I have been leading a fisheries ecology module for over 7 years at our institute and in the first couple of years I delivered the course at the end most of my students seemed very depressed, after that I changed the module to try and spend a lot more time looking at positive success stories in fisheries, especially towards the last third of the course. We now spend quite a lot of time examining sustainability certification, use of marine protected areas and so on.

Although we do need to make students understand the challenges of the problems it is really easy to put people in a mood of despair where they feel nothing can be done - it seems to me we must inspire the next generation rather than disillusion or scare them. So I think key is facing up to the challenges but it is also vital to explore solutions and celebrate success where it has been achieved.

Dear András,

As the paper reads, the major problem is habitat degradation. In my opinion this phenomena is caused by multiple processes:

- water pollution: changing the chemical traits of the water which can be lethal to thousands of species

- climate change: changing water temperature is also limiting factor for species

- overfishing: changes the structure of food webs

These processes are multiplying each other's effect. The result is a rapid change of  community structures and loss of diversity. These two leads to degradation of habitats, because their response to the above written effect is way more slower.

MPAs are very good initiative and are having large effect as puffer of the loss caused by overuse. The problem what still have to be solved is that they are connected with the non-protected areas through water movement so the other two (water pollution and climate change) affects them two. Though by the larger diversity their plasticity and resistance is higher than other marine areas, they are still very vulnerable to these negative effects,

In my opinion the first step should be the raising of public awareness to these problems, because as I see the wildlife of the oceans and seas is still something mystically invisible phenomena to the average people (including decision makers). A loss of a forested area is much more conspicuous than the loss of coral reef...

Best regards,

Peter 

Dear Andras, I have been telling my students who will be future leaders of our society that they need to manage and solve the problems of our country including polluted rivers, open burning and haze, OVER FISHING (related to this question)., over dependence on foreign labor.  In my country, this link gives info about overfishing.

“Healthy marine habitats, through the effective protection and management of key areas, are vital for people’s food security, livelihoods, and economic stability. WWF welcomes this significant accomplishment of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security,” says Jackie Thomas, WWF Coral Triangle Programme Leader.

“With effective management and investment, these areas can help reduce pressure on fish stocks by preventing overfishing, destructive fishing, and habitat degradation—the very threats causing fish stocks to decline. They will lead, over time, to increases in fish populations, size, and biomass, allowing spillover to nearby fishing grounds,” adds Thomas.

http://www.wwf.org.my/?17545/New-framework-for-marine-habitat-protection-in-the-Coral-Triangle-will-help-secure-food-and-livelihoods--WWF

Dear All,

The original title of this thread was „Brave new water world” but has been changed by an editor.

I think each of us is responsible for these more than regrettable environmental changes. What to do?

First to think and then to act but together!

I suggest you to study the following paper to find a direction in order to avoid similar traps:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273888501_Sustainable_landscape_development_and_value_rigidity_the_Pirsig%27s_monkey_trap

Article Sustainable landscape development and value rigidity: the Pi...

Hey dear Andràs well done indeed!

Best

Gianni

Dear All,

Now, we can mourn together the world if we will have some time during watching a movie on how to follow mainstream behaviour or sipping some mildly polluted wine after having enjoyed a DDT and imidacloprid flavoured hamburger.

Dear All, It is really true we have to think and act together as @Andras Bozsik. Matter is very serious and we have to have definitely Mourn if not acted now. Thanks for such an important thread and regards.

Dear All,

The solutions are limited.

1. To distribute widely this news.

2. Not to buy marine products. The only efficient measure would be to restrict radically fishing and environmental pollution.

As far as I know human behaviour none of them will be implemented. Thus we can wait until the biosphere is still able to operate…

Morality:

Only after the last tree you have cut down, only after the last fish you have caught, only after the last river you have poisoned, you will realise that money cannot be eaten.

Brave new world!

Dear András,

Yes, i forgot to write it yesterday, that the boycott of products which came from marine fisheries is also a step that everyone can make.

If we can't resist the temptation to have seafood, at least we have to inform and choose products which come from aquacultures.

Recently I have interviewed a number of marine and fisheries experts (e.g. Daniel Pauly, Nick Dulvy, Mike Heithaus) and the conclusion I have drawn from these conversations (with a focus on shark conservation) is that over-fishing is the major driver of marine biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, habitat loss, and resulting trophic cascades. Pollution and climate change exacerbate the problem, but to reverse the trends of loss over-exploitatative and unsustainable fishing practices must be halted. No take MPAs are great but they cover a small % of the ocean, and are vulnerable to fishing on their boundaries. 

Not fishing is not a viable option - over a billion people, many the most vulnerable and poor, rely upon food from the ocean as their only source of protein, and it is a livelihood for millions. However the fleet is too big, often too technologically advanced, yet the catch is in decline...Subsidies must be stopped, gear modified, legislation, governance, and enforcement needs to be strong.

Fish are a renewable common asset that harvested at sustainable levels from healthy, heterogeneous ecosystems should in theory be able to significantly contribute to global food security. However, what are sustainable levels? Its difficult to establish when we don't really know how many fish are out there. 

Dear all,

great highlights about loss of marine biodiversity. The concept of sustainability became near to decade 70 when most of aquatic resources were declining mainly by over fisheries. These days the big problem is decline of freshwater to humankind and their services. What's next environment collapse? There are many arise together with climate changes. But it's time to make decisions by ourselves and behaviors, which can change our neighbors...

Last month during the summer season, I started to walk on the beach with many debris over the sand and then I began to pick up the garbage in front of people on the beach... they were watching me and began to see how much garbage had in its surroundings... some people even helped me collect and put in the trash while others ignore me completely...

In this New World with what humanity is concerned? The 

Dear Julian,

Thanks for your contribution. I am afraid mankind has no more time to discuss what sustainability is. Until greed and economic interests govern societies mainstream “sustainability” will be formed according to the command of businessmen.

Dear Simone,

Dear All,

Thanks for your comment and sharing us your own experience. Sometimes I ask myself whether it is impossible to educate people or the garbage was thrown away by the Marsians?

I stress again the paper:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273888501_Sustainable_landscape_development_and_value_rigidity_the_Pirsig%27s_monkey_trap

And within the 12 points of Donella Meadows on how to manage systems!

Article Sustainable landscape development and value rigidity: the Pi...

While marine biodiversity decline (faunal specifically) is a critical problem and requires expert attention from scientists, basic ecological literacy in K-12 schools in the U.S. and abroad is essential, but woefully lacking. This is largely due to an emphasis on genetics, cell & molec, and general ecology content due to topical standardized testing demands. Natural history and ecosystem-specific emphases on botany and zoology (forget mycology) are not taught much at all. Thus, to increase public awareness and concern for aiding marine faunal conservation I believe will require advocacy from the science educators (especially ecology educators) to include more organismal biology and natural history, including that of marine ecosystems.

Dear Gregory,

I do not think this would be a scientific problem. This is an ethical trouble. Unfortunately, decisions are made by businessmen and policymakers and they are able to masterly manipulate simple people. Scientific opinions and scientists have no power and respect.

Points well taken!

"BE the change you want to see'-Gandhi

Turn vegetarian, stop consuming seafood and the fauna numbers will restore to a healthy level again. Consume less of everything so that the oceans are not polluted by excessive human activity.

The change starts with ME.

Regards

Dear Raveendra,

Agree! Turning vegetarian is a good solution but we are late and this change regarding its impact may be too slow.

Get in touch with the Coast Gaurd. Teach tem natural history, the shifting base-line syndrome, get them deeply sensitized. Get them involved, engaged, trained, in understanding the problem, in policing, enforcement. I feel very sad to say that in my country this is not happening - the Coast Gaurd does not function like this (with minimal exceptions). The situation is very difficult here. We have lost speceis, and lost lots of time. However, we know we could do something if we take organized steps. 

Dear Stamatis,

I think coach guards have no right to command fishers or water polluting businessmen.

Dear Andras, I am sorry you misinterpreted my answer or plainly do not comprehend my point. The Coast Gaurd is a kind of police-of-the-seas. They do have a mandate to protect marine resources or monitor crime at sea and in the coastal zone in many countries. Its a good idea in my country I think (I am from Greece).  Well, keep in touch - you really placed a great question!!!

Dear Stammatis,

Right. I have had not much idea on the power of coast guard. However, I do not think it may have some executive power or opportunity against fishers and businessmen who “work” with political authorisation. I think, this may be a pseudo-profession in order to get some media coverage and work place for relatives.

If coast guards had worked effectively the McCaulay et al. paper would not have existed.

Have you ever heard/read that police hampered environmental destruction?

I think one of the best approach is Sensitisation of sustainability of the marine biodiversity. I think this following paper will be useful

Dear Isa,

This thread has been initiated exactly by the paper of McCauley et al. (2015). Please, see the title of this thread.

I have been leading a fisheries ecology module for over 7 years at our institute and in the first couple of years I delivered the course at the end most of my students seemed very depressed, after that I changed the module to try and spend a lot more time looking at positive success stories in fisheries, especially towards the last third of the course. We now spend quite a lot of time examining sustainability certification, use of marine protected areas and so on.

Although we do need to make students understand the challenges of the problems it is really easy to put people in a mood of despair where they feel nothing can be done - it seems to me we must inspire the next generation rather than disillusion or scare them. So I think key is facing up to the challenges but it is also vital to explore solutions and celebrate success where it has been achieved.

Dear Clive,

I agree, men should work and fight until the last breath and also thinking is allowed.

Policing the ocean is not the only solution, but it helps. New technologies allow today the monitoring and surveillance of human activities in many parts of the ocean, specially in the high seas. Coast-guards have a a civilian police mandate and have a lot of difficulties to operate accross borders or national jurisdictions. In the Caribbean, to pursue the illegal traffic of people and drugs, the US Coast Guard had to sign 22 bi-lateral agreements with countries. 

Surveillance and inforcement in the high seas depend a lot on the "flag state¨regime, that is, the legal responsibility of the country that offer its flag to operate a vessel. It is fo that country to secure that whoever is on board comply with laws and regulations. We can safely say that this system is broken. 70% + of the commercial fleet operates with flags of convenience, where the flag country has no bearing neither with the property or benefits accrue by the operation of the ship, except the cost of the licensing. Few countries have harmonized their laws to make them compatible with international conventions and regulations for the high sea. Therefore the behavior of anybody on board of a vessel, and of the activities it performs remain unregulated or uncontrolled.

I am working in USAID DAI PANI for the programme for aquatic biodiversity improvement in Nepal.If we want to save the aquatic life then we should work in watershed and river basin level and manage the terrestrial resources including aquatic biodiversity.We should reduce the soil erosion and landslide in the hill, control the pollution from settlement and industry and start the work from the cleaning and managing the mountain,hill for saving those animal.consider power,biodiversity and economy during managing the things.

Greetings. In accordance to Bhola Dhakal, in my ecology lectures I promote birth control for nation with huge number of people like my country Indonesia. We have thousands islands, for decades we are still catagorised as developing country, because of poverty and low education amongst my countrymen hampered them for decent jobs. In turn, they gathered everything and worsened the environment (c.q. marine realm). Birth control was placed by the government some 3-4 decades ago. But now it is more or less like a voluntary. I knew the choice of having how many children and when to have them is an essential human right..however, people conciousness to conduct the effort themselves is an urge. By having a naturally decreased population, health and education and morality will (hopefully) improved and in turn lead people to reduce the overburden loads to the marine environment and the Earth as a whole. 

Dear Bhola and Norma,

Thanks for your contribution. I think saving environment is a common task. If each of us did his/her personnel and professional duty, the world and our life would be more enjoyable and sustainable.

Dear All,

The Erth needs people like Haidar el Ali (Mr. Mangrove) from Senegal. „He created a Marine Protected Area in the south of Senegal that would allow fish stocks to recover. Thank to his efforts, 7000 hectares of mangroves have been closed to any exploitation, and locals themselves are watching carefully to make sure that no one violates the rules. In 2009, he also succeeded in gathering 80,000 volunteers to plant 36 million shoots.” He does not practice lip servcice but convinces, organizes local people to save resources of the Erth and the ocean.

http://eu.oceana.org/en/blog/inspiration-portrait-mr-mangrove-senegal

Each of us should follow examples like that.  

Dear András,

the marine defaunation is a big problem to control mainly in environmental political science where I had worked and tried to understand how society and stakeholders could work together to reduce the huge human impacts. It's hard and complex looking for international agreements as CBD, UNCLOS, RAMSAR and how many signatory nations have complied with marine targets to control loss of biodiversity. But is necessary to all join in this scenario and show the urgency to comply and find more alternatives from global to local levels. I had shown in my research and students that the sustainable movement begins since 1970 and nowadays gain new perspectives with highlights of SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) in 2015 - http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

First of all, when we think about marine protected areas it seems the first and main solution to restore and protect the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. But, we need to open the eyes for all that many MPAs around the world, mainly in developing countries, were implemented just in paper and don't work efficiently because there are several problems related to human and financial resources. However, this initiative showed great possibilities to understand many pathways of management and governance. Leverington et al. (2010) based on an excellent revision of Protected Area Management Effectiveness, on a global scale, found positive management outcomes, including both environmental values conservation and impact on communities.

See the paper cited above in the link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00267-010-9564-5?LI=true

There is a hope as you showed MPA in Senegal! I believe too!

Cheers,

Simone.

Dear Simone,

Thanks for your contribution as well as the suggested paper. Regarding the modest result of Leverington et al.’s article, the main question is whether management and re-cultivation may catch up deterioration and destruction of biosphere?     

Through activism of non-profit NGOs, such as Greenpeace or Sea Shepherd (Conservation Society).

Dear Victor,

Agree but one cannot even forget Avaaz https://secure.avaaz.org/page/en/

Dear Victor,

I believe in a minimum sense of preservation/conservation of humankind. But, in sense of restoring our degraded marine ecosystems, there is a big barrier of the world economy to face as fisheries, industries, farms, agriculture, tourism, etc. Also, we don't have so much time to restore what need long term as for example coral reef ecosystems.

Our oceans are so dynamic and synergetic and we may persist to establish protection to ecosystems without or with low impacts by the human at moment.

The aware of protection exist (as you mentioned before - ONGs, Avazz..), but this is not enough to restore what we lost, unfortunately.

Best regards,

Simone.

All these approaches, of course, are valuable but we live in a complex world where priorities range from feeding our families to making yet another large sum of money to building that next power plant.  The key is to educate about the necessary balance between environment - economy - social justice.  Sustainability is a "win" for all and really the only way we can bring diverse opinions, priorities, and goals to the table.  We must insure we instill sustainability as a key, perhaps the key approach to a viable future.  Sustainability allows us to create a long term and financially stable fisheries while insuring relevant and needed employment.  It allows us to better envision a world with diverse sources to drive our growing energy needs.  It even protects our ecosystems, including our new very vulnerable reef and mangrove systems, as we better look to insure the long term stability and "health" of these environments while still having needed resources that they can supply. 

Yes, I also believe in the education to establish priorities of sustainability. We need to be more holistic to integrate the education, social-environmental protection and sustainable use of resources. We need to run together to comply the new Sustainable Development Goals proposed by UN.

Also, enjoy the new documentary about the recent threats and records of bleaching and death of coral reefs around the world by the Project "Chasing coral". Follow the links below.

https://www.chasingcoral.com/

https://www.facebook.com/chasingcoral/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFTkeUYpfQ

Cheers!

Since my early diving experience since early sixties I have observed over decades the changes. If one year is compared with the previous year there may not be much that can be observed as significant but looking over decades significant and currently alarming observations emerge. It would be nice if these longitudinal observations can be catalogued.

Khwaja M.S. Aziz, Marine Biologist, Botanist, Microbiologist working in multidisciplinary areas.

Dear All,

What each of us should watch: Before the flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEqBduQIx-Q