Transcript coastal areas, nearshore / offshore ecosystems, wastes, species

Tomislav Skračić, MA
Undergraduate English
Course for
MARITIME MANAGERS
5th Semester
Essential reading:
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
T. Skračić, Waypoint – English Textbook for Maritime Students,
Faculty of Maritime Studies, Split 2010, Units 22-28
T. Trappe & G. Tullis, Intelligent Business, Longman 2005, Units
12-14
coastal areas, nearshore / offshore ecosystems,
wastes, species diversity, habitat alteration,
hydrodynamics, pollutant release, alien species,
fish-processing waste, by-catch, fish kills,
overexploitation / overharvest, trawling, algal bloom,
oil spill, dynamiting, extinction, benthic fishes, sea bed,
conservation program, proactive planning,
marine protected areas (MPAs), fisheries,
user conflicts, zoning, stewardship,
integrated coastal management...
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Marine ecosystems are complex, ecologically
sensitive and valuable places. Coastal waters support
the world's most productive ecosystems and the
oceans support the highest biological diversity in the
world, rivalling that of tropical forests.
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These habitats are critically important to mankind.
They contain the most productive fishing grounds
and support water-dependent industry, tourism and
waste disposal. They also contain the best alluvial soils
for agriculture. These habitats are threatened by the
growing human population.
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It would be wrong to believe that the sea has a nearly
infinite capacity to assimilate wastes and resist
degradation. Chronic assaults on coastal and ocean
areas, even those that appear trivial and inconsequential,
are having dramatic negative impacts on the marine
system.
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Fish kills...
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... massive algal blooms...
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... loss of biodiversity, extinction of species and
populations...
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... and increased frequency of cataclysmic meteorological
events are only some of the warning signs.