Listen to the oceans’ call, we need to keep them resilient
We need science, economics and technology innovation to urgently deliver ocean solutions at the right scale
Our oceans are facing a serious and urgent crisis. The cumulative impacts of rising ocean heat, disturbance, acidification, reduced oxygen, nutrient inflow and bio-invasions lead to a loss of resources and ecosystem function. We can address these challenges and build resilience through a co-ordinated strategy that needs to be supported by all stakeholders and that includes adequate finance mechanisms to maintain sustainability.
Finance is a necessary tool for conservation and ocean protection; it allows different ways of thinking about risks and the ability to use money intelligently to support science. Marine protected areas (MPAs), for instance, provide fish refugiums that protect species and enhance ocean productivity; they can also help protect coasts, promote carbon mitigation and help deliver sustainable tourism. The Southern Ocean (Antarctic) is catching up in terms of MPA coverage, currently at 5%, but there is still a way to go to reach the minimum of 30% recommende...
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