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Marine protected areas in Latin America and Caribbean threatened by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
2021
Nunes, Beatriz Zachello | Zanardi-Lamardo, Eliete | Choueri, Rodrigo Brasil | Castro, Ítalo Braga
The present study is a literature-based analysis investigating occurrence and the possible consequences of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine protected areas (MPAs) of Latin America and Caribbean. The approach using overlapping of georeferenced MPA polygons with data compiled from peer-reviewed literature, published during the last 15 years, showed 341 records of PAH in 9 countries. PAH was reported to occur within the boundaries of 36 MPAs located in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay. According to quality guidelines, low to moderate impacts are expected in MPAs categorized in different management classes. Considering sediment samples, 13% of the records presented concentrations enough to cause occasional toxicity. Such level of risk was also seen in Ramsar sites and in Amazonian MPAs. In addition, based on concentrations reported in biota, occasional deleterious effects on organisms from Biosphere Reserves might occur. Diagnostic ratios pointed out petrogenic and pyrolytic processes as PAH predominant sources, and were mainly attributed to the proximity to ports, industries and urban areas. MPAs located in the vicinity of impact-generating areas may be under threat and require government attention and action, mainly through implementation of contamination monitoring programs.
Show more [+] Less [-]Seagrass ecosystems of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A global bright spot
2021
McKenzie, Len J. | Yoshida, Rudi L. | Aini, John W. | Andréfouet, Serge | Colin, Patrick L. | Cullen-Unsworth, Leanne C. | Hughes, Alec T. | Payri, Claude E. | Rota, Manibua | Shaw, Christina | Skelton, Posa A. | Tsuda, Roy T. | Vuki, Veikila C. | Unsworth, Richard K.F.
Seagrass ecosystems exist throughout Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Despite this area covering nearly 8% of the global ocean, information on seagrass distribution, biogeography, and status remains largely absent from the scientific literature. We confirm 16 seagrass species occur across 17 of the 22 PICTs with the highest number in Melanesia, followed by Micronesia and Polynesia respectively. The greatest diversity of seagrass occurs in Papua New Guinea (13 species), and attenuates eastward across the Pacific to two species in French Polynesia. We conservatively estimate seagrass extent to be 1446.2 km², with the greatest extent (84%) in Melanesia. We find seagrass condition in 65% of PICTs increasing or displaying no discernible trend since records began. Marine conservation across the region overwhelmingly focuses on coral reefs, with seagrass ecosystems marginalised in conservation legislation and policy. Traditional knowledge is playing a greater role in managing local seagrass resources and these approaches are having greater success than contemporary conservation approaches. In a world where the future of seagrass ecosystems is looking progressively dire, the Pacific Islands appears as a global bright spot, where pressures remain relatively low and seagrass more resilient.
Show more [+] Less [-]Selection of parameters for seagrass management: Towards the development of integrated indicators for French Antilles
2021
Kerninon, Fanny | Payri, Claude E. | Le Loc'h, François | Alcoverro, Teresa | Maréchal, Jean-Philippe | Chalifour, Julien | Gréaux, Sébastien | Mège, Simone | Athanase, Julien | Cordonnier, Sébastien | Rouget, Marie-Laure | Lorre, Elise | Uboldi, Thomas | Monnier, Olivier | Hellio, Claire
Seagrass beds are increasingly impacted by human activities in coastal areas, particularly in tropical regions. The objective of this research program was to study seagrass beds characteristics under various environmental conditions in the French Antilles (FA, Caribbean Sea). A total of 61 parameters, from plant physiology to seagrass ecosystem, were tested along a gradient of anthropogenic conditions, distributed across 11 sites and 3 islands of the FA. A selection of 7 parameters was identified as relevant for the monitoring of seagrass meadows in the framework of public policies. They combined “early warning indicators” (e.g. nutrients and some trace metals) and long-term responding parameters (e.g. shoot density) adapted to management time scales. The ecological status of seagrass meadows was evaluated using a PCA. This work is a first step towards monitoring and management of seagrass meadows in the FA.
Show more [+] Less [-]Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in Cox's Bazar, the longest natural beach in the world
2021
Rakib, Md Refat Jahan | De-la-Torre, Gabriel E. | Pizarro-Ortega, Carlos Ivan | Dioses-Salinas, Diana Carolina | Al-Nahian, Sultan
The extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) driven by the COVID-19 pandemic has become an important contributor to marine plastic pollution. However, there are very few studies quantifying and characterizing this type of pollution in coastal areas. In the present study, we monitored the occurrence of PPE (face masks, bouffant caps, and gloves) discarded in 13 sites along Cox's Bazar beach, the longest naturally occurring beach in the world. The vast majority of the items were face masks (97.9%), and the mean PPE density across sites was 6.29 × 10⁻³ PPE m⁻². The presence of illegal dumping sites was the main source of PPE, which was mainly located on touristic/recreational beaches. Fishing activity contributed to PPE pollution at a lower level. Poor solid waste management practices in Cox's Bazar demonstrated to be a major driver of PPE pollution. The potential solutions and sustainable alternatives were discussed.
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