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Spatial and temporal changes in cumulative human impacts on the world’s ocean

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  • Benjamin S. Halpern

    (Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California
    Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus
    National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis)

  • Melanie Frazier

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis)

  • John Potapenko

    (University of California)

  • Kenneth S. Casey

    (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information)

  • Kellee Koenig

    (Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International)

  • Catherine Longo

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis)

  • Julia Stewart Lowndes

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis)

  • R. Cotton Rockwood

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California)

  • Elizabeth R. Selig

    (Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International)

  • Kimberly A. Selkoe

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
    Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii)

  • Shaun Walbridge

    (ESRI, Boston Office)

Abstract

Human pressures on the ocean are thought to be increasing globally, yet we know little about their patterns of cumulative change, which pressures are most responsible for change, and which places are experiencing the greatest increases. Managers and policymakers require such information to make strategic decisions and monitor progress towards management objectives. Here we calculate and map recent change over 5 years in cumulative impacts to marine ecosystems globally from fishing, climate change, and ocean- and land-based stressors. Nearly 66% of the ocean and 77% of national jurisdictions show increased human impact, driven mostly by climate change pressures. Five percent of the ocean is heavily impacted with increasing pressures, requiring management attention. Ten percent has very low impact with decreasing pressures. Our results provide large-scale guidance about where to prioritize management efforts and affirm the importance of addressing climate change to maintain and improve the condition of marine ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin S. Halpern & Melanie Frazier & John Potapenko & Kenneth S. Casey & Kellee Koenig & Catherine Longo & Julia Stewart Lowndes & R. Cotton Rockwood & Elizabeth R. Selig & Kimberly A. Selkoe & Sha, 2015. "Spatial and temporal changes in cumulative human impacts on the world’s ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8615
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8615
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    Cited by:

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    3. Farrah Powell & Arielle Levine & Lucia Ordonez-Gauger, 2022. "Climate adaptation in the market squid fishery: fishermen responses to past variability associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation cycles inform our understanding of adaptive capacity in the face of," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-21, July.
    4. World Bank, 2021. "Banking on Protected Areas," World Bank Publications - Reports 35737, The World Bank Group.
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    12. Iliana Chollett & Rachel Collin & Carolina Bastidas & Aldo Cróquer & Peter M H Gayle & Eric Jordán-Dahlgren & Karen Koltes & Hazel Oxenford & Alberto Rodriguez-Ramirez & Ernesto Weil & Jahson Alemu & , 2017. "Widespread local chronic stressors in Caribbean coastal habitats," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, December.
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    15. Radhouan El Zrelli & Lotfi Rabaoui & Rubén Roa-Ureta & Nicola Gallai & Sylvie Castet & Michel Grégoire & Nejla Bejaoui & Pierre Courjault-Radé, 2020. "Economic impact of human-induced shrinkage of Posidonia oceanica meadows on coastal fisheries in the Gabes Gulf (Tunisia, Southern Mediterranean Sea)," Post-Print hal-02949095, HAL.
    16. Jernberg, Susanna & Kuosa, Harri & Boström, Christoffer & Burdon, Daryl & Haavisto, Fiia & Heiskanen, Anna-Stiina & Kiviluoto, Suvi & Kuningas, Sanna & Kunnasranta, Mervi & Uusitalo, Laura & Villnäs, , 2024. "Linking natural capital stocks with ecosystem services in the Northern Baltic Sea," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    17. Arnaud Auber & Conor Waldock & Anthony Maire & Eric Goberville & Camille Albouy & Adam C. Algar & Matthew McLean & Anik Brind’Amour & Alison L. Green & Mark Tupper & Laurent Vigliola & Kristin Kaschne, 2022. "A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
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    20. Jun Zhang & Junping Yan & Liang Xue & Yuanzhi Yao & Xin Shu, 2021. "Is there a regularity: the change of arable land use pattern under the influence of human activities in the Loess Plateau of China?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7156-7175, May.
    21. Theodore P. Lianos & Anastasia Pseiridis, 2021. "Adjusting GDP for ecological deficit: the Index of Debt to the Future (IDF)," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 1-22, March.
    22. Zhenyan Zhang & Qi Zhang & Bingfeng Chen & Yitian Yu & Tingzhang Wang & Nuohan Xu & Xiaoji Fan & Josep Penuelas & Zhengwei Fu & Ye Deng & Yong-Guan Zhu & Haifeng Qian, 2024. "Global biogeography of microbes driving ocean ecological status under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    23. Elena Gissi & Stefano Menegon & Alessandro Sarretta & Federica Appiotti & Denis Maragno & Andrea Vianello & Daniel Depellegrin & Chiara Venier & Andrea Barbanti, 2017. "Addressing uncertainty in modelling cumulative impacts within maritime spatial planning in the Adriatic and Ionian region," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-30, July.
    24. Nagababu, Garlapati & Kachhwaha, Surendra Singh & Savsani, Vimal, 2017. "Estimation of technical and economic potential of offshore wind along the coast of India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 79-91.

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