed at the top or bottom of a trawl net, fitting the bars into the "neck" of the shrimp trawl and acting as a filter to ensure that only small animals may pass through. The shrimp will be caught but larger animals such as marine turtles that become caught by the trawler will be rejected by the filter function of the bars.[19]

Similarly, halfway technologies work to increase the population of marine organisms. However, they do so without behavioral changes, and address the symptoms but not the cause of the declines. Examples of halfway technologies include hatcheries and fish ladders.[20]

Laws and treaties

International laws and treaties related to marine conservation include the 1966 Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas. United States laws related to marine conservation include the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as the 1972 Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, which established the National Marine Sanctuaries program.

In 2010, the Scottish Parliament enacted new legislation for the protection of marine life with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Its provisions include marine planning, marine licensing, marine conservation, seal conservation, and enforcement.

Since 2006, united nations introduce vulnerable marine ecosystem concept for the management of deep-sea fisheries in the areas beyond national jurisdiction.[21] This concept has been transposed by the European parliament for Atlantic European waters.[22]

Organizations and education

The shore of the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, California

There are marine conservation organizations throughout the world that focus on funding conservation efforts, educating the public and stakeholders, and lobbying for conservation law and policy. Examples of these include Oceana, the Marine Conservation Institute (United States), Blue Frontier Campaign (United States), Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (international), Frontier (the Society for Environmental Exploration) (United Kingdom), Marine Conservation Society (United Kingdom), Community Centered Conservation (C3), the Reef-World Foundation (United Kingdom), Reef Watch (India), Marinelife Alliance (Bangladesh) and Australian Marine Conservation Society. Zoox (United Kingdom) is an example of an organization that provides both marine conservation training and professional career development to volunteers who are also working on marine conservation projects such as Green Fins.

On a regional level, PERSGA, the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is a regional entity which serves as the secretariat for the Jeddah Convention-1982, one of the first regional marine agreements. PERSGA member states are Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Extinct and endangered species

Marine mammals

Baleen whales were predominantly hunted from 1600 through the mid-1900s, and were nearing extinction when a global ban on commercial whaling was put into effect in 1986 by the IWC (International Whaling Convention).[23][24] The Atlantic gray whale, last sighted in 1740, is now extinct due to European and Native American Whaling.[25][26] Since the 1960s the global population of monk seals has been rapidly declining. The Hawaiian and Mediterranean monk seals are considered to be one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet, according to the NOAA.[25] The last sighting of the Caribbean monk seal was in 1952, and it has now been confirmed extinct by the NOAA.[27][28] The vaquita porpoise, discovered in 1958, has become the most endangered marine species. Over half the population has disappeared since 2012, leaving 100 left in 2014.[29] The vaquita frequently drowns in fishing nets, which are used illegally in marine protected areas off the Gulf of Mexico.[30]

Sea turtles

In 2004, the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG), from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), ran an assessment which determined that green turtles were globally endangered. Population decline in ocean basins is indicated through data collected by the MTSG that analyzes abundance and historical information on the species. This data examined the global population of green turtles at 32 nesting sites, and determined that over the last 100–150 years there has been a 48–65 percent decrease in the number of mature nesting females.[31] The Kemp's ridley sea turtle population fell in 1947 when 33,000 nests, which accounted for 80 percent of the population, were collected and sold by villagers in Racho Nuevo, Mexico. In the early 1960s only 5,000 individuals were left, and between 1978 and 1991, 200 Kemp's Ridley Turtles nested annually. In 2015, the World Wildlife Fund and National Geographic Magazine named the Kemp's ridley the most endangered sea turtle in the world, with 1000 females nesting annually.[32]

Fish

In 2014, the IUCN moved the Pacific bluefin tuna from "least concerned" to "vulnerable" on a scale that represents level of extinction risk. The Pacific bluefin tuna is targeted by the fishing industry mainly for its use in sushi.[33] A stock assessment released in 2013 by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-Like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC) shows that the Pacific bluefin tuna population dropped by 96 percent in the Pacific Ocean. According to the ISC assessment, 90 percent of the Pacific bluefin tuna caught are juveniles that have not reproduced.[34]

Between 2011 and 2014, the European eel, Japanese eel, and American eel were put on the IUCN red list of endangered species.[35] In 2015, the Environmental Agency concluded that the number of European eels has declined by 95 percent since 1990. An Environmental Agency officer, Andy Don, who has been researching eels for the past 20 years, said, "There is no doubt that there is a crisis. People have been reporting catching a kilo of glass eels this year when they would expect to catch 40 kilos. We have got to do something."[36]

Marine plants

Johnson's seagrass, a food source for the endangered green sea turtle, is the scarcest species in its genus. It reproduces asexually, which limits its ability to populate and colonize habitats. Data on this species is limited, but it is known that since the 1970s there has been a 50 percent decrease in abundance.[37]

History of marine conservation

Modern marine conservation first became globally recognized in the 1970s after World War II in an era known as the "marine revolution". The United States federal legislation showed its support of marine conservation by institutionalizing protected areas and creating marine estuaries. In the mid-1970s the United States formed the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[38] Through this program, nations could communicate and make agreements about marine conservation. After the formation of the IUCN, new independent organizations known as non-governmental organizations started to appear. These organizations were self-governed and had individual goals for marine conservation. At the end of the 1970s, undersea explorations equipped with new technology such as computers were undertaken.[38] During these explorations, fundamental principles of change were discovered in relation to marine ecosystems. Through this discovery, the interdependent nature of the ocean was revealed. This led to a change in the approach of marine conservation efforts, and a new emphasis was put on restoring systems within the environment, along with protecting biodiversity.[39]

Overabundance

Overabundance occurs when the population of a certain species cannot be controlled. The domination of one species can create an imbalance in an ecosystem, which can lead to the demise of other species and of the habitat.[23] Overabundance occurs predominately in invasive species.[40] Cargo ships introduce new species into different environments through releasing ballast water into an ecosystem. A tank of ballast water is estimated to contain around 3,000 non-native species.[41]

The San Francisco Bay is one of the places in the world that is the most impacted by foreign and invasive species. According to the Baykeeper organization, 97 percent of the organisms in the San Francisco Bay have been compromised by the 240 invasive species that have been brought into the ecosystem.[42] Invasive species in the bay such as the Asian clam have changed the food web of the ecosystem by depleting populations of native species such as plankton.[43][44] The Asian clam clogs pipes and obstructs the flow of water in electrical generating facilities. Their presence in the San Francisco Bay has cost the United States an estimated one billion dollars in damages.[45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Carleton., Ray, G. (2014). Marine conservation : science, policy, and management. McCormick-Ray, Jerry. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9781118714430. OCLC 841199230.
  2. ↑ "IMPORTANCE OF CORAL REEFS – Coral Reefs – Ocean World". tamu.edu.
  3. ↑ Trist, Carolyn. "Recreating Ocean Space: Recreational Consumption and Representation of the Caribbean Marine." Professional Geographer. 51.3 (1999). Print.
  4. ↑ Ngoc, Ninh Thi; Huong, Pham Thi Mai; Thanh, Nguyen Van; Cuong, Nguyen Xuan; Nam, Nguyen Hoai; Thung, Do Cong; Kiem, Phan Van; Minh, Chau Van (1 September 2016). "Steroid Constituents from the Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata". Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 64 (9): 1417–1419. doi:10.1248/cpb.c16-00385. PMID 27321426.
  5. ↑ Yin, Chen-Ting; Wen, Zhi-Hong; Lan, Yu-Hsuan; Chang, Yu-Chia; Wu, Yang-Chang; Sung, Ping-Jyun (1 January 2015). "New Anti-inflammatory Norcembranoids from the Soft Coral Sinularia numerosa". Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 63 (9): 752–756. doi:10.1248/cpb.c15-00414. PMID 26329871.
  6. 1 2 Burke, Lauretta, Liz Selig, and Mark Spalding (2001). "Reefs At Risk in Southeast Asia." World Resources Institute, p. 72.
  7. ↑ Pandolfi, J. M.; Bradbury, R. H.; Sala, E; Hughes, T. P.; Bjorndal, K. A.; Cooke, R. G.; McArdle, D; McClenachan, L; Newman, M. J.; Paredes, G; Warner, R. R.; Jackson, J. B. (2003). "Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems". Science. 301 (5635): 955–8. doi:10.1126/science.1085706. PMID 12920296.
  8. ↑ "Coral reef destruction and conservation". tamu.edu (18 May 2011).
  9. ↑ Rodrigo, Raul (1998). Resource at Risk: Philippine Coral Reefs.
  10. ↑ Derraik, José G.B (2002-09-01). "The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 44 (9): 842–852. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00220-5. ISSN 0025-326X.
  11. ↑ Lloret, Josep; Riera, Victòria (2008-12-01). "Evolution of a Mediterranean Coastal Zone: Human Impacts on the Marine Environment of Cape Creus". Environmental Management. 42 (6): 977–988. doi:10.1007/s00267-008-9196-1. ISSN 0364-152X. PMID 18800202.
  12. ↑ "Marine Protected Areas".
  13. ↑ Jenkins, Lekeliad (2010). "Profile and influence of the successful fisher-Inventor of marine conservation technology". Conservation and Society. 8: 44. doi:10.4103/0972-4923.62677.
  14. ↑ Thys, Tierney (30 November 2003). "Tracking Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola with Pop-Up Satellite Archival Tags in California Waters". OceanSunfish.org. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  15. ↑ Block, Barbara A.; Dewar, Heidi; Farwell, Charles; Prince, Eric D. (4 August 1998). "A new satellite technology for tracking the movements of Atlantic bluefin tuna". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 95 (16): 9384–9389. doi:10.1073/pnas.95.16.9384. PMC 21347. PMID 9689089.
  16. ↑ Hoolihan, John P. (16 November 2004). "Horizontal and vertical movements of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Arabian Gulf, determined by ultrasonic and pop-up satellite tagging". Marine Biology. 146 (5): 1015–1029. doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1488-2.
  17. ↑ Stokesbury, Michael J. W.; Harvey-Clark, Chris; Gallant, Jeffrey; Block, Barbara A.; Myers, Ransom A. (21 July 2005). "Movement and environmental preferences of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) electronically tagged in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada". Marine Biology. 148 (1): 159–165. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0061-y.
  18. ↑ "Turtle Excluder Devices". noaa.gov.
  19. ↑ Turtle Excluder Device on YouTube
  20. ↑ Meffe, Gary K. (1992). "Techno-Arrogance and Halfway Technologies: Salmon Hatcheries on the Pacific Coast of North America" (PDF). Conservation Biology. 6 (3): 350–354. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1992.06030350.x. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Background | Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems | Food and agriculture organisation of the united nations". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  22. ↑ REGULATION (EU) 2016/2336 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 14 December 2016 establishing specific conditions for fishing for deep-sea stocks in the north-east Atlantic and provisions for fishing in international waters of the north-east Atlantic and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 .
  23. 1 2 Ray, G. Carleton (2004) "Issues and Mechanisms", part 1 in Coastal-marine Conservation: Science and Policy. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. ISBN 978-0-632-05537-1.
  24. ↑ "Ending Commercial Whaling." ifaw.org (19 February 2015).
  25. 1 2 Carleton, Ray G.; McCormick, Jerry (1 April 2009). Coastal-Marine Conservation: Science and Policy. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4443-1124-2.
  26. ↑ Noakes, Scott (19 February 2015). "Atlantic Gray Whale: Research: Science: Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary". graysreef.noaa.gov
  27. ↑ "Hawaiian Monk Seal (Neomonachus Schauinslandi)" Archived 13 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.. NOAA Fisheries (15 January 2016).
  28. ↑ "Caribbean Monk Seal Gone Extinct From Human Causes, NOAA Confirms". ScienceDaily (9 June 2008).
  29. ↑ Bodeo-Lomicky, Aidan (4 February 2015). The Vaquita: The Biology of an Endangered Porpoise. Createspace Independent Pub. ISBN 978-1-5077-5577-8.
  30. ↑ "Vaquita". World Wildlife Fund (12 February 2015).
  31. ↑ "Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)" NOAA Fisheries. 19 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "Kemp's Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys Kempii)." NOAA Fisheries (19 February 2015).
  33. ↑ "Sushi Edging Pacific Bluefin Tuna Toward Extinction" DNews 19 February 2015.
  34. ↑ Satran, Joe (19 February 2015). "Pacific Bluefin Tuna Overfishing Has Led To 96 Percent Population Reduction, Study Says" The Huffington Post
  35. ↑ "European Eel Is Critically Endangered" Archived 19 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine.. National Biodiversity Data Centre (19 February 2015).
  36. ↑ Morris, Steve (30 April 2009). "Eels in Crisis after 95% Decline in Last 25 Years". The Guardian.
  37. ↑ "Johnson's Seagrass (Halophila johnsonii) – Office of Protected Resources". NOAA Fisheries (1 March 2013).
  38. 1 2 Zacharias, Mark (2014). "Marine Environmental Protection Policy: International Efforts to Address Threats to Marine Biodiversity" in Marine Policy: An Introduction to Governance and International Law of the Oceans. Routledge. ISBN 1136212477.
  39. ↑ Hinrichsen, Don (2011). The Atlas of Coasts & Oceans: Ecosystems, Threatened Resources, Marine Conservation. University of Chicago.
  40. ↑ "IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature." Archived 19 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. IUCN. 12 February 2015.
  41. ↑ Smith, David. "Ballast Water" MITSG CCR: Marine Bioinvasions (1 January 2006).
  42. ↑ Choksi, Sejal. "The Hostile Takeover of San Francisco Bay" 1 May 2009. 19 February 2015.
  43. ↑ Martin, Glen (5 February 2006). "The Great Invaders / A New Ecosystem Is Evolving in San Francisco Bay. We Have No Idea What It Is, or Where It's Going". SFGate.
  44. ↑ "Foreign Species Invade San Francisco Bay". NPR (11 May 2011).
  45. ↑ Foster, A.M., P. Fuller, A. Benson, S. Constant, D. Raikow, J. Larson, and A. Fusaro. (2014). Corbicula fluminea USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.

Bibliography

Polar bears on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean, near the North Pole
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