London, UK (17 March 2021) A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal
Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity s most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate change in addition to protecting embattled species and habitats.
An international team of 26 authors identified
specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practice and finds that
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Groundbreaking global study is first to map ocean areas that, if strongly protected, would help solve climate
Groundbreaking global study is the first to map ocean areas that, if strongly protected, would help solve climate, food and biodiversity crises
By Harrison Tasoff
Santa Barbara, CA
From climate change and carbon emissions to biodiversity and global hunger, humanity faces so many challenges that tackling them quickly is a daunting task. One solution that potentially addresses multiple issues could provide the impetus society needs to make significant progress.
An international team of 26 authors, including six at UC Santa Barbara, has just published a study in the prestigious journal Nature offering a combined solution to several of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to add
The report – Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate – is the first study to show the climate impacts of trawling globally. It also provides a blueprint outlining which areas of the ocean should be protected to safeguard marine life, boost seafood production and reduce climate emissions.
Only 7% of the ocean is under some kind of protection. The scientists argue that, by identifying strategic areas for stewardship – for example, regions with large-scale industrial fishing and major economic exclusion zones or marine territories – nations could reap “significant benefits” for climate, food and biodiversity. Protecting “strategic” ocean areas could produce 8m tonnes of seafood, they say.
Scientists map ocean areas where protections offer greatest benefits
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Researchers say that restrictions to protect parts of the ocean with wider diversities of life that are susceptible to human harm could have an overall positive effect on climate. Photo by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
March 17 (UPI) Researchers have pinpointed the areas of the ocean where strong protections would offer the greatest ecological benefits.
According to the new research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, marine protections in specific areas would preserve 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species and boost commercial fish stocks several million of tons.
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