Seventy-one per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. They play a crucial role in regulating our planet’s climate, support diverse ecosystems and play a major part in humanity’s growing activity. But what do we do to support them?
Earth’s oceans
In the first article in this series, I will consider a smaller, potentially more manageable area – the Mediterranean Sea. But let us first remind ourselves of the importance of our oceans and how different the environment is from the land we live on.
Land can be divided up somewhat clearly (although there are disputes about who owns what), but what happens when it comes to water? Technically, no one owns the ocean, but some countries have jurisdiction in some seas.
A point to note is that our major sense is sight. In the darkness of the oceans, marine life relies on hearing. The main causes of ocean and sea pollution are lack of control of plastics, oil, fertilisers and noise due to human activity. These are common in varying degrees in different oceans, while some have specific problems, eg bleaching of coral reefs.
The growing issue of plastic pollution
The need to investigate, monitor and control pollution in the Mediterranean was recognised in 1978, almost 20 years before the start of the COP series of global warming conferences. A Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) containing seven protocols was agreed at the Barcelona Convention. These are:
- Dumping from ships and aircraft.
- Prevention and emergencies (oil and noxious substances).
- Land-based sources (litter, plastics, mercury).
- Specially protected areas for marine life.
- Offshore activity (oil and gas rigs).
- Hazardous wastes (protection of human and marine life).
- Integrated coastal zone management (wetlands, estuaries, woodlands and dunes).
Dumping of plastic in streams is causing plastic pollution in the Mediterranean near Corsica, and hectares of agricultural land in Almeria, two hours south of my home, are covered by plastic. Ecologists warn that Spain’s next extreme rainstorm could wash tonnes of plastic into the sea. A recent article by Brian McHugh of Yorkshire Bylines gives a comprehensive report on the latest research into plastic pollution.
Marine Protected Areas and rights of ecosystems
Marine Protected Areas have been established in Greece. However, many of the Mediterranean MPAs don’t currently provide the strength of protection required for conservation, as shown in MPA shortfalls. But the Marine Conservation Institute gives examples of successful progress in France, Italy and Croatia. SharkLab Adria, in collaboration with local fisherfolk, is carrying out research work on Mediterranean marine life to improve marine conservation in Albania. Other work is being done by Med Sea Alliance. The World Wildlife Fund takes an active interest in the progress of all activity to protect marine life in the Mediterranean and in management of the MPAs, and publishes a regular WWF Newsletter.
The Mar Menor, Europe’s largest seawater lagoon, which is close to my home, has suffered from run-off of inorganic fertilisers from new agricultural land, with resulting increases in algae and jellyfish, for decades. Efforts to restore it were hampered, until recently, by lack of cooperation between local town councils and national government. It is now the first ecosystem to have been given legal personhood.
Undersea noise pollution
As an RN aircraft engineer, I was involved in operating an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter squadron and in R&D and trials of ASW technology. I am aware of the noise we put into the sea to locate submarines that are designed to be as quiet as possible. We are making progress by using sonar that relies more on processing data from many passive sonobuoys, but there are other sources of ocean noise pollution.
Think of the vast number of super tankers, container ships and cruise liners that travel through our oceans every day. Technology can help develop quieter, more energy-efficient ships.
Imagine the day when we can warn whales of a forthcoming tsunami and guide them to a MPA and safety. Sounds like science fiction. Maybe not; communication with whales is possible.
EU–UK cooperation
The European Union issued a Marine Strategy Framework Document in 2008 that includes the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the NE Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean. Considerable loss of cooperation with the UK was another penalty of Brexit, although there are signs of the UK rejoining specific programmes. A European Movement video, One Earth, One Team, shows the full damage caused by withdrawing from all programmes that contribute to reducing global warming and its effect on the marine environment.
The UK Marine Conservation Society reports good news stories on marine conservation, and recent research on UK marine life highlights the increase in new species around British shores. These include Balearic Shearwater seabirds, octopuses, dolphins, bluefin tuna and jellyfish, especially along the southwest coast.
What next?
The problems of protecting the Earth’s oceans are as diverse as the marine life that inhabits them. I leave Spain to visit family in Woking and Maidstone for Christmas and will celebrate New Year’s Eve in the air en route to Australia via Singapore to visit my twin daughters and their families there. They live a boat trip away from the Whitsunday Islands in the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. For many years, I have received a monthly newsletter from the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS). My next ‘Save our oceans’ article will feature their problems and the progress they are making in conserving the marine ecosystem there.
I wish you all a very happy festive season and will leave you with the sounds of whales singing.
