IUCN, Global Marine Programme

The second paper in this marine series builds on the complementary study described in Marine Series No. 1 that identified several significant regulatory and governance gaps in the international regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

Sixty-four percent of the world ocean lies in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The first paper in this four-part series was prepared to address the question of whether there is a regulatory or governance gap in the international regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) and, if so, how it should be addressed. The study reveals that important regulatory and governance gaps still exist.

Más del 70% de la tierra está cubierta por océanos y mares mayores y hay más de 1,6 millones de kilómetros de costa. Sin embargo, nuestro mundo marino está en peligro: la peor amenaza es la de las especies marinas invasoras. El folleto no presenta información nueva o primordial, sino más bien una síntesis de las cuestiones y tendencias actuales, incluyendo varios ejemplos de algunas de las peores especies marinas invasoras, su propagación e impacto.

Plus de 70% de la terre sont couverts par les océans et les mers les plus importantes, et l’on compte plus de 1,6 million de kilomètres de côtes. Mais notre monde marin est en danger : la menace la plus insidieuse est celle que causent les espèces invasives marines.

More than 70% of the earth is covered by oceans and major seas and there are more than 1.6 million kilometres of coastline. Yet our marine world is under threat: the most insidious is the one posed by marine invasive species. This booklet does not present new or primary information, but rather a synthesis of current issues and trends, including several examples of some of the worst marine invasive species, their spread and impact.

This Plan of Action has been developed by WCPA/Marine and partners around the world as a result of an extensive consultation process. It describes the added value that WCPA/Marine brings to the global community working on MPAs and identifies the renewed need for urgent action to protect oceans and seas. It is intended to help bridge the gap between existing work on MPAs, and what is needed in order to put in place effective and lasting networks of MPAs throughout the world.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and explores legal mechanisms that could be implemented to facilitate management and mitigation of impacts.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and recommends management and mitigation measures.

This book is a product of the Marine Conservation Sub-Committee, an advisory body on marine species issues within IUCN. The book features twelve stories of different ocean animals that highlight the latest issues in marine conservation. The tales in this exquisitely illustrated book are testament not only to the eccentricity of life in our oceans, but also the diversity of challenges and opportunities we face to conserve these marine marvels.

Seagrasses are flowering plants that thrive in shallow oceanic and estuarine waters around the world. Although there are only about 60 species of seagrasses worldwide, these plants play an important role in many shallow, near-shore, marine ecosystems. There is growing evidence that seagrasses are declining globally because of anthropogenic impacts. This paper presents an overview of seagrasses, the impacts of climate change, and other threats to seagrass habitats.