2 May, 2016

Source: World Bank

Pacific Island countries face unique development challenges. They are far away from major markets, often with small populations spread across many islands and vast distances, and are at the forefront of climate change and its impacts. Because of this, much research has focused on the challenges and constraints faced by Pacific Island countries, and finding ways to respond to these.

Available in English.

 

1 August, 2015

During the past few years, the term “Blue Economy” or “Blue Growth” has surged into common policy usage, all over the world. For some, Blue Economy means the use of the sea and its resources for sustainable eco-nomic development. For others, it simply refers to any economic activity in the maritime sector, whether sustainable or not.

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1 July, 2015

The deep ocean is a vital force within the Earth system and must be protected from harm. The priority approach to the consumption of mineral resources should beone ofsustainability, reuse, improved product design and recycling of materials rather than exploring for new sources of minerals, including in the deep-sea. Ifdeep-sea mining is permitted to occur, it should not take place until appropriate and effective regulations for exploration and exploitation are in place to ensure that the full range of marine habitats, biodiversity and ecosystem functions are adequatelyand effectively protected, including through a network of marine protected areas and reserves.

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1 July, 2015

In the late 1990s a number of deep-sea scientists began raising concerns in international bodies over the threats to barely explored, poorly understood deep-ocean ecosystems from a fishing practice known as deep-sea bottom trawling. This practice was on the increase as a result of new technology that enabled fishing vessels to go deeper and further out to sea in pursuit of fish. With the introduction of bottom gear with names such as ‘canyon busters’, scientists were alarmed by the prospect of losing species and unique habitats before they had even been discovered by science.

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24 June, 2015

Authors: Ronald E. Thresher, John M. Guinotte, Richard J. Matear and Alistair J. Hobday

The deep sea hosts some of the world’s largest, oldest, and most sensitive ecosystems. Climate change and ocean acidification are likely to have severe implications for many deep-sea ecosystems and communities, but what, if anything, can be done to mitigate these threats is poorly understood.

Available in English.