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Threats

Traditional fishing boats

Traditional fishing boats

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STATE OF OUR SEAS The seas and oceans suffer continuous pressure from human activities. The world's population continues to grow and is increasingly concentrated in areas close to the sea. Industrial, agricultural and developmental activities required to support this growth, together with the quantities of wastes they generate, result in coastal environments being subjected to unprecedented levels of disturbance. The impacts of human activity extend well beyond the immediate coastal zone. They are felt even in the open seas, where the fishing industry predominantly operates, and as far as the deep oceans; there are plans afoot to exploit deep-sea biological and mineral resources and oil reserves.

The number of species living in the oceans is estimated at several hundreds of thousands, although continued exploration of the deep sea is sure to reveal more. We continue to be amazed at the number of previously unknown species being discovered living in the depths of the ocean. At the same time, other species have been or are currently being driven towards extinction through devastating human impacts.

Our coastal and marine environment are being destroyed by nonselective and destructive fishing practices; encroached upon and damaged by unplanned and unsustainable development, intensive coastal aquaculture, and chemical pollution from land and sea to name but a few of the negative externalities.

Press Releases

Greenpeace says, "Good first step, but the devil is in the detail"

July 02, 2008

Dr Ramadoss, ban unsafe GE food: Greenpeace

June 23, 2008