oceanography unit 10 study guides

Ocean Resources Overview

• Ocean resources encompass a wide range of living and non-living materials found in the marine environment
• Includes fisheries, minerals, energy sources, and genetic resources
• Oceans cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and contain vast amounts of untapped resources
• Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate and supporting global biodiversity
• Ocean resources are essential for the livelihoods and well-being of coastal communities worldwide
• Increasing demand for ocean resources due to population growth and economic development
• Sustainable management of ocean resources is critical for long-term environmental and economic stability

Types of Ocean Resources

• Living resources
  • Fisheries (fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms)
  • Aquaculture (farming of aquatic organisms)
  • Marine biotechnology (using marine organisms for pharmaceutical and industrial applications)
• Non-living resources
  • Minerals (sand, gravel, and deep-sea minerals like manganese nodules)
  • Energy sources (offshore oil and gas, wind, wave, and tidal energy)
  • Desalinated water (converting seawater into freshwater)
• Genetic resources (unique genes and compounds found in marine organisms)
• Cultural and recreational resources (tourism, leisure activities, and cultural heritage)

Economic Importance of Ocean Resources

• Fisheries and aquaculture provide employment and food security for millions of people worldwide
• Marine transport and shipping facilitate global trade and economic growth
• Offshore oil and gas production contributes significantly to the global energy supply
• Coastal tourism generates substantial revenue for many countries and local communities
• Marine biotechnology has the potential to develop new drugs, materials, and industrial processes
• Ocean resources contribute to the GDP of many coastal nations
• Sustainable use of ocean resources can support long-term economic development and poverty alleviation

Extraction and Harvesting Methods

• Fishing techniques
  • Trawling (dragging nets along the seafloor)
  • Purse seining (encircling schools of fish with large nets)
  • Long-lining (using baited hooks attached to long lines)
• Aquaculture methods
  • Open-water farming (using cages or pens in coastal waters)
  • Land-based farming (using tanks or ponds on land)
• Offshore oil and gas extraction
  • Drilling platforms (fixed or floating structures used for drilling wells)
  • Subsea production systems (underwater equipment for extracting and processing oil and gas)
• Deep-sea mining (using specialized equipment to extract minerals from the seafloor)
• Desalination plants (using reverse osmosis or thermal distillation to remove salt from seawater)

Human Impacts on Ocean Ecosystems

• Overfishing and destructive fishing practices can deplete fish stocks and damage marine habitats
• Coastal development and land reclamation can destroy wetlands, mangroves, and other critical habitats
• Pollution from land-based sources (agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and sewage) can degrade water quality and harm marine life
• Marine debris, particularly plastic pollution, can entangle or be ingested by marine animals
• Climate change impacts, such as ocean acidification and rising sea levels, can alter marine ecosystems and species distributions
• Invasive species introduced through ballast water or aquaculture can disrupt native ecosystems
• Underwater noise pollution from shipping and industrial activities can affect marine mammal communication and behavior

Pollution and Contamination Issues

• Oil spills from tanker accidents or offshore drilling can cause widespread damage to marine ecosystems
• Toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, can accumulate in marine food webs
• Nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff can lead to harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion (eutrophication)
• Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, can be ingested by marine organisms and potentially enter the human food chain
• Marine litter, such as abandoned fishing gear and plastic debris, can entangle or be ingested by marine animals
• Sewage and wastewater discharge can introduce pathogens and excess nutrients into coastal waters
• Ocean acidification, caused by increased absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide, can impair the growth and survival of calcifying organisms (corals and shellfish)

Conservation and Sustainable Management

• Establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) to safeguard critical habitats and species
• Implementation of fishing quotas and regulations to prevent overfishing and allow fish stocks to recover
• Promotion of sustainable aquaculture practices to reduce environmental impacts and ensure food security
• Reduction of land-based pollution through improved waste management and treatment systems
• International agreements and conventions to address global issues, such as climate change and marine pollution
• Community-based management approaches that involve local stakeholders in decision-making and resource stewardship
• Public awareness campaigns to promote responsible consumption and disposal of ocean-derived products

Future Challenges and Opportunities

• Developing innovative technologies for sustainable ocean resource extraction and production
• Enhancing international cooperation and governance frameworks for managing shared ocean resources
• Investing in research and monitoring to better understand and predict the impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems
• Promoting the circular economy and reducing reliance on single-use plastics to combat marine pollution
• Harnessing the potential of marine renewable energy sources to support the transition to a low-carbon economy
• Adapting to the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and infrastructure
• Fostering the growth of sustainable marine tourism and eco-tourism to support local livelihoods and conservation efforts
• Exploring the potential of marine biotechnology for developing new medicines, materials, and industrial applications