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Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas

Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas. >65% of cities >1.5 million on coast. Hazards. Fisheries. Minerals. Tourism. Shipping. Energy- Oil/gas. Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas. Coastal & Shelf Sea Systems. *superimposed on natural variations*. Hazards.

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Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas

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  1. Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas >65% of cities >1.5 million on coast

  2. Hazards Fisheries Minerals Tourism Shipping Energy- Oil/gas Human interactions with Coastal and Shelf Seas Coastal & Shelf Sea Systems *superimposed on natural variations*

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Development /exploitation Conservation; marine parks etc. Management sustainability Management of Coastal and Shelf Sea systems

  8. 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

  9. Problems for Managers • Limited scientific understanding for • prediction & control • Complex non-linear interactions • Vested interests- politicians and voters • Environmental pressure groups

  10. 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 results from scientists, not ‘more research needs to be done’

  11. Impacts of Humans on Coastal and Shelf Seas • Issues to be considered further in course: • Pollution • Fisheries decline • Sea level rise ( direct or indirect?) • Minerals and energy • Introduction to Law of the Sea

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