Maintained by

Twenty top concerns of marine scientists

Early in 2001 marine experts of United Nations organizations listed 20 issues of global concern regarding deterioration of the marine environment:

1. eutrophication and associated anoxia;

2. harmful algal blooms;

3. the effects of classical contaminants (sewage, metals, persistent organic substances, petroleum hydrocarbons, radionuclides);

4. the effects of deforestation;

5. the effects of increased or decreased mobilization of sediments;

6. the demise of coral reefs;

7. the loss of wetlands;

8. declines in mangroves;

9. habitat destruction;

10. the transfer of harmful species into coastal areas;

11. climate change;

12. sea-level rise;

13. inundation as a consequence of physical alteration;

14. increased risks to human health;

15. reduced biodiversity;

16. endocrine-disrupting chemicals;

17. overfishing;

18. destructive fishing practices;

19. the effects of the exploitation of coastal mineral resources, particularly sand and gravel; and

20. litter.

-- GESAMP71:09

The UN Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) emphasize: "They are not presented in any implied order of severity or importance.[...] Some of these can be easily assigned to the 'existing damage' or 'threat' categories without much ado. Others contain elements of both. For example, climate change represents a threat; there is, as yet, no evidence of associated damage having occurred. The related topic of 'sea-level rise', on the other hand, clearly contains elements [of] both."

( GESAMP71:09)