Spatial and temporal changes in cumulative human impacts on the world's ocean.

ABSTRACT: Human pressures on the ocean are thought to be increasing globally, yet we know little about their patterns of cumulative change, which pressures are most responsible for change, and which places are experiencing the greatest increases. Managers and policymakers require such information to make strategic decisions and monitor progress towards management objectives. Here we calculate and map recent change over 5 years in cumulative impacts to marine ecosystems globally from fishing, climate change, and ocean- and land-based stressors. Nearly 66% of the ocean and 77% of national jurisdictions show increased human impact, driven mostly by climate change pressures. Five percent of the ocean is heavily impacted with increasing pressures, requiring management attention. Ten percent has very low

SUBMITTER: Halpern BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4510691 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature