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State of the World's Oceans

  • Book
  • © 2009

Overview

Editors:
  1. Michelle Allsopp

    1. Greenpeace Research Laboratories School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

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  2. Richard Page

    1. Greenpeace Research Laboratories School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

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  3. Paul Johnston

    1. Greenpeace Canonbury Villas, London, UK

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  4. David Santillo

    1. Greenpeace Research Laboratories School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

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  • Provides a review of scientific literature on environmental issues facing the oceans
  • Covers a wide range of topics to illustrate the breadth of threats from human activities facing the marine environment
  • Links environmental issues with policy perspectives and processes of marine environmental protection
  • Draws upon the unique expertise of Greenpeace in its work to protect the world’s oceans

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
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  2. Biodiversity

    Pages 1-31

  3. Fisheries

    Pages 33-83

  4. Aquaculture

    Pages 85-113

  5. Pollution

    Pages 115-155

  6. Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Impacts on the Marine Environment

    Pages 157-180

  7. Equity

    Pages 181-198

  8. Marine Reserves

    Pages 199-213

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 215-256
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Keywords

About this book

The world’s oceans cover 70% of the earth’s surface and are home to a myriad of amazing and beautiful creatures. However, the biodiversity of the oceans is incre- ingly coming under serious threat from many human activities including overfi- ing, use of destructive fishing methods, pollution and commercial aquaculture. In addition, climate change is already having an impact on some marine ecosystems. This book discusses some of the major threats facing marine ecosystems by cons- ering a range of topics, under chapters discussing biodiversity (Chapter 1), fisheries (Chapter 2), aquaculture (Chapter 3), pollution (Chapter 4) and the impacts of increasing greenhouse gas emissions (Chapter 5). It goes on to explore solutions to the problems by discussing equitable and sustainable management of the oceans (Chapter 6) and protecting marine ecosystems using marine reserves (Chapter 7). Presently, 76% of the oceans are fully or over-exploited with respect to fishing, and many species have been severely depleted. It is abundantly clear that, in general, current fisheries management regimes are to blame for much of the widespread degradation of the oceans. Many policy-makers and scientists now agree that we must adopt a radical new approach to managing the seas – one that is precautionary in nature and has protection of the whole marine ecosystem as its primary objective. This ‘ecosystem-based approach’ is vital if we are to ensure the health of our oceans for future generations.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"A very comprehensive assessment of where we are in terms of the major threats to the seas of the world ... a very valuable book, particularly for undergraduate level" (Professor Martin J. Attrill, Professor of Marine Ecology, Associate Head of School (Research): Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK)

"Timely, well-informed and exhaustively referenced" (Dr. Mark Everard, Visiting Research Fellow, University of West of England, Independent sustainability consultant, author and broadcaster)

"The chapters on equity and greenhouse effects on marine environments provide information and perspective that will be new to many readers … . Anyone interested in perils facing marine habitats, resources, and uses can learn much from this book … . Summing Up: Recommended. … Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and general readers." (S. R. Fegley, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), July, 2009)

“This book provides a review of major issues relating to marine ecosystems. … The most recent citations in the reference list are from 2007 … . The book will be of interest to students of marine conservation policy and governance as an example of viewing a complex set of management problems through a single sectoral prism.” (Richard Kenchington, Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 17, December, 2010)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Greenpeace Research Laboratories School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Michelle Allsopp, Richard Page, David Santillo

  • Greenpeace Canonbury Villas, London, UK

    Paul Johnston

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