{"id":20068944,"date":"2021-03-18T11:38:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T06:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=68944"},"modified":"2021-05-14T15:57:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T10:27:06","slug":"ocean-protection-major-way-to-fight-climate-change-new-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/ocean\/ocean-protection-major-way-to-fight-climate-change-new-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect populous coastlines to fight climate change, scientists say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An ocean protection strategy that targets densely populated coastal areas, rather than ringfencing the most remote corners, could deliver game-changing climate benefits. It could also increase food production and restore the biodiversity of fragile ecosystems, scientists have said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An international team of 26 researchers found seabed dredging poses a particular danger. Dredging disturbs marine sediments, releasing the organic carbon stored underground. This leads to carbon dioxide (CO2) build-up and acidification. Putting a stop to just this form of fishing would prevent up to one billion tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This is equivalent to the total CO2 emissions from the aviation industry<\/a> and about 2.5% of total global emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A combination of new protected areas along populated coastlines, free from human interference, and more sustainable fishing practices would also restore key biodiversity hotspots and increase fish catch. Healthier fish and larvae would naturally spill over into unprotected waters, the researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Nature<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Triple win solutions for ocean management\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFood, biodiversity and climate change are the three defining challenges of our time,\u201d said author Boris Worm, a biology professor at Dalhousie University in Canada. \u201cSo we asked, how can we use ocean protection more intelligently, to cover all three objectives at the same time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Rogers, science director at the REV Ocean foundation and senior research fellow at the University of Oxford in Britain, who was not involved in the study, said the paper \u201cconfirms the growing belief among marine scientists, conservationists and those involved in sustainable blue economic activities that there are triple-win solutions for ocean management.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by: Enric Sala \/ National Geographic<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The researchers, he explained, looked at models of how marine-protected areas can be used to preserve biodiversity, fisheries and carbon stocks in the ocean. \u201cThey then combined these models to look at potential trade-offs [from] favouring one particular driver over another, or by considering all three. The results demonstrate that regardless of your viewpoint, current levels of marine protection are wholly inadequate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing ocean protection comprehensively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, 7% of the world\u2019s oceans are under some form of protection, \u201cbut only 2.3% is preserved in a way that strongly enhances biodiversity and food production,\u201d Worm explained. \u201cBut now we\u2019re pivoting towards some of the most overfished, most heavily used places on the planet, because this is where we can get the most increase both in species diversity and food benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the study, in total countries can protect up to 70% of the ocean without harming fisheries, because fish populations will still be healthy and abundant in the remaining areas. \u201cAnd they will actually do a lot better than how they do today, where they have access to more than 95% of the ocean,\u201d Worm said. Places that have experienced overfishing like India, he explained, will be even better candidates for such change, because they have huge room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n