Our oceans are in deep trouble – a ‘mountains to sea’ approach could make a real differenceThe rapidly declining health of New Zealand’s...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
The rapidly declining health of New Zealand’s marine environment raises serious questions about how we care for and manage the oceans.
A recent stocktake of our marine environment identifies several cumulative pressures. These include ocean acidification, sea-level rise and ongoing warming of the ocean surface associated with climate change.
The report also highlights how activities on land lead to excess sediment, nutrients and plastic pollution flowing into the sea. Pressures at sea include fishing and aquaculture, extraction of natural resources, introduced invasive species and coastal development.
A graphic showing the activities on land and at sea that affect estuaries.
Activities on land and at sea all have an impact on estuaries. Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, CC BY-ND
Our research explores the potential of ecosystem-based management – an approach that focuses on the whole system rather than individual species – to better regulate activities on land and at sea to improve ocean health.
SOURCE:https://theconversation.com/our-oceans-are-in-deep-trouble-a-mountains-to-sea-approach-could-make-a-real-difference-207116
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Taxonomy
- Oceanographic Survey
- Ocean engineering
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