© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. 17 Oceanography, An Invitation to Marine Science | 9e Tom Garrison Marine Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. By most calculations, we have used more natural resources since 1955 than in all of recorded human history up to that time Petroleum and natural gas are the ocean’s most valuable resources Fish provide more than 2.9 billion people with nearly 20% of their average per capita animal protein intake Key Concepts

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. The International Law of the Sea nominally governs marine resource allocation With very few exceptions, our present level of growth and exploitation of marine resources is unsustainable Key Concepts (cont’d.)

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Marine resources are classified –Physical resources Result from deposition, precipitation, or accumulation Minerals, petroleum, natural gas; also freshwater –Marine energy resources Extraction of energy directly from heat or motion of ocean water 17.1 Marine Resources Are Subject to the Economic Laws of Supply and Demand

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Marine resources (cont’d.) –Biological resources Animals and plants –Nonextractive resources Uses of the ocean in place Renewable resources –Naturally replaced Nonrenewable resources –Cannot be replenished Types of Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Petroleum and natural gas –The U.S. consumes over 20% of the global oil supply –About 33% crude oil and 30% natural gas produced in 2009 came from the seabed –Almost always associated with marine sediments –Offshore drilling is expensive –Hydraulic “fracking” becoming increasingly common 17.2 Physical Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Drilling for Oil

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Methane hydrates –Largest hydrocarbon reservoir on Earth –Found on continental slopes –Exploitation costly and dangerous Powerful greenhouse gas Marine sand and gravel –Second largest marine resource Methane Hydrates and Marine Sand

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Deep-sea mining –Rare-earth elements, metals, manganese nodules Salts –Seawater evaporated in large salt ponds Desalination –Taking salts out of seawater to produce freshwater Other Physical Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Desalination Plant

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Windmills –Fastest growing energy alternative to oil –Winds less gusty over the ocean –Wind speeds higher 17.3 Renewable Sources of Marine Energy

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Waves, currents, tides –Wind waves store wind energy –Currents can rotate turbines –Tidal energy Water Energy

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Fish, crustaceans, and molluscs 17.4 Biological Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Maximum sustainable yield –Without impairing future populations Overfishing –Too many fish harvested, not enough breeding stock left Bycatch Sustainability

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Botanical resources –Algin – produced from algae –Seaweeds Controlled environments –Aquaculture –Mariculture Plants and Aquaculture

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Whaling –Continues despite international agreements New drugs and byproducts Whaling and Other Resources

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Transportation and recreation Cargo 17.5 Nonextractive Resources Use the Ocean in Place

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Territorial seas adjacent to land Law of the Sea – 1958, New York, UN conference –Finalized in 1982 –Territorial waters – to 12 nautical miles from shore –Exclusive Economic Zone – to 200 nautical miles from shore –High seas 17.6 The Law of the Sea Governs Marine Resource Allocation

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Exclusive Economic Zones

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. The ocean’s resources are useful, convenient, and essential We cannot exploit those resources without damaging their source Marine resources include physical, biological, marine energy and nonextractive Provide only a fraction of worldwide raw materials, food, and energy Chapter in Perspective

© 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. When will we run out of oil? The problems of overfishing and bycatch concern me. What seafood should I eat, and what should I avoid? Some Questions from Students