1. A Look Into the Ocean’s Future - Discussion of a NY Times article -
Session 1
Joost den Haan
PhD student University of Amsterdam

3. “The oceans are approaching irreversible potentially catastrophic change”
But why?

4. The ‘Deadly trio’ Global warming Ocean acidification
Anoxia (ocean dead zones)
Currently conditions are created associated with every previous major extinction of species in the ocean’s history

5. Anoxia
Red tide - California

6. What is causing this deadly trio?
Many different natural and human impacts, directly or indirectly…

7. Human impacts

8. Natural impacts

9. Example of recent human impact
All species of scombrids and billfishes are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 2011)

10. Natural & human?
In 1998, 16% of the worlds tropical coral reefs died due to a single mass bleaching event

11. Multiple stressors acting together…
This is when it get’s really serious
Oil spills
Sun
Coastal develop.
Hurricane
Nutrients
Thrawling
CO2
Blasting
Recreation
Garbage
Temperature
Overfishing
Chemical waste
Invasive species

12. Multiple stressors acting together…
This is when it get’s really serious
Oil spills
Sun
Can seriously decrease the ocean’s resilience, making it more vulnerable
Coastal develop.
Hurricane
Nutrients
Thrawling
CO2
Blasting
Recreation
Garbage
Temperature
Overfishing
Chemical waste
Invasive species

13. Example of resilience: a coral reef
start
Reef health
“Abuse”/ pollution

14. Conclusion from article
Immediate reduction of CO2 emissions
Marine Conservation Areas
Protection of ocean life internationally
Rather generaly statements…

15. What is our role as Marine Scientists?
Curaçao, Southern Caribbean

16. Environmental decision-making
Managers
Scientists
Politicians
Social interests
Ethics
Economists

17. Environmental decision-making

18. What is our role as Scientists?
Be objective
Provide important information for managers and policymakers
Being able to communicate when making decisions about the management of natural resources

19. What is our role as Scientists?
We cannot forget why we do science and how important it is for our oceans!