Social and economic drivers for activities affecting pelagic habitats
All social and economic drivers have the potential to influence the quality status of pelagic habitats. In particular, the growing global population and the demand this generates for food production, waste disposal, coastal development and energy systems are probably the most important drivers. Policy responses for managing human activities need to consider all relevant driving forces so as to meet society’s needs while reducing the risks to pelagic habitats and facilitating societal change.
All social and economic drivers have the potential to influence the quality status of pelagic habitats. Growing global populations increase the demand for food. Agriculture and aquaculture help to address this need, but agricultural run-off and waste products from aquaculture can introduce nutrients, organic matter and pathogens to the marine environment, which can alter plankton communities via bottom-up effects. Fisheries also help address this need; however, the extraction of wild species can impact the stability of pelagic food webs (e.g., “top-down” or “wasp waist” effects) and the plankton community supporting them.
The growing global population is increasing the demand for coastal development, housing, utilities, other urban uses, and associated waste water treatment and disposal. This also increases the demand for materials and their processing. The manufacturing, processing and production of goods can introduce pollutants to the marine environment, including nutrient pollution. The trading of goods by sea requires maintaining the navigability of waterways, and therefore dredging of the seabed, which can release nutrients and other pollutants into the water column. Shipping can also introduce non-indigenous species through ballast water discharge and input sound and other forms of energy. The introduction of infrastructure to the marine and coastal environments to meet society’s need for economic development and energy (e.g., ports, housing, tourism and leisure, energy generation facilities) can alter hydrological and hydrodynamic conditions and thereby influence plankton distributions (directly or indirectly via effects on nutrients, primary productivity or food webs).
Policy responses for managing human activities need to consider all these driving forces so as to meet society’s needs while reducing the risks to pelagic habitats and facilitating societal change.