The Ocean and Us

Description

The Ocean and Us provides an overview of our contemporary understanding of the ocean and all the ways our lives interact with it. It is intended for everyone with an interest in our blue planet. The book brings together the expertise of over 35 ocean specialists from around the world. It explores a wide variety of themes including the importance of a healthy ocean in the fight to halt and contain climate change. It covers issues such as overfishing and pollution, as well as emerging themes such as the blue economy, marine animal welfare and how we can leverage innovation to protect the ocean. The book provides an overview of some of the world’s iconic threatened and at risk ocean ecosystems, and outlines current governance structures and ocean management tools. It also discusses the important social dimensions between people and the ocean, such as ocean and human wellbeing, communities and the ocean, and who gets to participate in the ocean space. The book aims to enhance ocean literacy by making specialist concepts accessible to non-experts, with a view to empowering concerned citizens everywhere to come into action for the ocean, and pave a better way forward for humanity. Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Note to the Reader Contents About the Editor Part I Climate Change and the Ocean 1 Introduction to Climate Change Climate Change Scientific Observations The United Nations: Gathering Scientific Information and Delivering Action Key Scientific Observations from the 2019 IPCC Special Ocean-Focussed Report Modelling Future Projections What Do These Scenarios Mean for the Ocean? Is the World on Track for Meeting the Paris Agreement After the Latest UNFCCC COP26? What Can Be Done to Stay (Get Back) on Track? Further Reading 2 Warming, Acidification and Deoxygenation of the Ocean Introduction Ocean Warming Ocean Acidification Ocean Deoxygenation Societal Relevance What Can You Do? Further Reading 3 Blue Carbon The Ocean, Carbon, and Climate What is Blue Carbon? More Than Just Carbon Losing Our Blue Carbon Ecosystems Means Trouble Blue Carbon Ecosystems Can Be Protected Through Climate Policy What is Next for Blue Carbon? How Can You Help? Further Reading 4 Fishes and Carbon Introduction The Forms of Carbon Inorganic Carbon Organic Carbon How Do Fishes Affect Carbon? Food! Behaviour Managing Fishes for Carbon What Happens to the Carbon? Why Is It Important to Understand How Ecosystems Work? Climate Change Biodiversity Agenda 2030 Summary Suggestions of What People Can Do Further Reading 5 Whales and Climate Introduction How Climate Change Affects Whales Direct Effects Indirect Effects Whale Carbon: How Whales Can Affect Climate Change The Positive Impact of a Whale Conservation Action In Summary What You Can Do to Help Further Reading Part II Fisheries and Food from the Ocean 6 State of the World’s Fisheries—Legal Overfishing Fishing: The Biggest Pressure on the Ocean How Can Overfishing Be Legal? Overview of Fishing Techniques Trawling Purse Seining Gillnets Longlining Distant Water Fishing Transforming Our Relationship with Fish—What We Can and Must Do Ecosystem-Based Management: Government Solution Stewardship and Transparency: Industry Solution Choosing Sustainable Seafood and Campaigning: Individual Action Further Reading 7 Fish Crimes (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing) Introduction What is IUU Fishing? Labour Abuse and Slavery at Sea What Enables IUU Fishing? A Lawless Ocean Tackling IUU Fishing Technology to Combat Fish Crimes Steps Governments Can Take to Help Eliminate IUU Fishing What Can You Do to Help Eliminate Fish Crimes? Further Reading 8 Aquaculture: Farming Food from the Sea Introduction Farming Seafood as a Solution to Overfishing Why Seafood Farming Practices Matter Ways to Improve Seafood Farming Ethical Considerations Where Next? And What Can You Do? Recommended Reading 9 Shark Fishing and Shark Finning Introduction Why Should We Care About Sharks? Threats to Sharks Vulnerable Life Histories Overfishing Habitat Loss Management Complexities Solutions In Summary What Action Can You Take? Further Reading 10 The Move to Sustainable Seafood Our Needs Determine How We See the World The Origins of the Sustainable Seafood Movement Market-Based Solutions Is the Sustainable Seafood Movement Showing Results? The Future of Sustainable Seafood How to Get Involved Further Reading Part III Ocean Pollution 11 Plastic and the Ocean Introduction How Much Plastic Is in the Ocean? Marine Micro- and Nanoplastics Microplastic Ingestion by Marine Animals Biological Impacts of Microplastics Addressing the Plastic Problem Suggested Reading 12 Shipping and the Ocean Introduction Shipping in the COVID Era How Is Pollution from Shipping Regulated? Air Pollution Sulphur Emissions Greenhouse Gas Emissions Black Carbon Particulate Matter Water Pollution Sewage Waste from Shipping (Blackwater and Greywater) Plastic Pollution from Shipping Ballast Water Underwater Noise Shipbreaking Further Action Things Readers Can Do Further Reading 13 Oil Spills What Is Oil? What Is an Oil Spill? Impacts of Oil Spills on Marine Life What Causes Oil Spills in the Ocean? Shipping Accidents Chronic Discharges Contaminated Water Oil Additives How Else Does Oil End Up in the Ocean? Impacts of Oil Spills Responding to an Oil Spill International Efforts to Reduce the Risk of Oil Spills and Intentional Discharges What Can I Do? Recommendations for Further Reading 14 Ocean Noise Pollution Introduction Main Sources of Noise Impacts of Noise on Marine Animals Whales Fish and Invertebrates Cumulative and Synergistic Impacts Solutions Recommendations of Further Action Further Reading Part IV Threatened and at Risk Ocean Habitats 15 The Deep Sea Introduction A Brief Tour of the Deep Twilight Zone: 200–1000 m Midnight Zone: 1000–4000 m Abyss: Below 4000 m Hadal Zone, Below 6000 m Abyssal Plains Seamounts Hydrothermal Vents How to Study the Deep Why the Deep Ocean Matters Threats to the Deep Deep-Sea Fishing Deep-Sea Mining Pollution In Summary Further Action Further Reading and Exploration 16 Coral Reefs Introduction What Are Coral Reefs? What Are Corals? How Do Corals Build Their Skeleton? How Do Corals Reproduce? The Coral Holobiont Where Are Corals Found? Importance of Coral Reefs Threats to Coral Reefs What Determines the Health of a Coral Reef? Conservation Efforts In Summary Ways to Contribute Towards Conserving Coral Reefs Further Reading 17 Antarctica and the Southern Ocean: Our Last Great Wilderness The Bottom of the Earth Threats to the Antarctic Antarctica’s Role in Global Climate Antarctic Governance: Peace, Protection, and Science What You Can Do to Help Antarctica Further Reading 18 Top of the World—The Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean The Decline of Arctic Sea-Ice Arctic Wildlife at Risk Global Consequences of a New State of the Arctic Ocean As Goes the Arctic, So Goes the World 19 Coastal Habitats Introduction A Silent Decline in Coastal Habitats A Global Response A Deeper Dive: Seagrasses Solutions and Actions We Can Take Further Reading Part V How We Manage the World’s Oceans 20 Ocean Governance Introduction UNCLOS: The Constitution of the Ocean Safeguarding Our Blue Biodiversity How Do We Manage Fisheries Within and Beyond State Waters? All on Board! Navigating the Wide Ocean Mining the Last Frontier? Discovering Our Ocean’s Wonders: Marine Scientific Research In Summary Ways to Get Involved Further Reading 21 Marine Protected Areas What are Marine Protected Areas? Why Do We Need MPAs? How Much of the Ocean Should Be Within MPAs? MPAs and the Blue Economy In Summary Actions to Take Further Reading 22 Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy Introduction What is the Blue Economy? What Are the Challenges? Keeping Both Environmental Sustainability and Social Equity at the Heart of the Blue Economy Further Reading and Relevant Resources 23 Leveraging Innovation for Ocean Conservation Enabling Better Understanding Supporting Effective Management Further Reading Part VI Humans and the Ocean 24 Oceans and Communities Introduction What We Need, What We Love, What We Stand to Lose A Complex Web of Connections Learning from and with Communities In Summary Further Action Further Reading 25 Tourism and the Ocean Introduction The Impacts of Marine Tourism on the Environment and the Community Marine Wildlife Tourism Tips for Choosing Marine Tourism Destinations Further Reading 26 The Aquarium Trade Introduction Fishes Marine Mammals In Summary What Can You Do to Help? Further Reading 27 Marine Animal Welfare: A Growing Concern Meet Some Clever Fishes Humans and Fishes—An Abusive Relationship Fishes Have Feelings and Are Smart Fish Welfare Is a Growing Movement Fishing and Farming Cause Trillions of Fishes to Suffer Each Year New Directions in Fish Farming Rethinking Fisheries Market Demand Can Drive a Better Future for Fishes Further Reading 28 Ocean and Human Health Introduction What Is Ocean and Human Health? Blue Care—The Power of the Ocean to Heal Restore the Ocean as a Safe and Healthy Space for All What Can the Reader Do? Further Reading and Resources Part VII Diversity and Inclusion in the Ocean Space 29 Gender and the Ocean: Marine Resources and Spaces for All Introduction What Is Gender? Context of Gender Inequality How Gender Norms Shape the Ways That People Interact with the Ocean for Livelihoods, Sustenance, Health and Well-Being Gender Inequality in the Ocean Sector Responding to Rapid Change Requires a Gender Perspective Transforming Policies to Advance Gender Equality for All Ocean Stakeholders Gender Inclusivity in Marine Related Industries and Spaces In Summary Best Practices and Recommended Actions Further Reading and Resources 30 Racial-Gender Disparities, and the Impacts of Coloniality in Ocean Science on BIPOC Women Foreword Introduction Importance of Inclusivity for Collective Survival Example: The Design and Management of MPAs BPoC Women’s Voices Must Be Heard and Included Visible and Invisible Barriers: Racial Disparity and Intersectionality in Academia Raising Awareness and Acting on the Sources of Inequity in Ocean Science Impacts on Students, Future Scientists, and Society Take Away Points: What Needs to Happen? References 31 Lived Experiences: Editors’ Note Ways Forward Further Reading Part VIII Inspiring Voices 32 Inspiring Voices: Inka Cresswell, Jamila Janna, Merrisa Naidoo, Louisa Ponnampalam, Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy, Jo Ruxton MBE, Marilyn Slett, Patima Tungpuchayakul Inka Cresswell—Giving A Voice to Our Oceans Jamila Janna—A Journey into Marine Conservation Merrisa Naidoo—Protecting the World’s Oceans Louisa Ponnampalam—Discovering and Protecting Marine Mammals Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy—Empowering Small-Scale Fishers Jo Ruxton MBE—Founder Ocean Generation Marilyn Slett—Protecting the Ocean for Humankind Patima Tungpuchayakul—Fighting Against Modern Slavery in the Fishing and Seafood Industries Index