Ocean dismay
15th February 2008
Two gloomy reports about the state of the world’s seas have taken the shine off the unveiling of a new marine reserve in Kiribati in the Pacific.
The first bad news came from a study by the journal Science, which says that only 4% of the world’s oceans are undamaged.
Climate change, over-fishing, pollution and various other factors have heavily damaged more than half of the world’s waters.
The study has produced a ‘climate map’ showing in detail which waters are particularly affected. Our own coast is one of the most damaged.
The study was carried out by a team of 20 scientists from the UK, US and Canada.
Another study – by Italy’s Marche Polytechnic University – says that chemicals used in sunscreens are contributing to the death of coral reefs.
Four chemicals used as preservatives and UV filters cause the bleaching of hard corals by triggering viruses in the energy-providing algae that live in coral species. The algae is killed, leaving the coral exposed to bleaching.
The Italian study says 10% of the world’s coral reefs are at risk from sunscreen pollution.
The good news came from Kiribati, where the world's largest marine reserve, comprising an area the size of California, has been created.
The protected area, near Phoenix Island, is home to a coral archipelago and had been threatened by over-fishing.
To mark the opening of the reserve, this week’s Wanderweek photo gallery features shots of watery wonderlands around the world.
All the photos were captured by users of our community website goWander.com
If you haven’t already, why not share your travel photos, experiences and videos with the world’s most passionate travellers? All new members who sign up and fill out their Travel CV profile between now and the end of March receive a free passport cover.
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