Skip to content

Conservation

Greening our oceans?

by Colin Ricketts 06 Mar 2014
Greening our oceans?

When the blue tuna gather in huge shoals again, then we can say that we have helped the ocean to recover its sanity in these desolated marine ecosystems; Tuna image; Credit: © Shutterstock

Achim Steiner is the executive director of UNEP, his previous links being with IUCN. His point at the World Ocean Summit last week on the exploitation of our oceans was well put. He admitted the extreme economic benefits to some nations of our marine resources, but reminded all of us that taking your catch is only part of the equation. With 350 million jobs connected to maritime activity, fish and related products alone account for $102 billion pa. Interestingly, almost 10% of that is involving ecotourism around coral reefs.

With vast figures like that to pass around, many maritime nations need to think again about their exploitation of the environment. Increasing consumption is only part of the current situation. Decreasing fish populations in populated regions are certainly more worrying events for us. Achim's argument is simply, that, nationally at least, we are unlikely to be responsible enough in the near future.

Although only 30% of the sea fish populations are classed as over-exploited or deplete in some way, there are 500 large "dead zones" where pollution has taken a grim toll. These losses include mangrove swamps, sea grass beds and the infamous coral reef situation. Corals are plagued with acidified water, pollution near human populations and predation by invasive species.

A nation's GNP is no longer an accurate measure of its potential. Sustainable long-term growth has to rely on natural resources that will continue to exist in the future. The United Nations Environment Programme's influence on nations that agree with such concepts is felt in the document The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity.

Marine Protected Areas are the tip of the iceberg that should sink human greed that belongs to the past. Haiti now has 9 MPA while the South Pacific nations seem to be even further ahead of the rest of us. Only 2.8 % of the world's marine resources are protected, with 10% being fought for by the conservationists before 2020. The EU's Common Fisheries Policy has also been especially hard-fought. It attempts to prevent the 23% wastage of total catch by throwing fish overboard when quotas are reached. It may sound stupid, but we have to deal with the fisherman's reality. Their industry is not dead if they can change their systems.

It is truly amazing how resilient some of our fish stocks have been when you consider the wastage that has been perpetrated for generations. Now it remains to be seen whether grand plans come to fruition. We can feed the world in 2100, but only if there is cooperation in the strongest ecological context.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping