Oceans unit 4-7 practice Flashcards
What is global commons?
areas of the ocean that are classified by UNCLOS as high seas. Areas not directly under the control of a single country’s government
What percentage of the world’s oceans are classified as global commons?
60%
How is the International Whaling Commission managing the Earth’s oceans? What did UNCLOS require of its member?
Since 1986 the IWC issued an indefinite ban on commercial whale hunting. UNCLOS requires all 168 nations who have signed to agree the ‘law of the seas’ to follow IWC guidelines
What did the IWC establish in 1994? Where and how much of the area was under the establishemen?
the IWC established southern whal sanctuary covering 50 million square km around Antarctica
Why are marine ecosystems overexploited?What is there a correlation between?
There is a clear correlation between an increasing middle-class population and the exploitation of marine ecosystems. 160 million people will be categorised as middle class in the next 5 years. People have a disposable income to spend on exotic food; tuna, salmon, caviar
How many people eat fish nowadays
today, each person eats on average 19.2kg of fish a year - around twice as much as 50 years ago. (Cod case study)
what is sustainable management of marine environments?
sustainable development meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What’s being done on a global scale to manage marine environments sustainably?Which governmental body?
The UN in 2015 put forward 15 goals for the sustainable development of the planet up to 2030.
Which number of the UN’s 2015 targets involved oceans?
15
Describe the 1995 UN Fish Stock Agreement
the agreement straddled fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, signed by 59 states. Effective management and conservation of high seas resources establishing minimum international standards for the conservation and management of fish stocks
What was signed in 2023 to protect waters?What fraction of these areas cover the oceans?
in 2023 a historic treaty was signed to increase the protection of oceans to include the international waters of high seas, which cover over two-thirds of the world ocean area (Lamlash Bay - no-take zone)
Define aquaculture
the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants
Name three ways the ocean is managed
local no-catch zones
regional quotas limits
marine conservation zones
Name three sources of ocean pollution
Oil spills (Deepwater Horizon, Exxon Valdez)(Torrey Canyon)
Plastic pollution (UK rubbish exports)
Eutrophic dead zones (Mexican gulf eutrophic dead zone)
How much plastic does the UN think is in every square mile of the ocean?
The UN Environmental Programme estimates that for every square mile of ocean, there are 46,000 pieces of floating plastic
Define a microplastic
a degraded plastic which is less than 5mm in size
What does the UK do to its waste?
exports it
What is a gyre? Under which conditions to sub-tropic gyres collect rubbish?How many gyres worldwide?
natural open ocean rotations. Sub-tropic gyres collect rubbish dye to high-pressure conditions. There are 11 gyres worldwide
Describe the Friendly Floati disaster 1992
a container ship had its rubber ducks washed overboard. In 2007 it was estimates that they would reach UK breachesW
Which bird eats a lot of ocean plastic?How much plastic compared to humans are eaten?
The sea bird or Sheerwick Chick eats an equivalent of a human eating 10kg of plastic
How many different marine species have been found to have eaten plastic? What % of mid-ocean depths have traces of plastic in them?
Over 300 species. 73% of fish caught from mid-ocean depths have traces of plastic in them
Name the three ways oceans can be managed e.g. plastic
Globally: global conventions and UNCLOS (UNCLOS Article 194)
Regionally: European and national rules (plastic bag tax 2016)
Locally: Actions (beach pick-up screen)
NAME THE STATUTE YOU MUST LEARN FOR OCEAN PROTECTION
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLOS) Article 194 requires states to “prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from any source”
Name the impact of a plastic bag tax.What % had the usage dropped by and how many bags did this equal to?
After the introduction of the 2016 tax on single-use plastic bags the use of single-use plastic bags dropped by 90% equaling 9 billion fewer plastic bags being used.
Name a compulsory input on packaging
mandatory labeling on packaging to help consumers dispose of these items correctly
Define eutrophication
when a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which cause the growth of algae on the surface.
Identify the two ways nitrogen and phosphorous enter the ocean
Agriculture run-off
Domestic waste
How is an ecosystem affected by eutrophication?
Saltwater turns into freshwater - ocean acidification
Depletion of oxygen kills marine species - dead algae accumulates below
What is a UNESCO Heritage Marine site?How many places does this include under how many countries?
The UNESCO Marine Heritage List includes 49 ocean places distributed across 37 countries. (Belize barrier reef)
Name the six post 1945 supranational institutions for global governance
UN (United Nations) - worldwide peace and security and act to develop relations among nations
EU (European Union) - promote greater social, political and economic harmony among the nations of Europe
G7 - 7 countries (Canada, Franca, Germany, Italy, UK, USA)
G20 - 19 member countries plus the EU - represents 85% of global economic output
G77 - 77 member countries from developing nations
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
What’s UNCLOS?
The United Nations Convention on the Laws of the sea
What’s an EEZ?
Exclusive Economic Zone - gives the right for nations to exploit, develop, and conserve all resources within the ocean waters and sea floor in an area that extends 200 miles from the shore
What does CITES stand for?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
When was the first container ship?
1956 and by the 1960s there was dramatic growth in containerisation
What’s a chokepoint?
a point of congestion along shipping routes where narrow channels of shipping having high traffic because of their strategic locations (Suez canal)(Panema Canal) (Gulf of Aden)(English Channel)(Straits of Gibraltar)
What two conditions must an oil tanker follow under UNCLOS regulations?
Oil tanker constrcution - double lined hull
in 1978 tanker flushing was made illegal - 1954 Oil Pollution convention prohibited discharge within 50 miles of land or 100 miles of sensitive areas
Name two issues of maritime trade
piracy (Somalia)(NATO-operation ocean shield
smuggling and illicit trade (mediterranean sea route)(operation sofia)
What does the international cable committee do?What year was it formed?
In 1958 the ICC was formed to promote the safeguarding of international submarine cables against man made natural hazards
Name of the place rich in battery making materials?
Clarion Clipperton Zone in Mexico
