Option B - Ocean Management Futures

Question 1

Abiotic resources

Answer 1

continental shelf contains sediments such as gravel, sand and mud that come from the erosion of rocks and transport by river to the sea - diamonds can be found in the continental shelf areas off Africa and Indonesia - gold and manganese are found on the ocean floor

Question 2

Hydrates

Answer 2

compounds that consist of methane molecules trapped in water - in the 1970’s they were found on the slopes of continental shelves deep beneath the ocean surface - some believes these hydrates contain more energy than all the known deposits of fossil fuels - makes them attractive to countries such as Japan and India

Question 3

Oil

Answer 3

oil and gas deposits are found in the continental shelf - Persian gulf accounts for 66% of worlds proven oil reserves and 33% of gas reserves

Question 4

Oil spills

Answer 4

Oil spills regularly contaminate coasts - oil exploration is major activity in regions such as the Gulf of Mexico and the South China Sea- threats vary- acoustic from hydrocarbons may deter or disorientate some marine mammals also growing evidence of widespread toxic effects on benthic communities in the vicinity of the 500 plus oil production platforms in the North sea.

Question 5

World marine fisheries stocks since 1974

Answer 5

fisheries and aquaculture contribute almost 160 million tonnes of fish in 2012 - valued at over 215 billion. over 136 million tonnes used as food for people. has grown dramatically since 1961 - fish consumption was lowest in Africa and greatest in asia (85.4 million tonnes)
Number of boats and the number of men employed in fishing must be reduces but the efficiencies which come with technology must be embraced

Question 6

Sources of ocean pollution

Answer 6

marine- based activity leading to pollution = fishing industry, shipping, offshore mining and extraction, illegal dumping at sea and discarded fishing gear. Main sources = land based activites such as discharge from stormwater drains, industrial outfalls, sewage littering of beaches and landfills.

Question 7

Radioactive waste

Answer 7

usually comes from nucleus power process, medical and research use of isotopes and industrial uses. Fuskishima (japan) 2011 - radioactive waste was carried across the northern pacific ocean towards canada and the USA

Question 8

Plastic

Answer 8

in 2006, every square kilometre of the sea held nearly 18000 pieces of floating plastic. Great pacific garbage patch = high conc. Turtles, seals and birds eat it - can be found in their stomachs in various studies

Question 9

Oil

Answer 9

shipping is major cause of ocean pollution - ships burn bunker oil which may be responsible for about 60,000 deaths each year from chest and lung diseases (cancer).

Question 10

Action

Answer 10

some successes in the handling of the marine environment. United Nations convention on the law of the sea signed in 1982 - rules for deep sea mining and economic exclusion zones