AROUND the world climate change is negatively affecting marine environments and in Solomon Islands, where many people rely on the sea for their livelihood, this is of particular concern.
To withstand the impacts of climate change, coral reefs and other marine ecosystems needs to be resilient.
Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology says that climate change is a big threat to the marine resources that are so important to Solomon Islanders.
“An increase in water temperatures, sea level rise, severity of storms and cyclones and ocean acidification will mean that our marine ecosystems will suffer,” Mr Sore said.
“But if we look after the health of our reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests we will be helping our environment to fight the impacts of climate change.”
Many communities rely on subsistence fishing for food and the tuna industry is a vital part of the national economy so healthy marine life is important to the development of Solomon Islands.
Reef fish provides food for many coastal dwellers, which is 80% of Solomon Islanders but the reefs are already under pressure from human-made impacts like pollution and overfishing so climate change puts an added strain on marine resources.
Tuna is an important economic resource for the country and with climate change, warm waters may move further east and the tunas industry might be lost.
Solomon Islands has a very rich marine environment, providing the country with many important resources.
Solomon Islands has one of the highest diversities of corals and fish in the world.
Sea grass meadows provide a habitat for species like dugongs, fish, sea cucumbers and algae.
Sea grass also provides a nursery area for baby fish.
Mangroves are a breeding and feeding ground for many fish and other animals like crabs.
Solomon Islands has one of the largest nesting sites in the South Pacific for the endangered hawksbill turtle but as sand temperature increases and sea level rise causes erosion on beaches, the turtle breeding might be threatened.
Mr Sore says that these ecosystems are now at risk from the global problem of climate change.
“These marine ecosystems which nurture so many important animals and plants are facing the devastating impacts of climate change,” he said.
Warmer temperatures as a result of climate change are being felt worldwide. Coral reefs normally like to live in water that is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Some fish only like to live in water that stays within a certain temperature.
When temperatures rise, the sea becomes warmer and fish may move away or die.
A rise in temperature may also affect the breeding patterns of marine animals and their growth rate.
Coral is extremely sensitive to temperature rise. Corals are made up of millions of tiny soft bodied animals called polyps.
To protect themselves, some corals take calcium from the seawater to build themselves strong skeletons.
Inside the coral reefs, many species of marine life find protection and food.
This includes important algae-like organisms, called zooxanthellae, which live inside the coral tissues and give them their bright colours.
Zooxanthellae get energy from the sun and provide coral with food.
When the sea becomes warmer, the corals become stressed and get rid of their zooxanthellae.
Once the zooxanthellae are gone, the coral is described as ‘bleached’ because it turns a bright white colour.
Without the zooxanthellae, the coral begins to starve.
If the water conditions return to normal, the zooxanthellae can return and the coral can survive.
However, bleaching makes coral more likely to be affected by disease and can decrease coral growth and reproduction.
If the coral remains stressed and the bleaching continues, the coral will die.
In Solomon Islands, higher than usual sea temperatures have already resulted in coral bleaching.
There was a serious bleaching incident between January and May 2000 in many areas of Solomon Islands such as Gizo, Florida Islands, Ontong Java and other parts of Malaita province.
Coral reefs and mangrove forests can protect coastlines from the damaging impacts of storms, tides, cyclones and big waves.
The reefs break the strong swells before they hit the coast line and damage houses and other infrastructure and mangroves can help protect beaches and coastlines from eroding.
But climate change may result in more intense storms and cyclones which can devastate reefs and coastal ecosystems.
Changes in the chemistry of the ocean associated with climate change would also affect our marine ecosystems.
Climate change is being caused because humans are producing too much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into a type of acid called carbonic acid.
The oceans are absorbing such a large amount of carbon dioxide now that the oceans are becoming more acidic.
The carbonic acid in the water could then dissolve the skeletons of corals, which means that corals will stop growing and eventually die.
Fish, squid and other marine animals with gills will find it more difficult to breathe in the oxygen they need from the water when it becomes too acidic.
Shellfish, crabs, lobsters and corals may find it difficult to build their shells and some shells might even start to dissolve.
Impacts like coral bleaching and ocean acidification will result in coral reefs dying.
A number of fish are totally reliant on coral for their habitat and food and so they will not be able to survive either.
A decline in these fish will affect their predators like larger fish, sharks, marine mammals and sea birds who will have less to eat.
“Our marine environment is all inter-linked,” Mr Sore said.
“We need all the plants, coral and animals to be healthy because they rely on each other for food, protection and habitats.”
“While our country only contributes minimal greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and therefore only has a small role in mitigating climate change, our marine environment will be negatively affected and we have to work together to do all we can to protect our reefs,” Mr Sore said.
“People need to keep reefs strong and healthy so that they are able to withstand the pressures of climate change.
“With a rapidly growing population, we need to be extra careful that we do not over exploit the resources from our oceans and lagoons.
“Everyone needs to draw upon the traditions of community based resource management. Take only what you need from the ocean and return small fish that have been accidently caught in nets quickly to the ocean.
“Protect coral by not standing on it or damaging it in any way and only fish with a line or a net, not dynamite or poison.
“Try to keep the reefs clean of pollution and waste.”
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology is taking part in many initiatives to try and protect and nurture the vital marine environment of Solomon Islands.
The Coral Triangle Initiative is aimed at safeguarding the region’s marine and coastal resources for the millions of people who rely on them.
The Mangrove Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation and Livelihood project focuses on the management of mangrove ecosystems in order to build resilience to climate change.
The Protected Areas Legislation by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology will be tabled in the last sitting of the current Parliament and will assist communities in developing and enforcing marine protected areas to better conserve the marine environment.
Mr Sore says that we all have to work together to conserve our marine environment.
“These threats are from climate change are real, they will affect the marine resources that we rely upon for food,” he said.
“The best way to adapt and to be prepared for climate change is to make sure your marine ecosystems like coral reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests are healthy”. – The Ministry of Environment, Meteorology and Conservation
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