Student: Jesse McDermott-Hughes
Graduation date: May 2020
Type: Concentration (single major)
Date approved:
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Summary
The word “ocean” simply describes the vast expanse of salt water that covers roughly 70% of our planet’s surface. But to any given person who interacts with the ocean, it signifies much more. Some fear it, others amuse themselves with it, and many subsist off it in one way or another. Communities across the globe have long resided along coastlines and have developed varying perspectives of and relationships with the ocean. Today, the ocean is changing at a relatively rapid pace due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has increased, our global average temperature, sea surface temperature and sea level has risen. With my concentration, I aim to get a proper sense of the ocean as it is, as it was and as it will be. I wish to examine the manner in which we harvest fish from the ocean. With these two branches of knowledge, I aspire to understand, as best I can, the relationship between the ocean and those who fish or live beside it, as well as how that relationship has changed and may change in the future.
The research on climate change’s effect on the ocean that I have conducted thus far, consists of potential changes in sea level, tropical cyclones and coral reefs.
In the next century, coastal communities and cities will have to decide how to address sea level rise. “Without adaptation, 0.2–4.6% of global population is expected to be flooded annually in 2100 under 25–123 cm of global mean sea-level rise, with expected annual losses of 0.3–9.3% of global gross domestic product”(Hinkel 2014). There will be two main options available to coastal communities and cities. One option would be a retreat inland and the other would be to engineer and implement expensive coastal protection. Poorer communities will likely have to retreat, while some low lying islands may have to be abandoned entirely. The wealthier and more developed countries will likely invest in protecting coastal cities. Eventually, millions of people in major cities around the world will depend on coastal defense infrastructure (Nicholls 2010).
It is not yet entirely clear what effect climate change will have on the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. “Careful analysis of global hurricane data shows that, against a background of increasing SST, no global trend has yet emerged in the number of tropical storms and hurricanes”(Webster 2005). However, projections for the late 21st century show that it is likely that there will either be a decrease in tropical cyclone frequency or little change at all, and a 2-11% increase in mean maximum wind speed of tropical cyclones. It is also likely that there will be a significant increase in precipitation associated with tropical cyclones. This increase in precipitation as well increased storm surge with rising sea level, could likely result in more destructive tropical cyclones (R. Knuston 2010).
Rapid coral reef decline around the world is likely due to increasing sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification (Pandolfi 2011). The disappearance of coral reefs will have a tremendous impact on developing countries and communities that have based their economies around the reefs. Without healthy coral reefs, tourists will no longer visit these places and bring money into their economies. Fish populations will decrease and fisheries will suffer. Also, “we can anticipate that decreasing rates of reef accretion, increasing rates of bioerosion, rising sea levels, and intensifying storms may combine to jeopardize [coastal communities and ecosystems]”(Hoegh-Guldberg 2007).
How will these changes affect Fisheries?
“In the debate concerning the future of the world’s fisheries, some have forecasted complete collapse but others have challenged this view”( Worm, 2009). Recently, there has been more motivated efforts to rebuild fisheries and prevent their collapse, but considering that “63% of assessed fish stocks worldwide still require rebuilding (Worm, 2009), this may prove too difficult.
“Most artisanal fisheries in the Global South are unregulated and unmonitored and are in urgent need of science-based management to ensure future sustainability”(Oliveira, 2016). Yet most fishery sustainability research is focused on fishery management in the developed world. As a result, overfishing is a big problem in developing countries. “To counter this problem, about 200 governments worldwide have committed to protecting 10%–20% of national coastal marine areas. However, associated impacts on fisheries productivity are unclear and could weaken the food security of hundreds of millions of people who depend on diverse and largely unregulated fishing activities”(Krueck, 2017).
To summarize, I am interested in the lives of people who fish or live beside the ocean and how those lives may change in the future.
Hinkel, Jochen, Daniel Lincke, Athanasios T. Vafeidis, Mahé Perrette, Robert James Nicholls, Richard S. J. Tol, Ben Marzeion, Xavier Fettweis, Cezar Ionescu, and Anders Levermann. “Coastal Flood Damage and Adaptation Costs under 21st Century Sea-Level Rise.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111, no. 9 (March 4, 2014): 3292–97. doi:10.1073/pnas.1222469111.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., P. J. Mumby, A. J. Hooten, R. S. Steneck, P. Greenfield, E. Gomez, C. D. Harvell, et al. 2007. “Coral Reefs Under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification.” Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/318/5857/1737.
Krueck, Nils C., Gabby N. Ahmadia, Hugh P. Possingham, Cynthia Riginos, Eric A. Treml, and Peter J. Mumby. 2017. “Marine Reserve Targets to Sustain and Rebuild Unregulated Fisheries.” PLoS Biology 15 (1): 1–20. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2000537.
Nicholls, Robert J., and Anny Cazenave. 2010. “Sea-Level Rise and Its Impact on Coastal Zones.” Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/328/5985/1517.full.
Oliveira Júnior, José Gilmar C., Luana P. S. Silva, Ana C. M. Malhado, Vandick S. Batista, Nidia N. Fabré, and Richard J. Ladle. “Artisanal Fisheries Research: A Need for Globalization?” PLoS ONE 11, no. 3 (March 4, 2016): 1–10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150689.
Pandolfi, John M., Sean R. Connolly, and Dustin J. Marshall. “Projecting Coral Reef Futures Under Global Warming and Ocean Acidification.” Science 333, no. 6041 (July 22, 2011): 418–22. doi:10.1126/science.1204794.
Knutson, Thomas, John Mcbride, Johnny Chan, Kerry Andrew Emanuel, Greg Holland, Christopher Landsea, Isaac Held, James P. Kossin, A Srivastava, and Masato Sugi. “Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change.” Nature Geoscience 3 (February 21, 2010). doi:10.1038/ngeo779.
Webster, P. J., G. J. Holland, J. A. Curry, and H.-R. Chang. 2005. “Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment.” Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/309/5742/1844.
Worm, Boris, Ray Hilborn, Julia K. Baum, Trevor A. Branch, Jeremy S. Collie, Christopher Costello,
Michael J. Fogarty, et al. “Rebuilding Global Fisheries.” Science 325, no. 5940 (July 31, 2009): 578–85. doi:10.1126/science.1173146.
Questions
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Descriptive:
What impact does increasing sea surface temperature have on the frequency, intensity, and destructive power of tropical cyclones?
For coastal cities and communities, what methods of adaption to sea level rise exist?
What role do marine reserves play in supporting fisheries?
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Explanatory:
How will ocean acidification and coral reef decline affect the communities that depend on coral reef fisheries and tourism?
How is the fishing industry affected by tropical cyclones and powerful storms?
What role do marine reserves play in supporting fisheries?
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Evaluative:
Can we rebuild the world’s fisheries, or are they destined to collapse?
How will ocean acidification and coral reef decline affect the communities that depend on coral reef fisheries and tourism?
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Instrumental:
What role should marine reserves play in supporting fisheries?
How can overfishing be avoided, without jeopardizing the livelihoods of those who depend on harvesting the fish we aim to protect?
Concentration courses
- Oceanography (GEOL 270, 4 credits), spring 2018. Deeper understanding of oceans.
- ENVS 311 (4 credits), spring 2018. Interdisciplinary understanding of human perceptions of natural disasters, specifically those related to the ocean (tropical cyclones, tsunamis).
- ENVS 460 (4 credits), fall 2019. Understanding of environmental law and policy, specifically with respect to oceans and fisheries.
- SOAN 249 (4 credits), fall 2019. Understanding of food production, consumption, and inequality, especially with respect to fisheries.
- SOAN 282 (4 credits), fall 2019. Understanding of how cities interact with the ocean and contend with their position beside it.
Arts and humanities courses
- PHIL 215 (Philosophy and the Environment, 4 credits). Pre-approved A&H course; no justification required.
- SOAN 305 (4 credits), spring 2018. Understanding of issues concerning environmental justice, specifically with respect to oceans and fisheries.