August 9, 2012
Happy Fish, Happy People: Keeping Marine Ecosystems Healthy Comes Full Circle
By Richelle Tanner
As I’ve lived my whole life on the coast, seeing marine life a stone’s throw away from the shore is no surprise to me, in fact, I’ve come to expect it. The plethora of wildlife that I take for granted would not be there if not for the various environmental regulations imposed by authorities such as (on the federal level) the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, and the National Park Service Organic Act, among many others. Over-fishing and water pollution are major contributors to the decline of marine biodiversity; one way these effects can be stifled is with the installation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
A prime example of a successful MPA is on Catalina Island, CA around the USC Wrigley Institute For Environmental Studies. In my short time here, the quantity and diversity of marine life that I’ve seen while snorkeling is unparalleled — where else can one stumble upon 30+ enormous bat rays and leopard sharks practically on top of each other on the sandy bottom just off the shore? For anyone witnessing this firsthand, it can be hard to fathom that the effectiveness of MPAs is being questioned within the scientific community. Granted, the impact on intertidal zones rather than areas beyond the littoral zone garners more concern, however, it is applicable to all MPAs’ regions. An exemplary concern is the act of illegally harvesting prohibited species in easily accessible zones. This undermines the intentions of the MPAs, as the restrictions on harvesting species and disturbing marine species and habitats are in place to protect healthy biodiversity from human influences. To read more about the value of MPAs, click here.
In a MPA, certain restrictions for pollution, interaction, and harvesting are imposed in order to preserve the natural marine habitat. For example, around Catalina Island, boats are not allowed to drop anchor, the harvest of shellfish is prohibited, and only certain coastal pelagic species are available for harvest, among countless other regulations regarding pollution. In addition, there are regulations on land uses, as certain practices in maintaining soil health can impact nearby marine ecosystems. Nitrogen fixation and denitrification are issues normally associated with soil and agriculture, however, runoff from excessive fertilization can offset the natural balance in an ecosystem (in this case, a marine ecosystem). This can indirectly lead to nutrient pollution and/or dead zones, which marine ecosystems are protected against when they become MPAs. Also in the case of the Wrigley Institute on Catalina, certain herbicides cannot be used on invasive species such as fennel, since the runoff would eventually make its way to the MPA and contaminate it. This type of marine conservation is one of the more effective methods, as it is preventative rather than restorative (after the damage has been done). For example, it is infinitely better for an oil spill to be prevented than even the best, least intrusive clean-up of an oil spill. Similarly, it is easier to protect biodiversity and pristine habitats than to try to recreate them after allowing ecosystem decay due to anthropogenic influences.
As with any ecosystem, humans are as much a part of it as any other organisms. Not only can we negatively influence it with pollution and overuse, or positively influence it (or at least protect it from our own harmful ways) with protection laws, but the ecosystem can affect us accordingly with its overall health. Climate change is inevitably a factor in the health of an ecosystem, and its impact on MPAs is a factor in their effectiveness. Climate change is both influenced by humans and can influence human activities; it exemplifies the “full circle” relationship that we have with our surrounding ecosystems. In establishing more MPAs and similar programs, humans will benefit because healthy ecosystems are more efficient and preserve more natural biodiversity, slowing the growing effects of anthropogenic influences on the world, one reserve at a time. Although the trade-off for a clean, healthy MPA involves relinquishing economic benefits and coastal transportation conveniences, it is worth it. With a growing population and increasing anthropogenic influences on the environment in our future, MPAs are an essential part of preserving biodiversity and healthy marine ecosystems for years to come.
http://www.mpa.gov/resources/faqs/
http://www.springerlink.com.libproxy.usc.edu/content/017187002nt71191/fulltext.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com.libproxy.usc.edu/science/article/pii/S0964569110000037
About the author: Richelle Tanner is a sophomore in the USC Dornsife College and the USC Thornton School of Music pursuing a double degree in Environmental Studies, B.S., and Jazz Studies, B.M.. She intends to pursue graduate studies in Marine Science and originally is from Seattle, WA.
Protect Our Oceans
By: Jordan Smith-Newman
In the many environmental studies courses I have been required to take as part of my major, I have learned the huge range of threats to which marine habitats are exposed. From unsustainable and destructive fishing to heavy-footed coral trampling, from runoff of land-based agriculture to the threats of global warming, ocean acidification, and bleaching, numerous factors are placing stress on our oceans.
These same oceans provide us with beauty and are home to thousands of flora and fauna species. They supply millions of people with their primary protein and absorb much of the problematic atmospheric carbon dioxide. Because these resources are so valuable international agencies have recently taken action to protect and preserve such striking ecosystems.
Despite its reputation for not having reached significant outcomes, the 2002 Earth Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa has succeeded in calling for the establishment of marine protected areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines the general function of Marine Protected Areas as a place to help protect resources within the marine environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
One such Marine Protected Area is Big Fisherman’s Cove, right off of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Catalina Island. The land was formally owned by the Wrigley family, the founders of the chewing gum company, with the ultimate goal of preservation. The kelp beds are some of the largest in the world, reason alone to protect the area. The kelp and cove also shelter the California garibaldi, leopard sharks, white sea bass and lobsters, to name a few fish species. Big Fisherman’s Cove falls into the 5% designated Marine Protected Areas of Southern California that are fully protected no-take areas. The commitment and relationship between the Wrigley family and USC has been crucial in keeping the cove pristine.
A similar marine protected area is Ngederrak Reef in the Republic of Palau. The vulnerability of the coral reef ecosystems has led to its recognition as a Special Management Area by the Koror State Government Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement. Unless conducting research with permission and a permit from the State, no one can enter the area because Ngederrak Reef goes beyond a no-take zone and is a no-entry zone. Continual surveying of the reef has been effective for the conservation and preservation of species biodiversity.
While protection of marine ecosystems is imperative, practical and effective means of enforcement have proven to be challenging. There must be continued and additional work by respective governments to further protect both official Marine Protected Areas as well as the general marine habitat.
About the author: Jordan forgot to submit her author bio….