How green is our blue planet?

By Dr Anina Lee

It’s time to see the oceans in a new light: to treat fish not as seafood but as wildlife; to see their societies not as stocks but as populations; and marine food webs not as fisheries but as ecosystems. It’s time we saw their existence as a wonder of nature, rather than an opportunity for exploitation. It’s time to redefine our relationship with the blue planet. – George Monbiot

Ocean life is increasingly threatened. Offshore drilling has polluted ocean waters, while overfishing has severely impacted fish populations, pushing numbers to the point of collapse. Oceans are also taking the heat of climate change.

According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature, fishing boats that trawl the ocean floor release as much carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry.

The report – Protecting the Global Ocean for Biodiversity, Food and Climate – is the first study to show the global climate impacts of trawling. It also provides a blueprint for identifying which areas of the ocean should be protected to safeguard marine life, boost seafood production and reduce climate emissions. Such areas are known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

When well-sited and well-managed, Marine Protected Areas support ocean ecosystems in restoring marine populations, protecting endangered species, and recovering faster from climate-caused disasters.

The report notes that only 7% of the ocean is under any form of protection. Scientists argue that, by identifying strategic areas for stewardship (protection), nations could reap “significant benefits” for climate, food and biodiversity.

“Ocean life has been declining worldwide because of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change,” said Dr Enric Sala, explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and lead author of the paper. “In this study, we’ve pioneered a new way to identify the places that – if strongly protected – will boost food production and safeguard marine life, all while reducing carbon emissions.

“It’s clear that humanity and the economy will benefit from a healthier ocean. And we can realise those benefits quickly if countries work together to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.”

The top 10 countries with the most carbon emissions from bottom trawling are China, Russia, Italy, the UK, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, and Spain.

One notable priority for conservation is Antarctica, which has little protection at present.

The study calculates that protecting only about 4% of the ocean, primarily within national waters, could eliminate 90% of the present risk of carbon disturbance due to bottom trawling.

However, George Monbiot is not optimistic:

Industrial fishing, an issue woefully neglected by the media and conservation groups, is driving many wildlife populations and ecosystems around the world towards collapse. Vast fishing ships from powerful nations threaten to deprive local people of their subsistence. Many “marine reserves” are a total farce, as industrial fishing is still allowed inside them. In the EU, the intensity of trawling in so-called protected areas is greater than in unprotected places. “Sustainable seafood” is often nothing of the kind. Commercial fishing is the greatest cause of the death and decline of marine animals.

People are starting to realise that dragging vast nets weighed down with chains over the ocean floor, or setting lines of hooks 50 km long, affect ocean life. It is in our own interests to turn things around. The “ecosystem services” that the oceans provide for free are worth trillions of dollars worldwide and underpin millions of livelihoods. This is an issue of people as much as it is about ecosystems and biodiversity.

However, beach clean-ups of plastic straws and bottle tops will not solve the problem. Civil society needs to be more outspoken about the critical importance of protecting and effectively managing critical marine ecosystems.

How effectively is South Africa protecting its extensive and biodiverse coastline? Do we have adequate areas under protection, and are these marine protected areas effectively managed? What benefits can we expect from allowing marine biodiversity to flourish?

Hermanus was established as a fishing town in the 19th century. There were vast numbers of fish in Walker Bay, attracting both subsistence and sport fishers. Then, in the early 20th century, commercial fishing fleets descended on our bay and decimated the fish stocks. Now, a shoal of baitfish like sardines or pilchards is a rare sight and a hit on social media. We marvel at photos of predators such as dolphins and seals hunting, and watching them is a special treat. But the large predatory fish are no more.

What would be the benefits of protecting Walker Bay from “exploitation” by declaring it an MPA? Would marine biodiversity flourish to a point where it “spills over” into the adjacent areas, providing increased catches for local fishers outside the protected areas all along the coast? Could Hermanus again boost its tourism as the “angling capital” of South Africa?

These – and many other questions - will be answered by George and Margo Branch in their Zoom talk to Whale Coast Conservation, entitled ‘Marine protected areas: do they their benefits?’ Tune in on Thursday 22 April at 18:00 live on Facebook. Or email anina.wcc@gmail.com for the link to the Zoom talk.

George and Margo Branch wrote the award-winning books Living Shores of Southern Africa and Two Oceans – a Field Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Margo has also authored many books, including Exploring Fynbos, First Field Guide to Mushrooms and Exploring the Seashore.

Margo and George have a passionate interest in the biology and management of sea life and a natural flair for communicating their passions. For the occasion, all these books are available at a special price through Whale Coast Conservation. Email margo.branch@gmail.com to order your books. They are a must for any library.