Protecting the Gulf's Marine Ecosystems from Pollution

Zusatztext

The Gulf is endowed with valuable natural resources and a great biodiversity of plant and animal species. Sustainable living in the Gulf area is dependent upon such resources provided by the sea. Large areas of its coastal zone including important marine habitats are currently threatened by increasing stress on the Gulf ecosystem due to an accelerated coastal development during the last few years. Some of the worlds largest landfill and dredging projects are found in the coastal areas, and the open sea contains the worlds main crude oil shipping routes. A variety of human impacts are contributing to marine pollution, such as oil, sediments, waste, thermal, chemical, and other forms of pollution. This volume reviews present sources and levels of pollution in the Gulf, assesses their causes and effects on biota and ecosystems, and identifies gaps and obstacles currently preventing an effective integrated transboundary management of the marine and coastal resources.

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