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.
Author(s): Farah Obaidullah
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 359
City: Cham
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
