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Caribbean Sea under threat
Caribbean Sea under threat
The Caribbean Sea has been listed as one of the areas most seriously damaged by human activity. A new study points to pollution from ships, over-fishing - and climate change as the three major causes of damage to marine ecosystems in the waters around the region. Scientists say nearly every corner of the world's oceans have been damaged in some way by human activity. The report recommends shifting shipping lines away from sensitive areas. While subsistence fishing has a limited impact on ocean ecologies, high-impact commercial fishing dumps millions of pounds of unwanted dead fish, birds and mammals back into the ocean. This has threatened many species of turtles, birds, whales, and dolphins with extinction. According to the findings, shipping traffic is the third largest cause of damage. The fuel gets spilled, there's noise pollution which is disturbing to whales and such... which has a major affect on the ecosystem. It's recommended that shifting shipping lines away from sensitive areas like coral reefs and continental shelfs could significantly reduce the impact on ocean life.
The Caribbean Sea has been listed as one of the areas most seriously damaged by human activity. A new study points to pollution from ships, over-fishing - and climate change as the three major causes of damage to marine ecosystems in the waters around the region. Scientists say nearly every corner of the world's oceans have been damaged in some way by human activity. The report recommends shifting shipping lines away from sensitive areas. While subsistence fishing has a limited impact on ocean ecologies, high-impact commercial fishing dumps millions of pounds of unwanted dead fish, birds and mammals back into the ocean. This has threatened many species of turtles, birds, whales, and dolphins with extinction. According to the findings, shipping traffic is the third largest cause of damage. The fuel gets spilled, there's noise pollution which is disturbing to whales and such... which has a major affect on the ecosystem. It's recommended that shifting shipping lines away from sensitive areas like coral reefs and continental shelfs could significantly reduce the impact on ocean life.
BBC.co.uk
BBC.co.uk
Pollution threatens Caribbean
The Caribbean coast is being endangered by pollution, development and overuse, according to a new environmental report. The capacity of Caribbean countries to treat sewage has not kept up with the large numbers of tourists, according to the report by the World Resources Institute group. Cruise ships - a major component of the Caribbean's tourism market - were singled out as being major polluters because they release sewage offshore. Mangrove and coral reef areas have been contaminated by fertiliser from farms, and the reefs have been further degraded by human contact and destructive fishing practices.
This could result in a drop in tourism revenues, because many tourists travel to the Caribbean's coastal areas to explore pristine marine environments, according to the report. The report noted similar problems worldwide but argued that, because the Caribbean relies largely on tourism, harm to coastal areas could have major economic effects. With the number of visitors projected to rise, the group predicts additional environmental pressures in the region.
This could result in a drop in tourism revenues, because many tourists travel to the Caribbean's coastal areas to explore pristine marine environments, according to the report. The report noted similar problems worldwide but argued that, because the Caribbean relies largely on tourism, harm to coastal areas could have major economic effects. With the number of visitors projected to rise, the group predicts additional environmental pressures in the region.
Telegraph.co.uk
Telegraph.co.uk
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