Marine and coastal ecosystems include estuaries and coastal waters and lands. Within these systems are sensitive habitats, marine sanctuaries, national parks, aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism activities. Coastal and marine ecosystems are intimately linked to climate.

Marine ecosystems are characterized by factors such as availability of light, food and nutrients. Other factors that affect marine ecosystems include water temperature, depth and salinity, as well as local topography. Changes in these conditions can change the composition of species that make up the marine community.

Salinity, or high salt content, and global circulation make marine ecosystems different from other aquatic ecosystems. Other physical factors that determine the distribution of marine ecosystems are geology, temperature, tides, light availability, and geography. Some marine ecosystems are very productive.

Marine protected areas help protect important habitats and representative samples of marine life and can assist in restoring the productivity of the oceans and avoid further degradation. They are also sites for scientific study and can generate income through tourism and sustainable fishing.

The air we breathe: The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.

A wide range of approaches are currently used to manage marine resources. These include centralized approaches, such as ocean zoning, limiting ocean access through permits or the establishment of marine protected areas, regulating gear use or species harvested, or enforcing fish catch limits.

Generally, marine resources are divided into three categories e.g., biotic resources, abiotic (mineral and energy) resources and commercial resources (navigation, aviation, trade and transport etc.). ADVERTISEMENTS: On an average, marine resources are also classified into living resources and non-living resources.

Living marine resources include all of the organisms that are utilized by humans, such as for harvesting or recreational uses. Most of the organisms are harvested for human consumption, but they also provide many other products and materials.

The program aims to cover ecological aspects of the diverse and valuable resources of the coast and the Ocean, prevalent issues and challenges in sustainable management of coastal and marine resources as well as strategies of conservation and management of coastal and marine Resources.

Marine Resource Management (MRM) is a science-based, interdisciplinary master’s program based in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Astmospheric Science (CEOAS). To deal effectively with these issues, marine resource managers need a broad-based background in both physical and social sciences.

Coastal resource management — CRM — is about the sustainable use and management of coastal resources. ‘ In more specific terms, it means planning, implementing and monitoring the sustainable use of coastal resources.

The objective of CRM is sustainable use and better management of coastal resources, as indicated by an increase in fish abundance and improved coastal habitat conditions.

Coastal areas provide numerous economic, ecological, and aesthetic values. Healthy coastal wetlands are an effective way to clean polluted waters and filter out sediments, thereby positively impacting both human health and water resources. Responsive Management has conducted numerous studies on coastal resource issues.

Coastal resources include islands, transitional and intertidal areas, salt marshes, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs, as well as fish and wildlife and their respective habitats within these areas.

The Coastal Plains have many natural resources. Some of these are oil and natural gas. Forestry and timber are also prominent. Sand and gravel can be found through much of the region.

Over 80% of all marine pollution originates from land-based sources which are primarily industrial, agricultural and urban. Pollution accompanies most kinds of human activities, including offshore oil and gas production and marine oil transportation.

Answer: We must stop overfishing and stop using destructive fishing practices using dynamite or cyanide. Refrain from mining corals for building materials. And we must stop polluting water, land, and air.

What You Can Do to Help Protect our Coastal Watersheds and Estuaries

1. Conserve water in your daily life.
2. Dispose of household and yard chemicals properly; follow disposal directions on their labels.
3. Don’t be wasteful: reduce, re-use and recycle every day.
4. Pick up trash; participate in trash clean-up days.

The most important causes for coral reef degradation are coastal development and excessive exploitation of its resources. Migration towards coasts led to strong development on land, which often lead to destruction of important coastal ecosystems like mangroves and sea grass beds.

Ongoing efforts to safeguard ocean habitats include the creation of gigantic marine sanctuaries where development is curtailed and fishing is prohibited. Laws banning the dumping of sewage and chemicals into the ocean and policies that foster better stewardship of wetlands are having positive effects.

Human activities affect marine life and marine habitats through overfishing, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, ocean pollution, ocean acidification and ocean warming. It has been estimated only 13% of the ocean area remains as wilderness, mostly in open ocean areas rather than along the coast.

Every day, toxic chemicals are entering our oceans. If humans are exposed to these toxic chemicals for long periods of time, then this can result in dangerous health problems, which include hormonal issues, reproductive issues, and damage to our nervous systems and kidneys.

Marine Insight’s Videos.

• Ocean Dumping. Dumping of waste materials from industries, ships and sewage plants into oceans has polluted the marine ecosystem to a great extent.
• Land Runoff.
• Dredging.
• NOx and SOx.
• Ocean Acidification.
• Sea Water Level Rising.
• Ozone Depleting Substances.
• Waste Pollution from Ships.