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Issue: Pressures on biodiversity - Pressures on marine biodiversity: Pressures on coasts and oceans arising from multiple causes

This is an issue under the Biodiversity theme of the Data Reporting System.

Why we need to know about this issue

A number of pressures can arise from any one of the various human activities that involve the oceans: coastal settlements, fishing, exploration and extraction or shipping.

Pollutants such as chemicals, including oil, and excess nutrients are discharged by coastal activities, from shipping, and from offshore exploration and extraction activities. Algal blooms, resulting from excess nutrients discharged by any of these activities, can have further impacts on coastal and marine environments. All these activities could also generate visual or noise pollution that is damaging to wildlife.

Marine organisms can be transported to locations where they have the potential to become invasive on the hulls or in the ballast water of ships, on drilling rigs, in the course of wild fishing activities or by escape from coastal settlements or aquaculture facilities.

Indicators

• CO-27 Number, frequency, extent and volume of oil spills from all sources 
  A range of coastal and marine activities can give rise to marine debris which can place pressure on marine biodiversity. Number of injuries reported that are attributable to this cause are one indicator of the intensity of this pressure.
• CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris 
  A range of coastal and marine activities can give rise to marine debris which can place pressure on marine biodiversity. Number of injuries reported that are attributable to this cause are one indicator of the intensity of this pressure.
• CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration 
  The full range of human activities involving the coasts and oceans can impact on the condition of marine plant life.
• CO-53 Evidence or examples of noise or visual disturbance of marine species by human activities 
  The full range of human activities involving the coasts and oceans involve forms of noise and visual pollution that could potentially place pressure on marine biodiversity.
  No indicator has been developed for measuring or assessing the extent of this pressure or its actual impact on marine organisms. Some examples of impacts of sound pollution from exploration and extraction activities on marine animals may be available.
• CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species 
  The full range of human activities involving the coasts and oceans can result in the introduction of new species that could potentially place pressure on marine biodiversity.

Related issues

• Coasts and Oceans - Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Direct pressure of coastal activities (other than shipping and fishing) 
• Coasts and Oceans - Condition of the ocean and coastal waters - Condition of marine vegetation 
• Coasts and Oceans - Condition of the ocean and coastal waters - Water quality 
• Coasts and Oceans - Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Direct pressure of shipping 
• Coasts and Oceans - Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Direct pressures of harvesting non-living materials 
• Human Settlements - External pressures on human settlements - Population growth and distribution