Climate change, overfishing degrading ocean health faster than predicted

Hazel Bender October 3, 2013 Tech & Science

International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) has warned against the deteriorating condition of the world’s ocean citing that the water bodies are facing multiple threats.

 A latest review report conducted by the IPSO suggests that the health of the oceans is degrading even faster than had previously been thought.Among the reasons responsible for the great disaster is the climate change. Scientists say, the water bodies are being heated by global warming, turned slowly less alkaline by absorbing carbon dioxide and suffering from overfishing and pollution.The report reads, “The conditions are ripe for the sort of mass extinction event that has afflicted the oceans in the past. We have been taking the ocean for granted. It has been shielding us from the worst effects of accelerating climate change by absorbing excess CO2 from the atmosphere.

The reports highlights, “Whilst terrestrial temperature increases may be experiencing a pause, the ocean continues to warm regardless. For the most part, however, the public and policymakers are failing to recognise – or choosing to ignore – the severity of the situation.”

Coral reefs, that are regarded as the beauty of the oceans, are suffering from the higher temperatures and the effects of acidification whilst also being weakened by bad fishing practices, pollution, siltation and toxic algal blooms.

The IPSO wants to drawn the attention of the world leaders, urging much more focused fisheries management, and a priority list for tackling the key groups of chemicals that cause most harm. IPSO stresses upon a new agreement for the sustainable fishing in the high oceans to be policed by a new global high seas enforcement agency.

The IUCN’s Prof Dan Laffoley said: “What these latest reports make absolutely clear is that deferring action will increase costs in the future and lead to even greater, perhaps irreversible, losses. The UN climate report confirmed that the ocean is bearing the brunt of human-induced changes to our planet. These findings give us more cause for alarm – but also a roadmap for action. We must use it.”