Our Future
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The environmental and economic health of our planets oceans, is at a growing concern, caused from pressures such as pollution, over-fishing and climate change, resulting in affecting marine biodiversity in the 21st century and into the future.
Clearly, the loss of biodiversity in our oceans is accelerating. 29% of the seafood species which humans consume, has already crashed. If this long term trend remains at a stalemate, in 30 years time, there will be little or no seafood available for sustainable harvest. In fact, it is estimated that sustainable seafood may disappear by 2048 and is linked to a decline in water quality and increased coastal flooding, At the same time period, it is predicted that productivity will have decreased in nearly all areas and with it, fish catches and fisheries will be heavily dominated by smaller species lower down on the food chain.
Meanwhile, climate change is a serve threat for marine future. If it remains unchecked, we could see surface sea temperatures rise by 2100m, leading to critical affects for coral reefs and other temperature-sensitive marine organisms. Currently 30% of the worlds corals are in a decreasing state, and an estimated 60% will be damaged by the year 2030, as a result of these environmental changes. Predicted temperature and carbon dioxide levels expected in the next century due to climate change have not occured since modern day reef systems evolved thousands of years ago and may threaten or even destroy much of the world's coral reef beds. Disappearing coral reefs also threaten other species, as also marine oragnisms are apart of a food web and depend on them.
Other predicted future changes in our oceans include, a continued and widespread increase in nitrogen levels, which can trigger harmful algal blooms which poison fish and other marine creatures, as well as increase areas of the sea with low oxygen levels to low to support marine life (also known as 'dead zones'). These growing impacts will have serious consequences in the rise of extinctions of marine species across all regions of the planet.
The continue of decline in marine biodiversity will result in the increase of flexibility marine and coastal ecosystems will have to withstand, to face the impacts listed above. But, there is hope for our oceans. A scientific review that was conducted in 2011, showed that despite all the damage affecting on marine life and ecosystems over the past centuries, between 10 and 50 per cent of these populations have shown some recovery, when human threats and influences were reduced. Although, the opportunity to recover from current threats require persistence. However, compared to life on the land, where nearly 15 per cent of surface area is under protection, little more than 1 per cent of marine environments are protected the same way.
Clearly, the loss of biodiversity in our oceans is accelerating. 29% of the seafood species which humans consume, has already crashed. If this long term trend remains at a stalemate, in 30 years time, there will be little or no seafood available for sustainable harvest. In fact, it is estimated that sustainable seafood may disappear by 2048 and is linked to a decline in water quality and increased coastal flooding, At the same time period, it is predicted that productivity will have decreased in nearly all areas and with it, fish catches and fisheries will be heavily dominated by smaller species lower down on the food chain.
Meanwhile, climate change is a serve threat for marine future. If it remains unchecked, we could see surface sea temperatures rise by 2100m, leading to critical affects for coral reefs and other temperature-sensitive marine organisms. Currently 30% of the worlds corals are in a decreasing state, and an estimated 60% will be damaged by the year 2030, as a result of these environmental changes. Predicted temperature and carbon dioxide levels expected in the next century due to climate change have not occured since modern day reef systems evolved thousands of years ago and may threaten or even destroy much of the world's coral reef beds. Disappearing coral reefs also threaten other species, as also marine oragnisms are apart of a food web and depend on them.
Other predicted future changes in our oceans include, a continued and widespread increase in nitrogen levels, which can trigger harmful algal blooms which poison fish and other marine creatures, as well as increase areas of the sea with low oxygen levels to low to support marine life (also known as 'dead zones'). These growing impacts will have serious consequences in the rise of extinctions of marine species across all regions of the planet.
The continue of decline in marine biodiversity will result in the increase of flexibility marine and coastal ecosystems will have to withstand, to face the impacts listed above. But, there is hope for our oceans. A scientific review that was conducted in 2011, showed that despite all the damage affecting on marine life and ecosystems over the past centuries, between 10 and 50 per cent of these populations have shown some recovery, when human threats and influences were reduced. Although, the opportunity to recover from current threats require persistence. However, compared to life on the land, where nearly 15 per cent of surface area is under protection, little more than 1 per cent of marine environments are protected the same way.