Changing Oceans Expedition on CNN. How climate change affects our oceans

In the run up to Copenhagen, there is a lot of talk about the destruction of forests and air, about carbon trading and clean energy, but very little about the impact of our oceans and climate change. In our oceans, climate goes well beyond melting ice caps and endangered polar bears in the North Pole. Our seas are acidifying at unprecedented levels and the Mediterranean is being invaded by tropical, alien species. The oceans make up 80% of the surface of our planet and provide 70% of the oxygen we breathe. All around the world, our oceans and seas are getting warmer and more acidic, but because we can't always see what is happening under the surface, researchers and scientists are worried that the risks to our oceans will be forgotten in Copenhagen. Experts from the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and from the research team on board the Changing Oceans Expedition are worried that the oceans are being forgotten in Copenhagen. They call for urgent action before it is too late. Unprecedented footage of underwater volcanic activity was filmed on board Fleur de Passion in the Aeolian Islands where scientist study the future conditions of our blue planet.

See the film at: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-361377

Register now! European MPA Conference, December 8/9th, 2009, London, UK

‘Sea change: securing a future for Europe's seas’ is a International Marine Protected Areas (MPA) conference organised by Natural England in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and supported by The Crown Estate, Royal Haskoning and the Countryside Council for Wales. It will be held in the centre of London on 8 & 9 December 2009.

The conference is designed to stimulate debate and collaboration amongst European countries to ensure that we work together to deliver a successful network of MPAs, regardless of administrative borders. This conference offers a compelling programme of presentations, panel discussions and workshops. The UK Government Minister responsible for the marine environment, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, will address the event. Speakers are coming from Denmark, The European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA.

Special conference rates are available for charities and students.

For details see http://livegroup.co.uk/seachange09/

South Orkneys MPA - a new Antarctic MPA!

We very much welcome recent news of the approval of a new marine protected area, south of the South Orkney Islands in the Antarctic Peninsula Region. It covers a large area of the Southern Ocean, in the vicinity of the South Orkney Islands (see map below). The proposal put forward by the UK was adopted by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) at its meeting last week in Tasmania.

The marine protected area, the result of four years of development work, is just under 94,000 square kilometers, which is more than four times the size of Wales.  No fishing activities and no discharge or refuse disposal from fishing vessels will be allowed in the area, which will allow scientists to better monitor the effects of human activities and climate change on the Southern Ocean. The marine protected area is expected to be in force in May 2010.

This is an important step towards the establishment of networks of protected areas that will allow for the better conservation and management of marine areas and their living resources. It also provides necessary support for the protection of the marine environment in this area and promotes Antarctica as an area reserved for peace and science.

Both the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Australian Antarctic Division websites contain additional information.

Image : UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office;

Don’t shun the ocean – IUCN tells climate leaders

Check out a brand new report from IUCN: "The Ocean and Climate Change - Tools and Guidelines for Action"

The publications provides a holistic view in terms of the marine mitigation and adaptation strategies that are available while outlining a clear set of action recommendations for policy decision-makers.

The report includes a section dedicated to MPAs as part of an integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation approach to climate change. Action recommendations include:

• Significantly increase the size and number of fully protected areas to allow ecosystems to recover their full suite of services.
• Increase effectiveness of existing MPAs and ensure proper implementation of new MPAs.
• Develop management plans for multiple use areas that increase the resilience of impacted marine and coastal ecosystems and maintain areas that have not yet been adversely affected.
• Protect multiple replicates of marine habitats/ecosystems to prevent biodiversity from being lost as a result of isolated disturbances.
• Encourage connectivity synergies between coastal and marine ecosystems by protecting ecological corridors such as those connecting mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs.
• Establish “Predictive Protected Areas,”which provide some level of protection for areas expected to be future refugia and areas that have demonstrated some resilience to the effects of climate change.
• Create limited-use buffer zones for transitions between fully protected and open access areas.
• Develop and implement new, creative enforcement mechanisms, e.g. locally empowered enforcement processes.
• Incorporate a wide range of stakeholders into MPA design, implementation, and enforcement to ensure ownership and commitment to the projected outcomes of the product.

Download the full report:

http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/the_ocean_and_climate_change.pdf

Executive Summary:

http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/the_ocean_and_climate_change_executive_summary.pdf

Marine Conservation Society and The Co-operative map out marine 'Jewel in the Crowns' for the UK

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and The Co-operative Group yesterday (10 November) unveiled suggestions as to where more than 70 new marine protected areas should be considered as a priority in the UK.

The sites have been identified following six years of surveying work carried out by divers around the UK, and represent “the Jewels in the Crown” of UK marine wildlife sites. The recommendations would increase the amount of UK seas protected in marine reserves from just 6km2 to 212km2.

In UK seas there are 22 species of wildlife considered to be facing the threat of global extinction. Once common species such as common skate and Atlantic halibut are now listed as endangered, and only eight of the 47 fish stocks found around the British Isles remain in a healthy state.

Under the new Marine and Coastal Access Act, due to become law later this week,
the Government will have a ‘duty’ to designate marine conservation zones (MCZs), which will include a range of protection levels including ‘no take’ marine reserves closed to damaging activities such as commercial fishing and dredging, and has committed to introduce a network of these MCZs by 2012.

Last month, more than 527,000 Co-operative customers (over 80 per cent of participants) stated they supported the introduction of marine reserves in a survey conducted via chip and pin pads at the checkouts of more than 2,400 Co-operative food stores throughout the UK.

Miranda Krestovnikoff, BBC Coast Presenter, who is unveiling the proposed sites in London today, said: “For far too long, we have left our valuable, living seas open to any and every form of exploitation. I've dived with survey divers, gathering records of the rich but fragile wildlife that occurs in our seas. Marine reserves are needed – they really do allow wildlife to recover and thrive.”

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, MCS Biodiversity Policy Officer said: "Our 73 recommended reserves would help protect a spectacular array of nationally important marine life and habitat, which many would be surprised to find in UK seas, from vibrant cold water corals to rare seahorses to giant basking sharks.”

Paul Monaghan, Head of Social Goals and Sustainability at The Co-operative, said: “We applaud the new Marine and Coastal Access Act and the duty it places on Government to introduce marine reserves, something our customers strongly support and the science demands. Arguably, these 73 sites are the jewels in the crown of our inshore waters and require consideration as a priority under the new Act.”

Even the 73 recommended marine protected areas would increase the percentage of UK seas that are fully protected from 0.005% to just 0.13%. MCS and The Co-operative are calling for 30 per cent of UK seas to be designated as marine reserves by 2020, which scientists say is required if fish stocks and the marine environment as a whole is to recover from decades of overfishing and habitat destruction.

The public is being asked to vote for the sites they would like to see protected at the MCS ‘Your Seas Your Voice’ website – accessed via www.mcsuk.org

Consultation to protect British Indian Ocean Territory

David Miliband launched a public consultation to establish a Marine Protected Area in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) on Tuesday 10 November.

The proposal was put forward by the Chagos Environment Network and if successful would create one of the world’s largest marine protected areas.

Read the statement

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband):
The Government is today launching a public consultation into a proposal put forward by the Chagos Environment Network to establish a Marine Protected Area in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Chagos Environment Network’s proposal “The Chagos Archipelago: its Nature and the Future” advocates the creation of one of the world’s greatest natural conservation areas and is a remarkable opportunity for Britain to create one of the world’s largest marine protected areas and double the global coverage of the world’s oceans benefiting from protection.

The purpose of the consultation is to seek views from stakeholders and interested parties to help the Government assess whether a Marine Protected Area is the right option for the future environmental protection of the Territory and we are, therefore, strongly encouraging as many people as possible to participate in the consultation.

We are also arranging for a facilitator to travel to Port Louis and Victoria early next year to listen to the views of the Chagossian communities and other stakeholders in Mauritius and Seychelles. The consultation will run until 12 February 2010.

Copies of the consultation are available on the UK in the Seychelles British High Commission website and are being disseminated widely to interested groups.

How to respond

The consultation period will begin on 10 November 2009. It will run until 12 February 2010. There will be meetings in Port Louis, Mauritius and Victoria, Seychelles between 21 January and 9 February (exact dates to be advised later). There will also be a meeting in the UK. These meetings will be organised by an independent facilitator who will record all the views expressed.
Alternatively, you are welcome to respond by post or e-mail. Please ensure that your response reaches us by 12 February. If you live overseas and intend to respond by post, please ensure that your response reaches us no later than 12 February.

You may respond to this consultation in the following ways:

(i) Write to: BIOT marine protected area consultationOverseas Territories DirectorateForeign and Commonwealth OfficeKing Charles StreetLondonSW1A 2AH

(ii) E-mail your response to: biotmpaconsultation@fco.gov.uk

WCPA - Marine achievements one year on from the World Conservation Congress

It is one year since we held the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona. The purpose of this posting is to show the progress WCPA – Marine has made with partners in the last 12 months (October 2008 – October 2009). Major achievments include:

· Launch of the global Plan of Action for MPAs, in three languages, setting out the strategic agenda for WCPA – Marine and MPAs worldwide. This was developed last year through a $100k grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Plan of Action supported by a Business Plan and development of promotional leaflet currently underway (available April 2010).

· Development by IUCN Member organisations and agreement to a new IUCN resolution (4.045) on ‘Accelerating progress to establish marine protected areas and creating marine protected area networks’. This recognises the need for better reporting and accurate tracking of progress and better mapping of MPA achievements, as well as a scaling-up of efforts towards achieving the global MPA targets. It also requests the IUCN Director General to increase efforts and financial support for WCPA activities in this area through the IUCN Programme 2009 – 2012.

· Completion of a comprehensive network of WCPA – Marine Regional Coordinators covering all oceans of the world, and now including a more detailed subdivision for some ocean areas by language or culture, and also including the appointment of country coordinators in some regions. A significant grant application to Packard to support network development was made but unsuccessful at this time.

· Launch of the new IUCN WCPA – Marine guide ‘Building Networks of Marine Protected Areas: Making it Happen’. Consideration of new guides underway for the ‘series’ including via NOAA and others on ‘How is Your MPA Network Doing?’

· Launch of new advice on the application of the IUCN category system to the marine environment as part of IUCN’s major publication Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories.

· Scale-up of marine World Heritage now being implemented following the announcement at Barcelona as a key element of the Plan of Action. Meeting held in Middle East with UNESCO and the Bahrain Action Plan drafted, agreed and then considered by the World Heritage Committee. Work underway to publish the Bahrain plan, to produce a Thematic Review of Marine World Heritage (due spring ’10) and provide new web resources, now all through partnership working with the new UNESCO Marine World Heritage Officer. A significant grant to provide strategic support to existing marine World Heritage sites has been submitted.

· Launch of Google Earth 5.0 including 3D digital ocean and IUCN WCPA – Marine layer with interactive user engagement for c4500 individual MPAs, linked to a comprehensive new web platform for MPAs called Protect Planet Ocean constructed with leading partners in ocean conservation. Provision of significant support to other layers including the production of the fisheries layer with the University of British Columbia. Recent engagement of media partner (the Underwater Channel) to help create films of our achievements in action.

· Development of Protect Planet Ocean Reviews and the MPA Commitment tracker, and in particular creation of the Review process, the production of a draft review for the Mediterranean, preparation for reviews of the Coral Triangle and Caribbean, and supporting analysis of MPA data worldwide. Press packs and fact sheets created and disseminated with partners. A proof-of-concept grant to better represent and outreach those MPAs that are founded more through cultural means than western legislation is pending.

· Agreement on minimum data standards for MPAs with UNEP WCMC which will make ensuring all MPAs provide certain data much easier, helping generate a much more accurate picture of how we are protecting the ocean using MPAs.

· Engagement with the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (POWPA) through presentation and attendance at the Korea meeting. At the latter Futures Meeting, held in Jeju Korea, major support for marine via 12 targeted recommendations and 93 in total with some marine/coastal component. Now going through Regional CBD meetings, SBBSTA and COP before recommendations can be amended to new POWPAPOWPA. Continued engagement of WCPA – Marine underway through representation by Regional Coordinators at the regional meetings and via WCPA – Marine being present on IUCN delegations at COP and other major events in 2010.

· Development of training events to support the MPA community in using Google Ocean and PPO in partnership with Google Earth outreach – events held for example in Manado and Washington. Training of [number] of MPA managers to upload their MPA data into the revolutionary open-source platform. Also gaining large amounts of new data via Regional Coordinators and the PPO wiki.

· Updating and uploading of new accurate data on MPAs by users and also significant in kind contributions from Regional Coordinators and others, for example through Reef Base.

· Considerable activities from Regional Coordinators including development of in-region networking, ongoing appointment of country coordinators, and convening of meetings (e.g. WCPA Marine – Australia/New Zealand Region held the second of their 'formal' WCPA-Marine meetings in Adelaide on 6 May 2009; attended by 32 members from around Australia and NZ).

· Lead advisor for IUCN’s input to the White House on the legacy from President Bush protecting significant areas in the Pacific and marine National Monuments. Provision of significant advice for new MPAs around the world including on Chagos BIOT for the UK and the Sargasso Sea with the Bermuda.

· Significant activities via the WCPA – Marine High Seas Task Force headed up by Kristina Gjerde on the roadmap towards High Seas MPAs which include:
o Provision of advice to CBD on improving the PoWPA

o A successful proposal to German government for IUCN/WCPA to faciliate global project on ecologically and biologically significant areas beyond national jurisdiction (CBD EBSA project)

o Meeting with Census of Marine Life Steering Committee to secure partnership in CBD EBSA project. Census of Marine Life, and Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, and Ocean Biogeographic Information System become primary partners in project.

o Meeting with Census of Marine Life Synthesis Group to organize and plan for project partnership activities. Project timeline and action points identified, partnership expanded to include UNEP-WCMC and MCBI.

o Special session at ICES meeting on Deep Sea Science, Governance and Conservation.

o Workshop and special WCPA Marine lunch at International Marine Conservation Congress.

o Duke University workshop June resulting in advice to CBD on identifying ecologically and biologically significant areas beyond national jurisdiction.

o Background report for CBD workshop on identifying EBSAs in ABNJ. CBD expert workshop on EBSAs then adopted key elements of background report on identifying EBSAs in ABNJ.

o Workshop development underway lead by MCBI on monitoring and enforcement of remote marine areas.

· Significant support to partners, such as WWF in development of the Coral Triangle Initiative, including training workshops, development of a portal, and a possible Google Earth virtual tour of the region. Support and advice to Census of Marine Life via presence on the Governing Board of OBIS.

· Development and implementation of IMPAC 2. This was through support to a substantial process led by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the MPA centre in the USA. Report produced. Decision taken to award IMPAC III to France in 2013. Key recommendations from special observers at IMPAC 2 include:

o Countries and their partners need to signifi­cantly and rapidly increase the rate of establish­ing and effectively managing MPA networks and progressing toward the 2012 global goal;

o Major MPA conferences need to be used to ad­vance MPA policy goals, and need to be better choreographed;

o MPAs must be designated and managed to function within an overall framework of sustainable ocean and coastal management; and

o The MPA community needs to better integrate across sectors and disciplines, including build­ing partnerships with communities, local gov­ernments, industry, and other users of the ocean.

· Development of a ground-breaking study on coastal carbon sinks and how these should be better valued in climate discussions and ultimately better protected and managed through MPAs. Report due to be launched end Nov at the PACT2020 meeting in Spain.

· Development of a ground-breaking guide on ocean acidification to support the Copenhagen Climate meeting in December 2009. This plain-English guide for policy advisors and decision makers will be simultaneously available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic, branded as EPOCA (European project on Ocean Acidification) which the Vice Chair ‘chairs’ the end-user liaison group (Reference User Group). Other language versions of the guide such as Russian are being considered.

· Innovations with Google and PPO led the way for re-expression of the WDPA into a new, interactive wiki, user-facing system for ALL protected areas in the world. Code-named “Protect Planet Earth”, the launch of the partnership product between IUCN WCPA – Marine and UNEP WCMC set for spring 2010, with revision and update of PPO.

· Work completed with National geographic to launch the live link-up to Belize coral reef – Belize WildCam. Developed with National Geographic, the United Nations Foundations and a Belize resort. World now underway with National Geographic on the Global Action Atlas as a way to engage many more people in our work. Development of partnership working with National Geographic on their oceans campaign.

· Development and launch of Sylvia Earle’s TED award – IUCN now appointed as technical advisor to the wish. The wish directly supports the WCPA – Marine global Plan of Action for MPAs. Currently helping shape the wish, advising on TED Ocean (live-broadcast expedition to the Galapagos involving 100 leaders, Hollywood stars, experts), and launching the scale-up towards 2012 including letters from Vice Chair and Sylvia Earle to 106 world leaders encouraging them to put forward new ‘hope spots’ that we can celebrate with them as part of TED Ocean. Global marketing campaign also under preparation supported by some/all of the +350 offers of support we have from corporations through to inspired individuals.

We have undertaken many other activities during the year, provision of advice and attendance at conference and meetings, input of WCPA marine members into MPA News and MEAM, but the above list should give a good idea of why WCPA – Marine is seen as a world leader in MPA work. We are home to some of the most creative and innovative approaches and support many other projects and processes, which may themselves not be WCPA-Marine tasks, but for which WCPA-Marine (and espec ProtectPlanetOcean) facilitates a useful exchange of info/ideas across the globe (eg. like the GBR Outlook Report). We hope that all this will lead to a much better protection of the ocean throughout the world.