The first target is not measurable because the target states to “significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.” Different kinds of pollution can be reduced to different degrees and that information needs to be specified.
The second/third target are ambiguous and not measurable. The second target needs to explain what “sustainably manage and protect”, “avoid significant adverse impacts” and “take action” means. For the third target, saying “minimize” ocean acidification without giving any values to compare it to is not enough.
The fourth target is partially measureable. To “end overfishing” is measurable. However, to “restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible” needs to be specified. It is not clear what constitutes as the
…show more content…
Currently, the global surface area of dead zone is approximately 245000 km2 and this area cannot support marine life. (“Marine Pollution.” UNESCO). This is a major threat to the oceans therefore, is a reminder to reduce ocean pollution. This target is partially being measured. There are many kinds of pollution and even if some countries have regulations not all countries are being held responsible.
Currently, the ocean pH dropped by 0.1 from preindustrial times which represents a 25% increase in ocean acidity. (“Ocean Acidification.” National Geographic). As more research is being conducted, scientists are addressing the impacts of ocean acidification. Acidic pH will cause a cascade in the marine food chain impacting ocean species to various degrees. The ocean pH is predicted to continue decreasing (figure below). Therefore, it is important to focus on this target and take action.
(“Acidification.” CCDC).
Target five is currently being measured. Conservation of coastal and marine areas is measured using the marine protected area (MPA) which is approximately less than 3%. (Magiera).
Targets four and six can be combined. Currently, 63% of global fish stocks are considered overfished. (“Overfishing.” Greenpeace). Overfishing is mainly due to the low MPA and the open access to the fisheries, there is no incentive for fishermen to leave fishes in the water. “IUU fishing accounts for 20% of the world’s catch.”
Ocean pollution comes in many forms with each having some sort of effect on the marine ecosystem. Ocean pollution is destroying earth 's waters, because its killing populations of organisms in the water all over the ocean, Its destroying coral reefs and water is being contaminated with oil,garbage and chemicals.Which in turn is destroying organisms all over the ocean. For the purpose of this paper, it will be logical to categorize these pollutants into three main areas; garbage, chemical, and noise pollution. When thinking about these topics it is not only important to look at the devastation that it brings to sea life, but also how it impacts human and animal life as well.
World's ocean capacity is predicted that the overall marine species will not be sustainable to feed future global population of 9 billion and this due to the significant environmental issue, overfishing. Overfishing is caused by catching overrated numbers of fish, especially when we depletes the adult fish population and does not leave enough fish to breed and restock their numbers so that they can be sustainable. On top of catching over the limit, many fishing methods are unsustainable, which also impacts the function of the ecosystem.
According to a study done by Living Planet Report in 2015, 29% of the world’s fishing stocks are considered overfished and an additional 61% is fully exploited with no possibility to produce more fish. Our environment is currently afflicted by a number of different problems, one of which is overfishing. Overfishing is defined by FishOnline as, “Fishing with a sufficiently high intensity to reduce the breeding stock levels to such an extent that they will no longer support a sufficient quantity of fish for sport or commercial harvest.” The overfishing situation is being exacerbated by non-sustainable and destructive fishing practices and unfair fisheries partnership agreements; while there are currently attempts being made at fixing these problems and their effects on overfishing, nothing has been extremely effective.
There is no magic solution to overfishing, yet, as indicated by Shao (2009), human impacts can be stopped by some sustainable and feasible procedures. Marine protected areas would have many benefits. One is that the number of fish will likely increase. This system would
2. 90% of global fish stocks are either fully exploited or overfished. We need to move towards small-scale sustainable fishing practices, not industrial monster sized boats, if we are to have healthy oceans.
Did you know that 91 percent of important commercial marine species have had their population cut in half since 1800 (Biello)? Commercial marine species include the plethora of beautiful fish species under the sea. It also includes the fish used to make your favorite sushi or fish sandwich. But if overfishing continues, your food will not be the only thing affected. Overfishing is causing drastic and dangerous changes in marine ecosystems, increasingly affecting the global economy in a negative way, and putting millions upon millions of people at risk of food shortages and poverty. As a solution, international fishing laws and regulations need to either be better enforced or changed altogether to better safeguard our seas.
The targets within goal 14 are, for the most part, currently measured. Target 14.1 is partially measured, in that studies on marine pollution are
Oceans around the world are becoming more deadly as people fill them with nearly every type of man-made pollutant. They are turning into bathtubs; being filled with whatever the kids decide to toss in. Many refer to this issue as marine pollution or even ocean pollution. Ocean pollution is, “... the spreading of harmful substances such as oil, plastic, industrial and agricultural waste and chemical particles into the ocean” (qtd. from Rinkesh “Causes and Effects..” para. 1). No doubt, clean oceans are vital for every species on earth but man-made substances prevent the sea from being clean. Jacques Cousteau, a French explorer purposed, “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans”
When fish populations are low in one area, fishing boats will need to move to another area where fish are more abundant. This renders oceans and their sea life helpless and severely damaged until all of the fish in the oceans are completely gone. That is why governments need laws establishing the length of time a person could spend at sea fishing, in order to reduce overfishing and increase recovery of fish populations. One example of a fish population suffering from overfishing is the Pacific bluefin tuna. “Overfishing has left the world with less than five percent of its Pacific Bluefin tuna, says the Pew Environment Group” (Kowalski). This statement explains to the world how overfishing can drastically decrease a species’ population in an extraordinarily short time period. The Pacific bluefin tuna and other fish are very much stressed by overfishing, and suffer severe losses of population every day. Moreover, overfishing will soon lead to the extinction of fish species like the Pacific bluefin tuna. The European Commission even admits that the “EU’s [European Union] stocks are 88% overfished” (“An Icelandic Success”). This reveals Europe’s failure to prevent overfishing from spreading throughout the continent and beyond its borders. The majority of Europe’s fish supply undergoes the harmful effects that overfishing brings. Additionally, the fish
These modern fishing practices use sonar and satellite data to find schools of fish and powerful engines to pull huge lines and nets capable of catching one hundred tons of fish in a single haul. In 1952 the global annual catch was 18.5 million, but with this technology and the number of vessels it increased in 1989 to 89 million tons. Large species of fish that are traditionally sought out by fishermen have declined by 90 percent over 50 years and in that same time the fish species has declined by 50 percent. Charles Clover points out that shark, rays, sea horses, halibut and a few other fish are already on the verge of extinction.
On November 3, 2006, the New York Times published a front-page article titled, “Study Sees 'Global Collapse ' of Fish Species.” Within the article, experts cited that if “fishing around the world continues at its present pace, more and more species will vanish, marine ecosystems will unravel and there will be 'global collapse ' of all species currently fished, possibly as soon as midcentury.” (Dean, 2006). The issue of overfishing, which is defined as “continuously taking more fish than can be replaced by reproduction and growth,” (Overfishing: What Everyone Needs to Know, Hilborn 5) has become prevalent in society today. This is because of the advancements in technology and the pressure made by food industries for fisheries to catch
This target is measurable. We can measure the fish population and see how it is increasing.
Overfishing is a serious problem that often gets overlooked. In the article by Udy Bell, called “Overfishing: A Threat to Marine Biology,” Bell talks about how only 1 percent of the world’s oceans are marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs not only help protect oceans by allowing habitats to recover from damage caused by overfishing but also allow fish to safely reproduce. Due to fishing fish faster then they can reproduce, many species of fish are going endangered or already endangered of being extinct. Species like whales, dungongs, sea cows, codfish, jewfish, sharks, and other marine vertebrates are examples of fish that are being overfished. Overfishing was addressed at the World Summit in Johannesburg, Africa in 2002 (Bell 17). At the World Summit, many experts in the field of overfishing agreed that the most effective way to battle overfishing is by creating and establishing more MPAs around the world. Although overfishing is a serious problem, there are ways to solve the problem like creating Marine Protected Areas.
While I do notice some problems with the wording of some of the targets, I do believe that they can be measured within the parameters that were discussed in class. If these targets are measured in terms of ecological footprint, ecosystem
Targets 15.2 through 15.5 and 15.8 focus on conserving specific ecosystems and reducing biodiversity loss. Each specifies a deadline year (2020 or 2030) for being in progress or completed, which helps to measure the timeline for the goal. Each target can be quantified in several ways but they don’t specify how exactly to quantify it. The target year makes the deadline measurable but the method of measuring the target itself is not specific enough.