Research shows that marine reserves are one tool that can help to prevent, slow, or reverse negative changes in the ocean. Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are completely and permanently protected from uses that remove animals and plants or alter their habitats. Increasingly, the public, governmental agencies, commercial groups, and scientists are discussing the idea of establishing more marine reserves to complement existing ocean management. The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the latest scientific information about marine reserves.
The high seas lie beyond the 200 nautical mile limits that define the extent of national sovereignty by countries of the world. They cover 64% of the area of the oceans, and nearly half the surface of the planet. They are a global commons, under the stewardship of the United Nations Law of the Sea for the benefit of all nations. But human pressures on the high seas are increasing fast, and urgent action is needed to protect them from harm. Recent research shows that industrial fishing has
This dataset contains all spatial data that is related to the Tonga volcanic eruption. Maps produced are derived from credible data source such as UNOSTAT and UNITAR.
Offshore Environment Tuna, Sharks and other targeted species Cook Islands
This dataset the extent of coral reefs around Pohnpei. The data layer shown here is a subset of Pohnpei base layer. The original data, so-called Digital Line Graphs (DLSs), were created by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the 1:25,000-scale topographic maps (2001). The shoreline was modified by by University of Guam (UOG) (2017) based on 2016 Worldview-3 satellite imagery from Digital Globe. The dataset was slightly shifted and also updated (mainly around Kolonia and its vicinity).
This dataset shows the extent and basic types of sea grass areas around Pohnpei. It classifies sea grass areas by one of the three main species (Cymodocea rotundata, Thalassia hemprichii, and Enhalus acaroides) and the level of coverage (describes as continuous, aggregated, and isolated). The data source is McKenzie, L.J. and Rasheed, M.J. (2006), Seagrasses: Pohnpei Island and And Atoll Marine Assessment, Technical report of survey conducted 26 October 3 November 2005, SeagrassWatch HQ, DPI&F, Cairns, 60pp.
France has an important role and extensive responsibilities in protecting the world's oceans. It is the world's third
largest maritime power with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering 11 million km2, and has the fourth
largest area of coral reefs representing biodiversity hotspots.
According to a recent Nature Conservancy assessment, only 1% of marine areas (as against 12 % of all land
areas) are officially protected today, despite government commitments under the UN Convention on Biological