Oceans On The Edge

Question 1

How has the global pattern of coral reefs changed in the last 50 years?

Answer 1

Coral reef distributions are decreasing as they are being destroyed due to over exploration, marine based pollution, coastal development threat, dynamite fishing popular in South East Asia

Question 2

What are the key threats to coral reefs?

Answer 2

Over exploitation=dynamite fishing and reef pounding
Climate change=coral bleaching
Inland pollution=fertiliser run off from agricultural land
Coastal development=tourism, deforestation resulting in siltation
Marine based pollution=poison fishing, oil leeks from tourist vessels

Question 3

What is overfishing?example?

Answer 3

Unsustainable fishing. So many fish are caught that the fish stock decline and fish species can become extinct.
E.g North Sea cod stocks declined from 150,000 tonnes in 1963 to 50,000 tonnes in 2003

Question 4

What is eutrophication? Example?

Answer 4

Nutrient overloading (nitrates) in oceans from land based fertilisers and sewage. This causes algae growth and reduces oxygen available to other marine species.
E.g a 'dead zone' exists at the mouth of the river Mississippi, where it enters the Gulf of Mexico-virtually no fish species are alive here

Question 5

What is siltation? Example?

Answer 5

An increase in sediment in oceans, as a result of land based processes, this can ‘smother’ coastal ecosystems such a coral reefs
E.g deforestation and bauxite mining in Jamaica have released large quantities of material into marine areas

Question 6

What is bleaching? Example?

Answer 6

Changes in water temperature causes coral to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing it to turn white, this puts the coral under stress and can result in death
E.g 5% of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, has died as a result of coral bleaching in the last 27 years

Question 7

What is species migration? Example?

Answer 7

On a large scale, it is predicted that species will shift towards the poles as the oceans warm, ultimately resulting in a reduced global range for cold water adapted species
E.g the white beaked Dolphins (a cold water species) are increasingly found in higher latitudes

Question 8

What is the marine food web?

Answer 8

The grouping of animals and plants found in an ocean, showing the sources of food for each organism

Question 9

What is the marine nutrient cycle?

Answer 9

A set of processes whereby fish take in minerals when they eat submerged plant and algae, then the fish waste is converted by bacteria into ammonia and back into nitrates, which are then absorbed by algae, restoring the original balance

Question 10

What are the growing local pressures on coral reefs in St Lucia? And give examples

Answer 10

Population= 120 thousand in 1980 to 160,000 in 2010, growth concentrated on the coast, land-based development damages oceans, siltation and sewage
Tourism=earns half Saint Lucas income, sewage creates pollution, diving and yachting damages reefs, 25% of tourists experience the reef
Poverty= 20% live below the poverty line, making a living has been a greater priority than environmental protection
Fishing= continental shelf is narrow, fishing mostly occurs here, over fishing methods are damaging pots and throwing rocks at coral
Agriculture= forests cut down for banana plantations for export crops siltation of reefs

Question 11

What are the conflicting views on how the reef should be managed?

Answer 11

• Commercial dive operators V local fisherman= disagreement over use of the reef and responsibility for its destruction
• Local fishermen V the local authority= is disagreement over permission granted to build a marine jetty in a key fishing area
• Local fisherman V the local hoteliers= concern over water pollution from sewage and other waste reducing the fish stock
• Local community V the hoteliers= concern over degradation of the coastal landscape and lack of access to beaches along the coastline
• Local fisherman V the recreational yacht users= concern over the anchoring of leisure craft in fishing areas

Question 12

How are the coral reefs in St Lucia managed?

Answer 12

Coastal zoning

Question 13

Who was involved in the management of the coral reefs in St Lucia?

Answer 13

Local town council, local hotel owners, water taxi owners, dive businesses, fisherman, Marine managers

Question 14

Is coastal zoning?

Answer 14

Giving an area of the coast to a certain group of people e.g. fisherman

Question 15

What were the benefits of coastal zoning in St Lucia?name 3

Answer 15

– Damage to the reef is reduced due to regulated use improved fishing methods and eco-tourism
– The number sizes and diversity of fish have increased
– Conflict is reduced between stakeholders
– Local community group feel a greater sense of ownership of the coastline
-Local fishermen have been supported by improving their industry
– This scheme is self funding from diver and yacht own Fees
-Local people have received education and training and environmental management

Question 16

Where the problems of coastal zoning in St Lucia? Name three

Answer 16

-Some conflict still remains – some fishermen are angry that divers use conservation areas
– The scheme initially cost money to implement
– Continued growth of mass tourism threatens the area
– Rapid development of the town of soufriere is causing pollution and siltation

Question 17

How have North Sea Fish stock being managed?

Answer 17

-Allow fishing boats of EU states to fish anywhere in EU waters
-allow quotas to stop fish stock dying out
– Ban catching young fish that have not reached maturity
– Encourage member states to impose their own quotas
– Create marine reserves

Question 18

What are the advantages of managing the North Sea Fish stocks?

Answer 18

– More access of fish varieties for countries
– Supplies demand for species
– Clear boundaries and no conflict
– Keep the amount of fish controlled
– Reduces the decline of species
– Reduces overfishing
– quotas can be adapted for situations
-Let's finish reach the full-size before sold=more efficient 
-Fish stocks can replenish

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of managing fish stocks in the North Sea?

Answer 19

– Shortages of fish and fish species in the north Sea
-Overfishing
– More about more destruction
– Healthy fish return to the Sea dead
-Difficult to manage
– Expensive as different nets will have to be used
– Government has to fund
– Demand will increase as supply won’t be able to meet it
– difficult to manage and can cause conflict

Question 20

What is the distribution of marine protected areas?

Answer 20

They are widely distributed and mainly found on the coast but some are found in the middle of the oceans

Question 21

What is a marine protected area?

Answer 21

They are areas of oceans under some sort of legal protection. restrictions include limits on fishing development and resource extraction, there are currently 6594.
Currently 2.1% of oceans are protected

Question 22

What is an example of a marine protected area?

Answer 22

The Florida key is national marine sanctuary
Yeah designated in 1990
3842 mi.²
20 miles north-east to south-west arc between southern tip of key Biscayne to south of Miami
-examples of endangered species included blue whale Fin whale and sperm whale
-examples of zoned activities include commercial fishing and bottom trawling
-examples of restricted are discharging material and alteration or construction on the sea floor
-examples of prohibited are exploring for or producing oil or gas and removal or damage of historical resources

Question 23

What are the advantages and disadvantages of marine protected areas?

Answer 23

Advantages are protects endangered species, Policies can be adapted to specific locations, global scale, can change

Disadvantages are only a small fraction of global oceans are protected and unlikely to reach target

Question 24

Where are the worlds coral reefs located?

Answer 24

Mainly between the tropics as it is very heat sensitive and needs heat to grow, also on coasts as it is nearer the surface of the water so more sun light and heat e.g the Great Barrier Reef in Australia