Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity Chapter 12 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

OBJECTIVES

LET US ASK OURSELVES… What do we know about aquatic biodiversity, and what is its economic and ecological importance? How are human activities affecting aquatic biodiversity? How can we protect and sustain marine biodiversity? How can we manage and sustain the world’s marine fisheries? How can we protect, sustain, and restore wetlands? How can we protect, sustain, and restore lakes, rivers, and fresh water fisheries?

What do we know about aquatic biodiversity, and what is its economic and ecological importance? The greatest biodiversity occurs in coral reefs The economic importance of coral reefs- Sponges and mollusks located there, contain antibiotic and anticancer properties. Biodiversity increases near coasts and near the bottom region of the ocean. Ecological importance-more species in an aquatic ecosystem leads to a higher survival rate of a species in said ecosystem b/c everything is interconnected. Higher biodiversity= more economic benefits More species to fish= more food=more money

How are human activities affecting aquatic biodiversity? Rising sea levels due to human induced climate change and coastal development has lead to wetland and coral reef degradation. Overfishing The introduction of alien species into aquatic ecosystems. Nile perch in Lake Victoria Humans have degraded a large proportion of coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and mangroves. Some 90% of fish living in these ecosystems are under intense pressure of human activities.

How can we protect and sustain marine biodiversity? Create Marine reserves 0.3% of ocean is protected by marine reserves Education… of course HIPPO Habitat destruction and degradation Invasive Species Pollution (Human) Population Growth Overexploitation Establish laws and international treaties. U.S. Endangered Species Act CITES Global Treaty on Migratory Species Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1973 International Whaling Commission

How can we manage and sustain the world’s marine fisheries? Create protected marine sanctuaries Create zoning rules to protect and manage resources for entire bodies of water Create maximum sustained yield models Regulating fish harvest

How can we protect, sustain, and restore wetlands? Limit urban development Mitigation banking- allow the destruction of existing wetlands as long as an equal area of the same type of wetland is created or restored. Limit agricultural development Hire people to restore everglades Ex: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERR)

How can we protect, sustain, and restore lakes, rivers, and freshwater fisheries? Limit dam production due to the restriction of water flow. Set fishing limits in rivers and lakes Keep nonnative species out of waters Protect populations of desirable species Decrease populations of less desirable species

VOCABULARY

Commercial extinction When a resource is no longer profitable to continue extracting from the environment

Bycatch An unwanted fish species that is caught and then thrown overboard dead or dying.

Trawler Fishing To catch fish by dragging a funnel shaped net hold open at the neck along the bottom of the ocean; it is weighed down with chains or metal plates.

Purse-seine fishing A large net surrounds surface dwelling species after locating the school.

Longling Throwing out lines up to 80 miles long that are hung with thousands of baited hooks.

Drift Net Speaks for itself

Exclusive economic zones Areas of ocean where only certain quotas of fish are permitted

High seas Oceans beyond the legal jurisdiction of any country

Marine Protected Areas Partially protected from human areas

Marine Reserves Areas where no extraction is permitted.

Integrated Coastal Management Community-based effort to develop and use coastal resources more sustainably.

Maximum sustainable yield To maximize the number of fish that can be harvest without population drop.

Precautionary principle- sharply reducing fish harvests and closing some overfished areas until they recover and we have more info. About what levels of fishing can be sustained.

Co management when coastal communities and the government can work together to manage fisheries.

Mitigation banking allows the destruction of existing wetlands as longs as an equal area of the same type of wetland is created or restored.

Realistic Actions we can take to protect our water. Turn off the water in the shower while you apply soap to your hair and body. Avoid Tuna Tuna is known for high levels of Bycatch due to the fishing methods to obtain such a large fish. Dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, etc. Turn the water to a low flow when you wash your hands or do dishes. Use gray water to wash your hands. Don’t litter Waste eventually ends up in a water way Take the island of garbage that is close to the size of Texas, floating around the Atlantic Ocean Eat less meat This limits the amount of runoff that goes into fresh water ways from cattle waste