Topic: oceans

Coral Reefs - Tobago

Coral reef data for Tobago come from the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project and R. Laydoo. Updated at WRI based on reef observations from Trinidad Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA).

Coastal Populations Losing Livelihoods to Polluted Waters

Coastal communities worldwide are witnessing their livelihoods choked by agricultural and industrial pollution, according to findings released today by the World Resources Institute.

This map identifies only 20 eutrophic coastal zones in all of Africa, of which 8 have documented hypoxia and 12 are areas of concern.

This map identifies just 24 eutrophic coastal areas with documented hypoxia and 9 areas of concern within Asia.

This map identifies 36 eutrophic coastal zones; 9 with documented hypoxia and 27 areas of concern.

This map identifies 168 eutrophic and hypoxic coastal areas in Europe. Fifty-nine of these are documented hypoxic areas, 106 are areas of concern, and 3 are improved systems that are in recovery.

This map identifies 25 eutrophic and hypoxic zones, with 3 having documented hypoxia and 22 areas of concern. Most are found in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

This map identifies 131 eutrophic and hypoxic coast zones in North America and the Caribbean. Sixty-two have documented hypoxia, 59 are areas of concern, and 10 are systems in recovery.

Latin American Leader Roberto Artavia Elected to WRI Board

The World Resources Institute (WRI) has elected Roberto Artavia to its board of directors. Artavia is a distinguished leader in business education, conservation of marine resources, and sustainable development in Latin America.

Ironically, Flood Control is Flooding New Orleans

Man-made flood-control systems—such as levees, upstream dams, and canals—continue to be responsible for widespread damage to the New Orleans and Louisiana landscapes.

Eutrophication—the overenrichment of water by nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus—has emerged as a leading water quality problem. This report identifies over 415 areas worldwide that are experiencing eutrophication symptoms, and there are significant information gaps in many regions.

Eutrophication—the over-enrichment of water by nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus—is a leading threat to water quality around the world. Also known as “nutrient pollution,” eutrophication upsets the natural balance of aquatic ecosystems, which can lead to algal blooms, red tides, hypoxic or “dead” zones, fish kills, and, eventually, ecosystem collapse.

The Caribbean Region

The Caribbean region, as defined by this analysis, encompasses 35 countries and territories bordering the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sea, including the oceanic island of Bermuda.

Map sources

Threats to reefs from coastal development were estimated based on distance from cities, ports, airports, and dive tourism centers, as well as population density, population growth, and tourism growth

Agriculture, though important to economic development and food security, is a source of increased sediment, nutrient, and pesticide runoff.