1. Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity Ch. 11

2. Major Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity Habitat loss Invasive species Pollution Population Climate change Overexploitation

3. Aquatic Biodiversity Greatest Marine Biodiversity Coral Reefts Estuaries Deep-ocean floor Biodiversity is higher Near the coast than in the open sea In the benthos than at the surface

4. Natural Capital Marine Ecosystems Ecological ServicesEconomic Services Climate moderationFood CO 2 absorptionAnimal and pet feed Pharmaceuticals Nutrient cycling Harbors and transportation routes Waste treatment Reduced storm impact (mangroves, barrier islands, coastal wetlands) Recreation Coastal habitats for humans Habitats and nursery areas Employment Genetic resources and biodiversity Oil and natural gas Minerals Scientific information Building materials

5. Natural Capital Freshwater Systems Ecological ServicesEconomic Services Climate moderationFood Nutrient cycling Drinking water Waste treatment Irrigation water Flood control Groundwater recharge Hydroelectricity Habitats for many species Transportation corridors Genetic resources and biodiversity Recreation Scientific informationEmployment

6. World Seafood Production, Including Both Wild Catch and Aquaculture Fig. 12-9, p. 287

7. Problem No single country has exclusive rights to ocean AS A RESULT ocean resources are exploited, depleted and collapsing

8. Overharvest Severly depleted stock #s –Each species has own maximum sustainable harvest level –ABOVE this level = numbers decline & harvest is not economically profitable Taking more than the sustainable yield

9. Commercial Extinction No longer profitable to continue harvesting the affected species.

10. Overharvest EXAMPLE Georges Bank, New England

11. Why do we overharvest? Increase demand due to overpopulation Advances in fishing equipment and technology Tragedy of the commons!

12. How are fish and shellfish harvested? Fisheries: concentrations of particular aquatic species suitable for commercial harvesting in a given area

13. Equipment & Technology Sonar, Radar, Computers – to locate large schools of fish

14. Equipment & Technology Long-line fishing – lines of baited hooks - 130 Km (80 miles) - swordfish, tuna, sharks - ALSO hooks dolphins, endangered sea turtles, pilot whales

16. Equipment & Technology Purse-Seine Nets – huge nets that encircle schools to trap them.

17. Equipment & Technology Trawl Net – weighted and pulled along bottom, destroys ocean floor habitats.

19. Equipment & Technology Drift Nets – Entangle fish, illegal over 2.5 km (1.6 miles)

20. Bycatch Nondesired catch species Deplete fisheries Thrown back dead/dying AKA bykill

21. Are there solutions? 1.Aquaculture or mariculture -Fastest growing type of food production in the world -VERY expensive to start up but requires relatively cheap labor to maintain

22. Trade-Offs: Aquaculture Fig. 12-20, p. 296

23. Are There Solutions? 2. Legislation Why is it hard to protect marine biodiversity? 1. Human ecological footprint and fishprint are expanding 2. Much of the damage in the ocean is not visible 3. The oceans are incorrectly viewed as an inexhaustible resource 4. Most of the ocean lies outside the legal jurisdiction of any country

24. Are there solutions? 2. Legislation -1977 US Magnuson Fishery Conservation Act -Established management councils & quotas -Not successful – quotas set too high -1996 Amended Fishery Act to: -Protect habitat -Rebuild threatened stocks -Reduce overfishing -Minimize bycatch

25. Are there solutions? 2. Legislation -Endangered Species Act/ESA -Prohibits harm of harvesting of endangered species; protects habitat -Marine Mammal Protection Act -Protection and conservation of marine mammals

26. Are there solutions? 2. Legislation -Marine Sanctuaries Act -Protects the habitat for marine organisms and protects the animals from being harvested in that area -Lacey Act of 1900 -Prohibits sale of illegally harvested species; forces fisherman to harvest legally

27. Are there solutions? 2. Legislation -CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) -Global treaty on migratory species (1979) -Whale Conservation and protection act of 1976 -1995 International Convention on Biological Diversity

28. Are There Solutions? 3. Economic Incentives –Sea turtle tourism

29. Are there solutions? 4. Marine Sanctuaries (MPA) -Offshore fishing – 370km (200 mi) -Exclusive economic zones -Beyond = high seas (hard to enforce)

30. Are there solutions? 4. Marine Reserves –Fully protected marine reserves work fast Fish populations double Fish size grows Reproduction triples Species diversity increase by almost one-fourth –Cover less than 1% of world’s oceans Marine scientists want 30-50%

31. Are there solutions? 5. Consumer Wisdom - Know your food origins, support sustainable fishery programs

32. How are Fisheries Sustained & Managed? 1.Setting quotas 2.Restrictions on gear 3.Limiting # of boats/fishers 4.Reduction of subsidies 5.Protecting spawning seasons & habitat 6.Careful Consumer Choices (Marine Stewardship Council)

33. How Should We Protect & Sustain Wetlands? Maximize Preservation Restore Degraded & Destroyed

34. Everglades National Park Damaged in the 20 th century –Drained –Diverted –Paved over –Nutrient pollution from agriculture –Invasive plant species 1947: Everglades National Park unsuccessful protection project

35. Everglades National Park Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Ambitious Already unraveling

36. How Should We Protect & Sustain Freshwater Ecosystems? Protect Watersheds Major Threats –HIPPCO –40% of world’s rivers are dammed –Many freshwater wetlands destroyed –Threatened species

37. Great Lakes & Invasive 162 Nonnative Species –Sea lamprey –Zebra mussel –Asian carp

38. Priorities in Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity Map it Protect Aquatic Hotspots Protect Marine Reserves Protect Freshwater Ecosystems Restore degraded coastal & inland wetlands