Human Effects on the World's Oceans

A big study conducted by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis has mapped the effects of human exploitation on the oceans. According to Dr. Benjamin Halpern of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis states that many previous studies had only focused on a particular human activity or on a specific ecosystem, mainly on a local basis. It has been found that nearly 40% of the oceans have been affected due to the effects of fishing, pollution and climate change. You can read more about Dr. Halpern's findings at redorbit.com.

The scientists involved in the study feel that the results are much worse than was imagined previously. Findings suggest that about 50% of our coral reefs are heavily damaged. Some other concerns were raised about the effects on sea mounts, mangrove forests, sea grass beds, continental shelves and rocky reefs. Soft-bottom ecosystems fared comparatively better but even they did not fare good in many locations.

The effects of human exploitation of the oceans is very severe in the Mediterranean, the North Sea, Caribbean, the Bering Sea, East and South China Seas, Red Sea, along the east coast of America and in the western regions of the Pacific. The seas near the poles are comparatively healthy but the melting ice sheets there still make them vulnerable.

The scientists divided the oceans into cells of one square kilometer each and analyzed the effects of human exploitation on each one. They attached a score to each cell to represent the effects of 17 different human activities on 20 types of marine ecosystems. It was found that 41% of the cells studied had high impact scores. Almost 0.5% of the cells were found to be highly affected.

Scientists think the maps resulting from the study may serve as a guide to ocean management in the future.

The results of the study were revealed in the Science journal. Scientists felt that with specific efforts to preserve as-yet pristine chunks of the seas, there is a better chance of maintaining them in good condition.

The effects of human activities on the ocean overlap in time and space. They are alarmingly high in many cases. We cannot just focus on just fishing or pollution as the largest contributor of deterioration of the oceans.

Scientists called upon policy-makers to initiate conservation efforts that encompass all the areas of human impacts. Such efforts have had a good effect. Altered ocean navigation routes have been known to protect sensitive areas.

However, making conservation decisions may require more detailed locale-specific research. Humans will always need the oceans for exploitation of mineral resources, recreation and commercial fishing and shipping activities. But this research could be a wake-up jolt for us to use the oceans in a sustainable manner so that they continue to provide humans with the food and mineral resources we need.

Sources:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1255077/human_activity_heavily_impacting_worlds_oceans/