Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas

>65% of cities >1.5 million on coast

Coastal & Shelf Sea Systems

Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas

Hazards

Fisheries

Minerals

Tourism

Shipping

Energy- Oil/gas

*superimposed on natural variations*

Hazards

•Natural hazards particularly important in coastal areas

•Include Tsunamis, tidal surges, hurricanes etc.

•Of global population>1.2 billion exposed to coastal hazards

•100-250 million live below tidal surge level

Tourism•Fastest growing sector in world economy

•US$ 3.5 trillion in 1999

•Major driver for economies of many small islands and coastal countries

•Typically an order of magnitude more important than fisheries in terms of value

•Potential impacts include water usage, sewage, pollution, destruction of habitat

•Desire for visitors to have pristine environments, thus spread of tourism

Fisheries•Global marine fisheries increased 6X since 1950

•BUT FAO assessment is 1/4 of global fish stock over -fished, 1/2 fully exploited

•“Global crisis in fisheries” [See Allison 2001, J.Int. Development 13 933]

•Major impact on developing countries where ~95% of 120 million involved globally in fisheries

•See later lectures

Shipping and Ports

•Impact of major vessels (dredging, repair, construction, TBT etc)

•New port developments ( e.g. Dibden Bay)

Oil & Gas

•Impact of rigs in shelf seas and disposal (Brent Spar)

•Debris and drilling cuttings

•Move to deeper waters - impact assessment

Management of Coastal and Shelf Sea systems

Development

/exploitation

Conservation; marine parks etc.Manageme

nt

sustainabilitsustainabilityy

Management of Coastal and Shelf Sea Systems

•Critical for development for sustainable systems

•Requires a socio-economic view of CS zone

•Need holistic view of CS zone

•Need involvement of stakeholders (those with direct involvement)

•Ideally mutually beneficial strategies needed

Problems for Managers

•Limited scientific understanding for

prediction & control

•Complex non-linear interactions

•Vested interests- politicians and voters

•Environmental pressure groups

To obtain government support for strategies they need to be:

Salient- relevant to problems at hand

Credible- scientists and engineers need to be

respected and listened to

Viable- no use suggesting ideas that cannot

be implemented

Kullenburg (1993)- managers need useful Kullenburg (1993)- managers need useful

results from scientists, not results from scientists, not

‘‘more research needs to be done’more research needs to be done’

Impacts of Humans on Coastal and Shelf Seas

Issues to be considered Issues to be considered further in course:further in course:

•Pollution

•Fisheries decline

•Sea level rise ( direct or indirect?)

•Minerals and energy

•Introduction to Law of the Sea