Lesson 22: Marine Policy

The health of our ocean

We’ve learned about the many resources and services marine ecosystems provide

Both natural and human factors can affect the health

of these ecosystems

In today’s lesson we’ll learn about the challenges marine ecosystems face and how marine policy can address these challenges

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What are some of the major challenges facing marine ecosystems?

Water pollution

Habitat loss and degradation

Overfishing

Climate change

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Water pollution

Two major pollution types:– Point sources: From an identifiable “point” such as a factory– Nonpoint sources: Not from a single “point”; Carried to water by runoff from various sources

Sources of marine pollution:– Runoff, sewage treatment plants, factories, oil spills, accidents, ocean dumping, offshore

drilling, airborne emissions– Example: Deepwater Horizon Drilling Rig Explosion (2010) – Can you think of others?

Some effects of pollution:– Seafood and water contamination, loss of marine organisms, beach closures, economic losses,

eutrophication

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Meeting the policy challenges: pollution

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1972)– Regulates pollutant discharges into U.S. waters

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (1972)– Regulates ocean dumping and transport of waste– Also provides for the designation and protection of areas designated as marine

sanctuaries

Oil Pollution Act (1990)– Provides federal guidance for preventing, responding to, and defining liability for oil

pollution incidents (e.g., spills) in U.S. waters.

Coastal Zone Management Act (1972)– Provides for management of non-point source pollution

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Habitat loss and degradation

Marine life requires habitat for survival and growth

Habitat loss may impact species dependent upon these areas

Sources of habitat destruction include natural and human factors

Examples– Coastal development that results in

wetlands loss– Hurricanes may damage barrier islands

and seagrass beds– Dams may block salmon from reaching

freshwater habitats

Photo: NOAA

Mangroves, vital nursery habitat formany tropical species, used to cover around 60-75% of the earth’stropical coastline. By 2010, about 50% of mangroves had been destroyed.

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Meeting the policy challenges: habitat

National Environmental Policy Act (1969)– Requires agencies to consider impacts to environment for proposed actions

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act – Sustainable Fishery Act Amendments (1996)

– Provides for the sustainable management of U.S. fisheries and the conservation and protection of Essential Fish Habitats.

Coral Reef Protection Executive Order 13089 (1998)– Provides for the protection, research, monitoring and conservation of coral reefs

Marine Protected Areas Executive Order 13158 (2000):– Provides for the establishment and protection of marine areas that have special

preservation needs: about 5,000 worldwide in 2010

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Overfishing

Commercial fisheries provide food and revenue for the United States

Overfishing can decrease fish stocks, cause effects throughout the food web, and impact the economy

Examples of overfished species (Sept., 2010): – Western Atlantic bluefin tuna– Atlantic cod in Georges Bank

Goal of fisheries management: Maximum Sustainable Yield

– the greatest number of fish that can be caught each year without impacting the long-term productivity of the stock

Additional challenge: Managing bycatch, the unintentional catch of non-target organisms like sea turtles, marine mammals

Fisherman harvesting Atlantic surf clams

Photo: NOAA

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Meeting the policy challenges: fisheries

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the primary law governing fisheries management in United States federal waters

– First enacted in 1976 to help regulate foreign fishing in US waters

– Created 8 regional fishery management councils to help manage the nation’s fisheries

– 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments most notably added measures to protect Essential Fish Habitat

– The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA) amended MSA and mandates new measures to help prevent and end overfishing.

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Climate

Changes in climate can impact marine ecosystems

Sea level rise: ocean warming, loss of land-based ice (e.g., glaciers) are causing sea levels to rise

– Possible Impacts: Wetland loss, erosion of coastal habitats, habitat loss to marine species

Ocean acidification: ocean is absorbing increasing CO2 from atmosphere, resulting in a lowering of seawater pH

– Possible Impacts: Decrease in available carbonate, may affect marine life that use carbonate to build shells and other structures like shellfish, coral, and calcifying plankton.

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Some marine organisms that require calcium carbonate to build shells or other structures

Elkhorn coral colonyFlorida Keys

Deep sea clamBlake ridge,Atlantic ocean

Foraminiferan(zooplankton)Venezuela

Spiny oysterNorth Carolina, outer shelf

Photos: NOAA

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Meeting the policy challenges: climate

Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act (2009)

– Provides for ocean acidification research and monitoring

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

– Established by the United Nations and World Meteorological Organization

– Created to provide the world with a leading scientific group and perspective on the current state and possible impacts of climate change In 2007, this NOAA mooring

was deployed to monitor oceanacidification

Photo: NOAA

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Marine mammals and other protected species

Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)– prohibits the ‘taking’ of any marine mammals – which means in the U.S. it

is illegal to kill, hunt, trap or harass these species– Fact: The first international agreement to address wildlife conservation involved

protecting a marine mammal the Northern fur seal

Endangered Species Act (1973) – Provides for the conservation of endangered and threatened species as

well as the ecosystems and habitats upon which they depend

International Whaling Commission (IWC) – An intergovernmental (international) governing body charged with the

conservation of whales and management of whaling

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Establishing boundaries in the sea

United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS): – Agreement resulting from

3rd United Nations Conference

on the Law of the Sea– Defined countries’

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ):

Extends out to 200 nautical miles

from shore and provide countries

with resource and exploration rightsThis map shows the EEZ of the US andits territories

Photo: NOAA14

Meeting the policy challenges: overall

Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) – A relatively new approach to managing our marine

resources that focuses on whole ecosystems rather than only individual species

– Recognizes the connections between humans and the environment

– Includes environmental, social and ecological goals– NOAA’s approach to EBM is adaptive (flexible to changing

information and conditions) and collaborative (to involve participation from a broad range of groups and individuals with an interest in our ocean’s resources)

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Student activity

In today’s activity, you will learn more about the challenges involved in managing our marine resources

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