Expert meeting on marine biodiversity
Marine biodiversity is acutely threatened: If the current decline in fish stocks worldwide continues, commercial fishing may have disappeared by 2050. Against this dramatic backdrop about 100 international experts met from 18-20 April to discuss the protection of marine biodiversity in the high seas. Experts from EU member states, different UN organisations and regional Agreements discussed the designation and the management of protected marine areas in European waters. Other topics on the agenda were the EU marine policies and strategies for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the high seas. The German Environment Ministry and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) jointly hosted this workshop.
Oceans are among the most intensively used and least protected ecosystems in the world. The figures are alarming: 77 percent of the world’s fish stocks are overfished or exploited up to their biological limits. 80 percent of the Caribbean coral reefs have already been destroyed. The deep seas, major parts of which are yet unexplored, contain fascinating coral reefs that are often being destroyed before they have been explored.
Parliamentary State Secretary Astrid Klug from the German Environment Ministry stated: "Oceans, marine ecosystems and their biodiversity are of vital importance for life on earth. They play a key role in global nutrient and climate cycles. At the same time they are the source of many raw materials. But the world’s oceans are facing an ecological crisis. Thus governments must clearly step up their efforts to protect the fascinating and economically valuable marine life in the world’s oceans for future generations."
The European governments have agreed to stop the loss of biodiversity on land and in oceans by 2010. At international level many countries have agreed to establish a global network of marine protected areas by 2012.
Astrid Klug stressed: "Time is short if we still want to reach our ambitious goals. Germany is currently the holder of both the EU and the G8 presidencies. Next year Germany will host the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. We should use this important opportunity to make progress on the protection of marine ecosystems and their biodiversity."