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Marine Resource Issues in Asia

Marine Resource Issues in Asia. Drivers. Increasing population — Asia has over 4 billion people, 60% of the world population (Programme, 2007) The Bay of Bengal coastal regions contain 25% of the global population (Ahmad et al.,1998) Overconsumption of marine resources (Programme, 2007)

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Marine Resource Issues in Asia

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  1. Marine Resource Issues in Asia

  2. Drivers • Increasing population — Asia has over 4 billion people, 60% of the world population (Programme, 2007) • The Bay of Bengal coastal regions contain 25% of the global population (Ahmad et al.,1998) • Overconsumption of marine resources (Programme, 2007) • India’s 1 billion people require about 13 million tons of fish per year (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998) • This affects marine resources—specifically coral reefs, mangrove swamps, sea grasses and fisheries (Programme, 2007)

  3. Pressures (Programme, 2007) • Pollution: Eutrophication, sediments, chemical waste, heavy metals • Destruction of resources and conversion to other uses • Overfishing to feed the growing population and economy • Inadequate governance of these resources: lack of monitoring, enforcement, and effective management (widespread corruption)

  4. Pressures • Lack of community understanding of the environmental issues leads to lack of involvement(Programme, 2007) • Global warming with its increased sea temperature levels, increased severe storms, and rising coastal waters • Many major growing cities on the coast of Asia would be threatened by not just flooding, but reduced freshwater and spreading waterborne illnesses (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998) • 80% of the Maldives is less than 1 meter above sea level

  5. Asia Coastal Populations

  6. Status, Trends & Impacts:Coral Reefs • Asia’s reefs have the highest marine biodiversity in the world (Marine Conservation, 2007) • Make up 75% of the entire world’s coral reefs (Marine Conservation, 2007) • While only 0.9% of the coral species and 2.8% of the fish are endemic, protecting 8% of the area would protect 83% of all Indo-Pacific corals and 58% of fish in the region(Hughes et al, 2006)

  7. Specie richness of coral reef fish and cowries

  8. Status, Trends & Impacts:Coral Reefs • WRI estimates that 88% of reefs in Southeast Asia are under high threat from human activities (Mimura, 2006) • Coral mining, ornamental fish collection, destructive fishing habits, conversion of coasts for resorts, and lack of pollution regulation (Berg et al, 1998)

  9. Status, Trends & Impacts:Coral Reefs • These activities lead to the destruction of coral reefs, along with it loss of biodiversity and loss of coastal protection from storms

  10. Status, Trends & Impacts: Mangroves and Sea Grass • Asia contains 40% of the world’s mangroves • Indonesia has the most because of its immense coastline • The Sunderbans: largest continuous mangrove system in the world, found in Bangladesh and India; it is designated a Unesco World Heritage site • FAO estimates Asia has lost 26% of its mangroves in the last 20 years (Mimura, 2006)

  11. Status, Trends & Impacts: Mangroves & Sea Grass • Sea grass beds are declining throughout Asia: Indonesia has lost 40%; Philippines about 50% • The destruction of the sea grasses is linked to the loss of mangrove forests. • The grass beds serve as a link from the swamp to the reefs and are valuable on a global scale for carbon storage (Fortes, 2004)

  12. Mangroves in Bangladesh and Thailand are being converted to shrimp farms at rapid rates (Samarakoon, 2004) Aquaculture in Asia makes up 87% of global production (Mimura, 2006) Mangroves in Thailand have decreased by 50% since 1960 (Aksornkoae & Tokrisna, 2004) Mangrove destruction directly affects sea grass beds The grasses cannot survive without the pollution buffer from land run-off (Mimura, 2006) Status, Trends & Impacts: Mangroves and Sea Grass

  13. Status, Trends & Impacts: Mangroves and Sea Grass • Mangrove destruction and shrimping projects threaten the livelihoods of local subsistence fishers • Shrimp seed collecting: harms other species, and the shrimp seeds themselves have a 40% mortality rate • Bycatch of bivalves and other shrimp are discarded and can no longer be of use to the ecosystem • The shrimp are collected through the year using a net dragged across the bottom of the swamp, which uproots small trees and sea grasses(Bhattacharya & Sarkar, 2003)

  14. Mangrove forest loss negates its benefits of: (Aksornkoae et al, 2004) • Linking land and water ecosystems, which is vital to seagrass beds, coral reefs, and fisheries • Nurseries services for a wide diversity of fish species • Sheltering shorelines from erosion and storms • Sequestering inorganic matter and carbon dioxide to prevent further ocean pollution and global warming • Foraging and nesting grounds for birds and other wildlife

  15. Status, Trends & Impacts: Mangroves and Sea Grass • Currently 95% of mangrove forests in the Philippines are secondary growth (Fortes, 2004) • Destruction of the mangroves and sea grass bed affects the water quality and fish diversity of surrounding countries as well • Part of why Bangkok began sinking (Mimura, 2006) • Even in Pakistan, the forests are also being destroyed, leading to increased water-borne diseases (Martin, 2007)

  16. Status, Trends & Impacts: Fisheries and Pollution • FAO estimates that Asia made up 48% of the global fish catch. The top ten producing countries included: China, Indonesia, Japan, India and Thailand • Coastal fish populations are overexploited and rocketing regional population is only increasing the demand (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998)

  17. Status, Trends & Impacts: Fisheries and Pollution • Coastal populations in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh relying on monsoonal rains and upwellings and fishing with non-motorized boats (nokas) account for 65% of fish landings in the area • Modern large commercial fishing vessels’ methods have overexploited prawns, mackerels and pomfrets (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998)

  18. Worldwide fish stocks1950/1970-2003

  19. Status, Trends & Impacts: Fisheries and Pollution • Many coastal areas of South Asia and China cannot support aquatic life due to pollution: (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998) • Urbanization • Lack of sewage treatment • Pesticide runoff (Mimura, 2006) • India is the largest producer and consumer of pesticides in South Asia • An estimated 2000 tons of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics have run-off into the Bay of Bengal • Industrial runoff (cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury) (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998)

  20. Status, Trends & Impacts: Fisheries and Pollution • Commercial shipping has resulted in ‘tar balls’ in the ocean • Oil leaks and spillage in shipping lanes leave a permanent film that makes its way back to the coasts • The oil also reduces fish stock productivity (Dwivedi & Choubey, 1998)

  21. Oil Spills around Japan, Korea and China (Mimura, 2006)

  22. Biological Oxygen Demand(Mimura, 2006) • ‘Red tides’ occur in Seto Sea of Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand • Heavy metal pollution not only harms the fisheries, but people as well • 25 years after widespread mercury poisoning, people in Minamata, Japan are still suffering with health problems

  23. Responses: In a Perfect World(Bhattacharya & Sarkar, 2003) • Population control • Pollution control • Improved local education and literacy • Raised awareness of the importance of the marine environment • Legally protecting vulnerable spaces

  24. Hughes et al. (2002) argues that Marine Protected Areas of Southeast Asia are far too small, because the majority of endemics are found on the peripherals of the region, and therefore most prone to threats from global warming and extinction Bellwood et al. (2005) argues that most effective reef management can be done through water quality improvement and controlling overfishing The Maldives is investing in treatment plants in order to reduce sewage dumping and contamination of coral reefs (Perera & Vos, 2007) Responses: Coral Reefs

  25. Responses: Coral Reefs • Study of Pulau Payar (established in 1985 to protect the marine resources) showed a 5000% increase in tourism to the island in seven years. The Marine Park prohibits motorized sports, fishing, taking any shells or coral, or any destruction of coral; however, the park’s reefs were still being degraded from all the sewage from the tour boats. (Lim, 1998)

  26. Responses: Mangroves & Sea Grass • Some communities in Thailand have begun trying to conserve the mangroves that they had traditionally relied on by replanting and legal protection • A study of one location showed that those who rely more on the forests or are closer to the forest, or are near smaller forests are significantly more likely to participate in conservation actions (Barbier et al., 2004)

  27. Responses: Fisheries & Pollution(Ahmad et al.,1998) • Regional projects such as the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) aim for sustainable fisheries and food security for the region with international cooperation (Part of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia) • India has established protected traditional fishing areas • The BOBP works to encourage fishermen to become stewards and participants in the decision-making process

  28. Responses: Fisheries & Pollution • In the 60’s and 70’s the Seto Inland Sea was referred to as the ‘dying sea’ • Japan began conservation measures and enacted legislation to control the total chemical load, and has greatly reduced chemical load and red tide • The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (CBOSEA), which includes 10 states, focuses on marine pollution for the protection of mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs

  29. Ahmad, H., Ahmed, L., Atapattu, A., & et al. (1998). Regional Stewardship for Sustainable Marine Resources Management in the Bay of Bengal. In K. Sherman, E. Okemwa, & M. J Ntiba (Eds.), Large Marine Ecosystems of the Indian Ocean: Assessment, Sustainability, and Management (pp. 369-378). Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.Aksornkoae, S., & Tokrisna, R. (2004). Overview of Shrimp Farming and Mangrove Loss in Thailand. In E. Barbier & Suthawan Sathirathai (Eds.), Shrimp Farming and Mangrove Loss in Thailand (pp. 37-51). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.Barbier, E., Cox, M., & Sarntisart, I. (2004). Household use of mangrove and mangrove conservation decisions. In E. Barbier & Suthawan Sathirathai (Eds.), (pp. 115-130). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.Bellwood, D. R., Hughes, T. P., Connolly, S. R., & Tanner, J. (2005). Environmental and geometric constraints on Indo-Pacific coral reef biodiversity. Ecology Letters, 8(6), 643-651. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00763.x.Berg, H., ﾖhman, M. C., Tro］g, S., & Lind駭 , O. (1998). Environmental Economics of Coral Reef Destruction in Sri Lanka. Ambio, 27(8), 627-634. doi: 10.2307/4314808.Bhattacharya, A., & Sarkar, S. K. (2003). Impact of Overexploitation of Shellfish: Northeastern Coast of India. Ambio, 32(1), 70-75. doi: 10.2307/4315335.Dwivedi, S., & Choubey, A. (1998). Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems: Need for National and Regional Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development. In K. Sherman, E. Okemwa, & M. J. Ntiba (Eds.), Large Marine Ecosystems of the Indian Ocean: Assessment, Sustainability, and Management (pp. 361-367). Malden, MA: Blackwell ScienceFortes, M. D. (2004). Wetland Conservation and management in the Philipines: Where are We Now? The Case of Seagrass and Mangrove. In M. H. Wong (Ed.), Wetlands Ecosystems in Asia: Function and Management, Developments in ecosystems (pp. 233-262). Amsterdam: Elsevier.Hughes, T. P., Bellwood, D. R., & Connolly, S. R. (2002). Biodiversity hotspots, centres of endemicity, and the conservation of coral reefs. Ecology Letters, 5(6), 775-784. doi: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2002.00383.x.Lim, L. C. (1998). Carrying Capacity Assesment of Pulau Payar Marine Park, Malaysia (p. 139). Madras: Bay of Bengal Programme.Marine Conservation. (2008). UNEP Asia and the Pacific Region. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.roap.unep.org/program/marine.cfm.Martin, . P. J. (2007). Pakistan: Strategic Country Environmental Assessment. World Bank. Retrieved March 15, 2009, from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:21459418~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:223547,00.html.Mimura, N. (2006). State of the Environment in the Asia and Pacific Coastal Zones and Effects of Global Change. In N. Harvey (Ed.), Global Change and Integrated Coastal Management: The Asia-Pacific Region, Coastal systems and continental margins (p. 339). Dordrecht: Springer.Perera, N., & Vos, A. (2007). Marine Protected Areas in Sri Lanka: A Review. Environmental Management, 40(5), 727-738. doi: 10.1007/s00267-005-0154-x.Programme, U. N. E. (2007). Global Environment Outlook 4 (GEO-4): Environment for Development. United Nations Environment Programme.Samarakoon, J. (2004). Issues of Livelihood, Sustainable Development, and Governance: Bay of Bengal. Ambio, 33(1/2), 34-44. doi: 10.2307/4315453.

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