Restoring the World’s Oceans

KAUST researchers lead an evidence-based global study detailing how marine life can recover to full abundance by 2050

CARLOS DUARTE Professor of Marine Science and Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology

WE HAVE A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER A HEALTHY OCEAN TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN’S GENERATION, AND WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO DO SO.

In April 2020 the scientific journal Nature published an international oceans study led by KAUST Professors of Marine Science Carlos Duarte and Susana Agustí. The study documents how the recovery rate of marine life can be accelerated to achieve substantial recovery within two to three decades. The study received broad international news coverage, featuring in the BBC, The Guardian and Newsweek, among others.

The study lays out a roadmap of specific actions to enable the full recovery of the planet’s marine life by 2050. According to the World Wildlife Fund, marine life populations have declined by nearly 50% in the last four decades. This has put the ocean’s ability to support human life under severe threat.

The project has brought together work of some of the world’s leading marine scientists from 16 international universities, including KAUST, MIT, Sorbonne Université, The University of Queensland, Aarhus University and the University of York. Their work focused on how the recovery rate of marine life could be increased. Research indicates that if efficient interventions are deployed at large scale, it is still possible for the world’s oceans to recover an abundance of marine life. The study identifies nine components of marine ecosystems that are integral to rebuilding marine life: coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, megafauna, deep sea, oyster reefs, fisheries, saltmarshes and kelp. The researchers also

FORBES

“Scientists believe that the world’s oceans could be recovered to healthy levels by 2050, but it would require a substantial shift in the way that we approach business and conservation.” Forbes article on Earth Day

identified six specific recovery actions that are needed: mitigating climate change, protecting species, safeguarding spaces, reducing pollution, harvesting wisely and restoring habitats.

“Our study documents the recovery of marine populations, habitats and ecosystems following past conservation interventions. It provides specific, evidence-based recommendations to scale proven solutions globally,” Duarte, who is also the Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology, said. “We are at a point where we can choose between a legacy of a resilient and vibrant ocean or an irreversibly disrupted ocean.”

In June 2020 Professor Duarte participated in the Capitol Hill Ocean Week virtual conference, the US’ premier annual conference examining current marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues. During his panel session, Professor Duarte emphasized the necessity of global cooperation for the restoration of the world’s oceans.

Sharks and large marine predators, for example, have experienced significant decline, but evidence shows that their numbers can be increased with appropriate protection measures. When it comes to coral, the integrity of reef fish communities adds resilience to coral reefs and facilitates their recovery once pressures are removed. Among evidence for the resilience of marine life are remarkable cases of recovery, including that of the humpback whale population.

Rebuilding marine life would bring far-reaching ecological, economic and social gains. The study’s authors see this as both a smart eco

SUSANA AGUSTÍ Professor of Marine Science

REBUILDING MARINE LIFE REPRESENTS AN ADDRESSABLE GRAND CHALLENGE FOR HUMANITY, AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION AND A SMART ECONOMIC OBJECTIVE TO ACHIEVE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

nomic objective and an ethical obligation. Enabling a more sustainable, ocean-based economy will require a committed global partnership inclusive of governments, private companies and societies worldwide.

Mitigating climate change through the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions stands as one of the most important elements for success. Rebuilding the abundance of marine life can only succeed if the most ambitious goals within the Paris Agreement – such as limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5°C – are reached.