19. Reflections on the Parts and the Whole
423
tural resources. The conservation and protection of areas and species valued by society is a long-standing human tradition. From ancient times to
the present, humans have demonstrated an increasing affinity for protecting
areas and organisms they appreciate.
This human inclination for protection has not, however, been pursued
uniformly. While human activities within the marine environment may be
limited spatially, the impact of these activities reaches every ocean and
every sea, from the sunlit surface waters to the deepest sun-starved sea
floor. For example, scientists Les Watling and Elliott Norse (1998) reported
that, while every year we clear-cut an area of rainforest the size of the US
state of Indiana , we simultaneously drag fishing trawls over a marine area
twice the size of the continental US. Further, Mylar balloons, which look
like jellyfish to the endangered sea turtles that die from ingesting them ,
have been known to travel to New England waters from birthday parties as
far away as Ohio . So, when we think of the environment, but neglect to include the part that is underwater, we address only a fraction of many complex and interrelated issues.
Public participation in marine conservation efforts is critical for its success. Unlike the situation on land, where a variety of property rights
apply, no such rights obtain in the marine environment, though many parties act as though they do . For example, the more than 10.7 million square
kilometers of ocean held by the US, from the shoreline to 200 miles out to
sea, are held in the public trust (no single country oversees more water).
Each and every citizen has a vital stake in marine conservation, whether it
is off Cape Cod, north of Alaska, or along the coast of California. Extend
this rationale to include the coastlines and off-shore areas throughout the
rest of the world , and very quickly you will realize that the scope of marine
conservation needs is considerable.
More than any particular interest group, the general public has a stake in
a healthy marine environment, but as yet has not claimed it. This will
change-or so we hope. When the change occurs , it should be animated
by the best available science, and should be able to use the tools necessary
to reconcile disparate information, balance conflicting goals, and adjust its
course of action as new knowledge is gained. To the extent that this book
contributes to such a process, it has accomplished its mission.
423
tural resources. The conservation and protection of areas and species valued by society is a long-standing human tradition. From ancient times to
the present, humans have demonstrated an increasing affinity for protecting
areas and organisms they appreciate.
This human inclination for protection has not, however, been pursued
uniformly. While human activities within the marine environment may be
limited spatially, the impact of these activities reaches every ocean and
every sea, from the sunlit surface waters to the deepest sun-starved sea
floor. For example, scientists Les Watling and Elliott Norse (1998) reported
that, while every year we clear-cut an area of rainforest the size of the US
state of Indiana , we simultaneously drag fishing trawls over a marine area
twice the size of the continental US. Further, Mylar balloons, which look
like jellyfish to the endangered sea turtles that die from ingesting them ,
have been known to travel to New England waters from birthday parties as
far away as Ohio . So, when we think of the environment, but neglect to include the part that is underwater, we address only a fraction of many complex and interrelated issues.
Public participation in marine conservation efforts is critical for its success. Unlike the situation on land, where a variety of property rights
apply, no such rights obtain in the marine environment, though many parties act as though they do . For example, the more than 10.7 million square
kilometers of ocean held by the US, from the shoreline to 200 miles out to
sea, are held in the public trust (no single country oversees more water).
Each and every citizen has a vital stake in marine conservation, whether it
is off Cape Cod, north of Alaska, or along the coast of California. Extend
this rationale to include the coastlines and off-shore areas throughout the
rest of the world , and very quickly you will realize that the scope of marine
conservation needs is considerable.
More than any particular interest group, the general public has a stake in
a healthy marine environment, but as yet has not claimed it. This will
change-or so we hope. When the change occurs , it should be animated
by the best available science, and should be able to use the tools necessary
to reconcile disparate information, balance conflicting goals, and adjust its
course of action as new knowledge is gained. To the extent that this book
contributes to such a process, it has accomplished its mission.