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Work done by:
Ricardo Reis nº26

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Introduction

The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. How we manage this vital resource is essential for humanity as a whole, and to counterbalance the effects of climate change.

Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.

Facts and figures

The truth is:

75% - The ocean covers three quarters of the Earth’s surface and represents 99 percent of the living space on the planet by volume;

200,000 - The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions;

40% - As much as 40 percent of the ocean is heavily affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, loss of coastal habitats and other human activities;

30% - The ocean absorbs about 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming;

3 Billion - More than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods;

3 trillion - The market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at 3 trillion dollars per year, about 5 percent of global GDP.

What are the goals?

The goals are:

Reduce marine pollution - By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

Protect and restore ecosystems - By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

Reduce ocean acidification - Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.

What are the goals

Sustainable fishing - By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics.

Conserve coastal and marine areas - By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.

Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of marine resources - By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.

Goals in action

When high school principal Mervyn Tennant retired and moved to the fishing village of Oracabessa Bay on Jamaica’s north coast, he had to witness a regular and heartbreaking sight—poachers killing the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles and stealing their eggs.  Mr Tennant is one of the many residents of the village who decided to fight back to protect not only the turtles, but entire community’s ecosystem.

The Oracabessa Bay Fishing Sanctuary was established 2010 when the St Mary’s Fishermen Cooperative joined forces with the Oracabessa Foundation, a not-for-profit owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.

Fishers, marine biologists, hotel owners united not only to restore corals, fish stock and sea turtles, but also to establish sustainable livelihoods and a community capable of living in harmony with nature.

With support of the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (SGP) and UNDP, the organization set out to preserve the marine ecosystem in the 74-hectare sanctuary and to bring back fish, sea turtles and coral.

The members expanded three undersea coral garden nurseries with 2,000 pieces of coral, trained fishers as coral gardeners, purchased a patrol boat for enforcement, and trained others in information technology, financing and marketing.

By 2013, NEPA’s reports indicated a 153 percent increase in coral cover; a 272 percent increase in fish density; 16 percent increase in fish size; a 564 percent increase in the mass of living fish per area; and a 43 percent drop in harmful reef algae.

Mervyn Tennant said the programme has helped release 220,000 sea turtle hatchlings into the sea.

Conclusion

With this work I pretend to know and make known like below water and its problems.

The life below water is part of the Global goals, that aim to improve the humanity and its environment.