Download Coral reef habitats cover 0.2% of the ocean floor. Despite their small

What are coasts used for?
Coasts provide habitats for various
marine organisms. Currently,
earth’s marine habitats are
showing signs of stress.
Increased habitat destruction,
coastal pollution, and over fishing
have begun to diminish the
population of coastal fish, shellfish,
and other various species. Also,
natural resources in coastal areas
have been depleted in response to
rapid population growth and
increased demand.
Coral Reefs
Fast Fact:
More than 66% of
the world’s
population lives
within 62 miles of
the coast.
Coral reef habitats cover 0.2% of the ocean floor. Despite their small
percentage, coral reefs are a crucial part of the marine habitat because they
are home to millions of fish and marine plants. During the past 50 years,
humans have put a strain on coral reefs by altering their surrounding waters
and disturbing their foundations. Currently, 27% of coral reefs have been
lost and 32% are at risk of being lost in the near future.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
Coastal Pollution
The two major sources of coastal pollution include, land run-off and
conscious dumping of hazardous material into the ocean. Marine
pollution is becoming more evident in the increased amount of trash found
on the beaches. Less visible to the naked eye, but equally as dangerous
are the chemicals rapidly accumulating in our rivers, lakes, and oceans,
which are contaminating marine food chains on a global scale.
http://www.foprobim.org/
Fishing and Shellfish Farming
Oceans have helped to provide communities along the coasts with food for
thousands of years. Today, many commercial and sport fisheries rely on
remote sensing measurements of sea surface temperatures to capture images
of the boundary lines between warm and cold water masses in the ocean.
Since fish and shellfish typically school along these boundaries, fishermen can
more effectively harvest fish and shellfish. However, as a result of improved
fishing technology, fish and shellfish are now being over harvested.
Make an Effort
A majority of the public has very little insight into the devastation currently
occurring in marine habitats. With this, society must make an effort to
become aware of their surroundings and begin to efficiently manage earth’s
coastal and inland waters before these resources become unusable.
1. Ahrens, C. D. (2005). Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere (4th ed.). California: Thomson.
2. Herring, D., Weier, J., & Gubbels, T. (2002, August). Environmental Indicators for Coastal Management. Earth Observation Magazine, 11(8).
3. Hutchinson, S. & Hawkins, L. E. (2005). Oceans: A Visual Guide. New York: Firefly Books.
4. Sustain Healthy Coasts. (2005). NOAA Strategic Plan – Executive Summary. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from http://www.noaa.gov/str-plan/m-coasts.html
Created by Leeanne Hazzard & Fabrice Veron, 2007
Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory
College of Marine and Earth Studies
University of Delaware