Lithium extraction from the deep sea, overfishing of deeper-water species, and the unexpected ocean impacts of wildfires on land are among 15 issues experts warn we should address immediately.
An international team of experts has identified 15 issues they believe are likely to have a significant impact on marine and coastal biodiversity over the next decade. They utilized a ‘horizon scanning’ technique that focuses on identifying issues that are not currently receiving widespread attention, but are likely to become important over the next 10 years. Their goal is to raise awareness and encourage investment into full assessment of these issues now. They also aim to drive policy change, before the issues have a major detrimental impact on biodiversity.
The list of issues includes the impacts of wildfires on Coastal Systems, the effects of new biodegradable materials on the marine environment, and an ‘empty’ zone at the equator as species move away from this warming region of the ocean. “Marine and Coastal Systems face a wide range of emerging issues that are poorly recognized or understood, each having the potential to impact biodiversity,” said Dr. James Herbert-Read in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology, joint first author of the paper.
Source: This news is originally published by scitechdaily