Successes at sea, despite doom-and-gloom stories
Successes at sea, despite doom-and-gloom stories
Stuart Sandin
San Diego Union-Tribune
07/03/2009
Reports about ocean health are frequently dramatic and disconcerting. The oceans are filled with toxic chemicals and thriving bacterial populations, leaving it unsafe for swimming and other activities. We have pulled most of the fish out of the water and the rest are threatened with extinction in the coming decades. And with the climate changing, it is only a matter of time until hot, acidic seawater dooms the last of the denizens of the deep to disaster.
Given reports like these, it is not surprising that the job “oceanographer” earned the dubious honor of being the second worst job in science as rated by a popular science magazine. When read end to end, there appear to be few positives about the state of the ocean and fewer yet about being a professional working with the ocean. It was against this somber backdrop that over 1,000 marine scientists and managers met recently in the nation's capital at the inaugural International Marine Conservation Congress to discuss the future of the world's oceans.
Significantly, the theme of this gathering transcended the doom-and-gloom outlook of ocean health. Instead of lamenting the demise of marine ecosystems, the goal of the conference was to explore ways of ensuring that the oceans will continue to service the needs of humanity for decades to come. In a special symposium entitled “Beyond the Obituaries,” Nancy Knowlton and Jeremy Jackson, the past and present directors, respectively, of our Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, invited a number of international colleagues to discuss success stories in ocean management and conservation. It is topical to consider some of these success stories as we debate the new policy options proposed to fulfill the resource management requirements of California's Marine Life Protection Act.
At the conference, we learned about sea turtles in Costa Rica. The population of green sea turtles in Tortuguero was plummeting and demographic studies identified that the loss of safe nesting beaches was the cause. Following a community-based initiative to reduce the harvest of sea turtle eggs, turtle populations began recovering. This recovery is not ephemeral; instead the populations have been increasing steadily for over 30 years. The levels are high enough now both to ensure the long-term survival of the population and to bolster the enthusiasm of eco-tourists eager to visit (and spend money in) the region.
We learned about blue crabs in the Philippines. Commonly the fishing community uses gill nets to harvest crabs, leading to erratic fishing yields with particularly damaging effects on breeding stocks. In lieu of gill nets, pots designed to more consistently collect crabs are gaining popularity. Not only does the use of pots enable more selective fishing (allowing people to release ripe females), but it creates a reliable fishing market that supports a more robust local economy. Consistent catches of crab improves management of a sustainable fishery that enables development of an export market with higher and longer-term economic yields for the local fishing community.
We learned about tropical fish in Hawaii. The reef aquarium trade has created a strong demand for live fish, and the Big Island supports a lucrative economy for fish collectors. Responding to dramatic declines in the harvest of the most charismatic species, a community-based management program was initiated to create a network of fishing and no-take areas to prevent continued declines. After seven years, populations of harvested species have increased, fishing yields have improved, and the fishery appears secured for the years to come.
The success stories were encouraging alone, but were even more inspiring when viewed thematically. From the perspective of marine conservation, the management actions acted to maintain large enough populations to prevent extinctions and to maintain healthy ecological functioning. From the perspective of marine resource use, the management ensured that economic interests were improved. The two perspectives are intimately linked — improvements in population health for marine species correspond to improvements in economic security for marine resource users.
