NOTE: A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland (Malvinas), South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) and South Sandwich (Sandwich del Sur) Islands. The WOA assessment encourages us to ask the question “how far will we go before we put in place adequate responses to global problems?” We do not need to stop all use of the oceans, but we must effectively manage use to ensure sustainability of the oceans, for present and for future generations. Some responses have been put in place in some locations and are perhaps stabilizing, or in some cases, reversing the negative impacts. These include regulation on dumping of wastes and other matter and release of ballast water, the establishment of marine protected areas, better agricultural practices and improvements in fuel efficiency in cargo ships. Some of the specific threats (such as the intensification of typhoons and hurricanes and changes in the stratification of seawater) are linked with the problems of climate change and acidification and can only be addressed as part of these much bigger issues. (Ref: WOA Summary, page 41).

Year: 2016

From collection: World Ocean Assessment Overview

Cartographer: Kristina Thygesen