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Scientists demand World Oceans Day commitment to marine reserves

Posted on 8 June 2007

More than 260 European marine scientists from 24 countries, have marked World Oceans Day by publishing a declaration urging governments to take action to implement a network of marine reserves in order to halt and reverse the current oceans’ crisis.

Professor Callum Roberts, of the University of York, who is heading the initiative said: "Today marks an opportunity to think about what the oceans mean and give to us. Sadly, our relationship with the sea is mainly about take and very little about protecting the integrity, vitality and beauty of ocean ecosystems.

Today marks an opportunity to think about what the oceans mean and give to us

Professor Callum Roberts

"Our lack of action to protect the seas is aggravating their already perilous state and undermines initiatives to better understand the way they function".

Rapidly declining marine life and collapsing fisheries undermine the ability of ocean ecosystems to provide people with food, process our wastes and provide clean, healthy coasts for habitation and recreation, he added.

While the scientists’ statement is directed toward European decision makers, the need for a global network of marine reserves is already well established in both academic and political circles. In 2003, the World Parks Congress, the largest global assembly of protected area specialists and conservation managers recommended that marine protected area networks should be extensive and include strictly protected marine reserves covering at least 20 to 30 per cent of each habitat. Yet in reality less than 1 per cent of the sea is protected.

The United Kingdom, for example, has Europe’s largest national Exclusive Economic Zone but only 0.0004% of it is protected from all fishing in a single marine reserve, just over 3km² out of more than 750,000 km². Most other nations in Europe have similar levels of marine protection. Europe’s governments have pledged to complete a network of well-managed marine sites by 2012, but implementation is well behind schedule.

"This year the European Marine Strategy Directive will be finalised and Europe will host the next international summit on biodiversity. This is the chance for governments to take decisive action to protect the sea, providing a template for a global network of marine reserves." Professor Roberts, of the Environment Department at York, added.

"By creating sanctuaries for ocean life and changing to sustainable practices in areas outside such reserves, we will greatly benefit our blue planet."

ENDS