Oceans are increasingly at risk

"The health of the world's oceans is declining much faster than originally thought — under siege from pollution, overfishing and other man-made problems all at once — scientists say in a new report.

The mix of interacting ingredients is in place for a mass extinction in the world's oceans, said a report by a top panel of scientists that will be presented to the United Nations on Tuesday.

The report says the troubles from global warming and other factors are worse when they combine with each other. Factors include dead zones from farm run-off, an increase in acidity from too much carbon dioxide, habitat destruction and melting sea ice, along with overfishing."

"Some of the changes affecting the world's seas — all of which have been warned about individually in the past — are happening faster than the worst case scenarios that were predicted just a few years ago, the report said."

"Lundin pointed to deaths of 1,000-year-old coral in the Indian Ocean and called it "really unprecedented."

"We now face losing marine species and entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within a single generation," the report said."

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/06 ... f=aponline

In another report released today:

"Sea level has been rising significantly over the past century of global warming, according to a study that offers the most detailed look yet at the changes in ocean levels during the last 2,100 years.
The researchers found that since the late 19th century — as the world became industrialized — sea level has risen more than 2 millimeters per year, on average. That's a bit less than one-tenth of an inch, but it adds up over time.

It will lead to land loss, more flooding and saltwater invading bodies of fresh water, said lead researcher Benjamin Horton whose team examined sediment from North Carolina's Outer Banks. He directs the Sea Level Research Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania."

"Looking back in history, the researchers found that sea level was relatively stable from 100 B.C. to A.D. 950. Then, during a warm climate period beginning in the 11th century, sea level rose by about half a millimeter per year for 400 years. That was followed by a second period of stable sea level associated with a cooler period, known as the Little Ice Age, which persisted until the late 19th century.

Rising sea levels are among the hazards that concern environmentalists and governments with increasing global temperatures caused by "greenhouse" gases like carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil over the last century or so."

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/06 ... f=aponline

Very hard to manage oceans since there is no world legislative body.

"We're all going to die, woe as me!"

Don't worry about the oceans they'll take care of themselves, worry something ya can do something about...
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php

NOTE the sickness/epidemic harzards.

Yet more myopic Global Warming propaganda....

Of course, there is no mention of shark finning, or bottom trawling practices which represent a FAR greater immediate threat to marine ecosystems.

Read this article and look at the photo on this website. What do you think poses a greater danger to the health of marine ecosystems?

http://www.mcbi.org/what/destructive_fishing.htm


“The global shark fin trade is driving the oceans to collapse,” said Courtney Sakai, senior campaign director at Oceana..


http://na.oceana.org/en/news-media/press-center/press-releases/oceana-releases-new-report-at-cites-about-impact-of-global-shark-fin-trade-to-oceans

Stopping or limiting the practices of shark finning and shrimp trawling would have a real, measureable positive impact on the marine populations, but it doesn't present the massive potential for profits that trading carbon dioxide does.

The madness continues. Follow the money.

Don't forget the MASSive RED Tide we had this year!

Science Chic wrote: Problems are problems OmniScience. If the shark finning and bottom trawling issues have already been addressed (and since those reports didn't address the effects of acidification due to CO2 uptake, then aren't those reports myopic as well?), then this report just adds to the list of problems for the oceans.

No, these issues have not been addressed and, unfortunately, I doubt they will be anytime soon.

As the economies of Asia have grown, so has their demand for shark-fin soup which is entirely based on cultural superstitions and misconceptions. A strong demand in Asian communities for shark fins (which incidentally are tasteless) are what's driving sharks toward extinction. Fishermen are often driven to take sharks due to the over harvesting of commercial species in their waters, and the high $'s Asians are willing to pay for soup. Some estimates are as high as 75 Million sharks per year. That is simply unsustainable. The shark is an apex predator like no other and a direct correlation can, and has, been made between healthy shark populations and healthy marine ecosystems.


Bottom trawling is another issue that continues to go on largely unnoticed by most people. The trawling practices for harvesting shrimp are highly inefficient and are often devastating to marine habitats and important species such as sponges and corals. I'm sure there's probably some video out there which illustrates the scale of damage from this practice.


Making changes in these 2 practices would have a direct, measureable impact on the overall health of the ecosystems and species. To me, the focus of the Times articles was just another Global Warming piece, which did not address any of the immediate, specific challenges facing the oceans. If these 2 practices are not addressed, CO2 and runoff issues may well be irrelevant. The challenge of developing solutions are largely cultural for one, and largely political for the other..

Not long ago I talked to a marine biology professor who told me "If I could choose one thing to change the current situation in the ocean - I'd get people to quit eating shrimp"