Three new reports examine the potential of blue carbon pathways to act as natural climate solutions.
By Kristin Kleisner, Monica Moritsch and Jamie Collins
EDFish
Selected tag(s): Marine Protection
Looking to the oceans for answers to the climate crisis
Posted in International, Science/Research Also tagged Blue Carbon, Climate change, climate-resilient fisheries, collaboration, Conservation, Domestic, Oceans, sustainability, technology Comments are closed
The Climate-Resilient Fisheries Toolkit can help you build resilience now
By Jeff Young
Climate change and overfishing are increasingly straining fisheries and marine ecosystems, putting marine biodiversity, the nutrition of people in coastal communities and global food supply at greater risk. Fishers, community leaders and practitioners worldwide are poised to take action, but often grapple with uncertainty, limited data or insufficient resources. Meanwhile, the journey of building resilience can often feel daunting and overwhelming. These leaders and change-makers are not alone in their experiences and tangible solutions to these major challenges are within reach. Read More
Posted in Global Fisheries, International, Science/Research Also tagged Belize, Chile, Climate change, climate-resilient fisheries, collaboration, Conservation, Cuba, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, Fishermen, Fishery Management, fishery solutions center, Fishing, Food Security, Mexico, research, small-scale fisheries, sustainability, sustainable fisheries Comments are closed
Whales, ships and climate change
In all the years I’ve been studying the ocean, whales have provided some of my fondest memories. I remember those humpbacks singing to each other off Maui; the baby gray whale I saw rolling around in the surf near Bodega Bay; and the blue whales that left me awestruck during trips to the Channel Islands.
Lately, I’ve been studying natural ocean processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, searching for ways to restore or accelerate them so that we can safely slow down the rate of global warming. Whales might be part of the solution.
Posted in Pacific, Policy Also tagged carbon drawdown, carbon sequestration, Climate change, Pacific, west coast, Whales Comments are closed
EDF Recognizes World Oceans Day
Rahel Marsie-Hazen, Howard University Fellow
Today, June 8, 2012 marks the fourth World Oceans Day. The United Nations established this special day both to celebrate and pay tribute to the mighty body of water that covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and contains 97% of the planet’s water. The world’s oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, regulate our climate, clean the water we drink and house potential medicines for illnesses.
Let’s not forget that our oceans also provide us with seafood, which plays an integral role in the food security of billions of people worldwide. Small and large communities in many regions of the world depend on fish as a primary source of protein. For many, it provides an invaluable supplement for diversified and healthy diets. Our oceans also support the fishing industry, which provides an important means of income for millions of people and their families.
Our oceans do a great deal for us and on this day we must recognize that they are in serious trouble. According to the 2010 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report, more than 80% of global fisheries are fully or over exploited. But the tide is turning in American fisheries. Fisheries management reform and best practices are nursing these fisheries back to health—rebounding fish stocks, returning job stability and providing consumers with fresh and sustainably caught seafood. And this is definitely excellent news to celebrate. Happy World Oceans Day.
60 Minutes and Cuban Reefs
Elkhorn coral and reef fish in the Gardens of the Queen marine park in Cuba.
Hats off to CBS for the recent “60 Minutes” segment on the coral reefs of the “Gardens of the Queen” (Jardines de la Reina) in Cuba!
The Gardens of the Queen is a spectacular national park off the south central coast of Cuba. EDF has had the privilege of working with Cuban scientists and resource managers in the park for several years. Just this past November we teamed up with Cuban partners there to host an international workshop on fisheries management and marine protected areas. In 2012 we will partner with Cuban scientists to study the benefits on fish populations from restricting most fisheries inside the park.
The 60 Minutes piece highlights the good work Cubans are doing to protect marine ecosystems and the challenges that lie ahead. I was especially impressed with the work of CBS producer Anya Bourg to ensure that the piece was rigorous – as much as possible – in its treatment of complex scientific issues. Explaining complicated and often subtle relationships in plain and compelling language is a real feat!
For the most part, 60 Minutes got it right. Let me expand on two key themes from the piece, based on work we are doing with Cuban scientists to help understand the lessons from the Gardens of the Queen. Read More
Twenty Years of Coastal Research and Conservation in Cuba
Mangroves in the Gardens of the Queen National Park provide important fish habitat.
Congratulations to my friends at the Cuban Center for Coastal Ecosystem Research in Cayo Coco, Cuba. On November 28, the Center celebrated its 2oth anniversary –20 years of conducting critical research on Cuba’s rich and diverse coastal ecosystems. Last month, the Center’s founder Celso Pazos Alberdi, and director Adán Zuñiga Rios, invited me and several colleagues to visit the Center to get a first-hand look at what they do.
The Center, which is housed in the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, provides much of the science that policy makers and managers use to develop environmental policies and programs for coastal areas. Their work is also aimed at ensuring that tourism and other economic development in coastal areas is environmentally sustainable. That’s no small task.
With over 3,000 miles of coastline—and more than 4,000 islets and keys– Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is unmatched in biodiversity. Mangrove swamps, sea grass beds, and coral reefs provide breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for many commercial fish species and also for endangered migratory species like marine sea turtles, sharks and manatees. Cuba’s coastal areas are also home to some of its most important economic sectors—tourism, fisheries, and energy development. Read More