Living blue planet report: species, habitats and human well-being

Abstract

Takes a deep look at the health of our oceans and the impact of human activity on marine life. Forward Our ocean – that seemingly infinitely bountiful, ever awe-inspiring blue that defines our planet from space – is in crisis. When I wrote the foreword to the 2014 edition of WWF’s Living Planet Report, I said it was not for the faint-hearted. This edition – a deep dive into the health of marine species and the habitats on which they depend – is equally if not more sobering. The marine Living Planet Index (LPI) presented here is roughly in line with the global LPI, which shows a 52 per cent decline in vertebrate populations since 1970. That alone should set off alarm bells. But it’s what’s hidden in the overall marine LPI that foretells an impending social and economic crisis. When we look at the fish species most directly tied to human well-being – the fish that constitute up to 60 per cent of protein intake in coastal countries, supporting millions of small-scale fishers as well as a global multibillion-dollar industry – we see populations in a nosedive. The habitats they depend on, such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, are equally threatened.   The picture is now clearer than ever: humanity is collectively mismanaging the ocean to the brink of collapse. Considering the ocean’s vital role in our economies and its essential contribution to food security – particularly for poor, coastal communities – that’s simply unacceptable. Could the economic implications of the collapse of the ocean’s ecosystems trigger the next global recession or undermine the progress we have made on eradicating poverty? Solutions exist: smart fishing practices that eliminate bycatch, waste and overfishing; getting rid of harmful subsidies and unregulated fishing; protecting key habitats and a large enough portion of the ocean to enable the regeneration of its living resources while conserving iconic species and inspirational places; cutting CO2 emissions that threaten a potentially catastrophic acidification of the ocean. And the ocean has another great advantage: it is a dynamic, interconnected global ecosystem that can bounce back relatively quickly if the pressures are dealt with effectively.   WWF reports on the state of the planet’s health every two years. But we decided we needed to amplify the warning siren for the ocean this year, because the situation is urgent and the  moment to act is at hand. The global community has prioritized a healthy ocean in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. These commitments must be backed by tangible investment in restoring and sustainably managing marine resources. The pace of change in the ocean tells us there’s no time to waste. These changes are happening in our lifetime. We can and we must correct course now. &nbsp