Report: If We Don't Stop Destroying Our Oceans, We'll See "Mass Extinction" of Marine Life

[tpsbmam]

From AlterNet:

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Pollution and global warming are pushing the world's oceans to the brink of a mass extinction of marine life unseen for tens of millions of years, a consortium of scientists warned Monday.

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"We have underestimated the overall risks, and that the whole of marine degradation is greater than the sum of its parts," Rogers said. "That degradation is now happening at a faster rate than predicted."

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Oceans act as a massive sponge, soaking up more than a quarter of the CO2 humans pump into the atmosphere.

But when the sponge becomes too saturated, it can disrupt the delicately balanced ecosystems on which marine life -- and ultimately all life on Earth -- depends.

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"We now face losing marine species and entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within a single generation," said Daniel Laffoley, head of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas, and co-author of the report.

And from another article in the Sacramento Bee:

The cumulative impact of "severe individual stresses," ranging from climate warming and sea-water acidification to widespread chemical pollution and overfishing, would threaten the marine environment with a catastrophe "unprecedented in human history."

"Unless action is taken now, the consequences of our activities are at a high risk of causing, through the combined effects of climate change, over-exploitation, pollution and habitat loss, the next globally significant extinction event in the ocean," it said.

The marine scientists called for a range of urgent measures to cut carbon emissions, reduce over-fishing, shut unsustainable fisheries, create protected areas in the seas and cut pollution.

"The findings are shocking," said Alex Rogers, the scientific director of the International Programme on the State of the Ocean, which convened the panel with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The human race is doomed -- we're too selfish and greedy to make the necessary changes. Maybe it's a good thing -- we've totally fucked this amazing planet. Maybe whatever comes next will learn and do better. Or the PTB will find a way to escape the hell they've wrought and they'll create a new living hell.

[drokhole]

1. Problem is it's not just the human race, we're dragging thousands of other species down with us.

And some before us.

[Lionessa]

2. My thoughts are along the same line, sort of hoping we extinct ourselves before we

effectively sterilize the entire planet from its ability to rebound from our carelessness.

[FLPanhandle]

3. World population will be over 9 billion in the next 50 years

Ever seen the fish markets in Japan or Asia? The amount of overfishing to just feed the mouths currently on this planet is unsustainable. At 9 billion we'll be dragging the barren oceans with sieves to glean any edible creature out of it.

[fascisthunter]

4. The Strong will Survive...

those who could adapt are the strong ones, unfortunately humans are only good at adapting when the strong are in charge. In this case, the strong is the left and not the critically dumb right wing.

[The Doctor.]

5. A well-managed planet can support up to 10 billion people.

There are too many children and idiots in the way of allowing for proper management.

We're fucked.

[FLPanhandle]

7. Where'd you get the figure that 10 billion people can be on this planet sustainable?

Every scientific study and report I've seen over the last 20 years puts the number between 3-4 billion. The UN is a bit more optimistic with 5 billion.

[The Doctor.]

8. 'Well managed' is the key phrase.

Those studies are based on current management.

My projection is based on significant advancements in management techniques with existing technology. If we had the political will, we could implement measures to keep everything both sustained and productive. 10 billion is just the maximum conceivable number of people that could be sustained without depleting everything, with today's technology.

I do not remember exactly where I read this, but I'll PM you if I can recall.

[shanti]

6. and human life will follow shortly afterward

:(

[PlanetBev]

9. Well that's just swell...

There might be an upside to being 60. Maybe I'll be dead before we fuck up planet earth to the point of no return.

:banghead: