Why the Ocean Matters

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Table of Contents Preface 3 On Ocean Matters 4 Insights from Ocean Leaders 10 Fun Facts about Our Fish Friends 32 Mapping the Future 36 Special Thanks To 39 2

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Preface Dear friends and colleagues, We celebrate and dive into the work of Ocean Warriors, Thailand Manta Project, With pride, I welcome you to Matters saving corals in the Philippines, Academy’s booklet, \"Why the Ocean OceansAsia, the Shark Foundation, Matters\". Conservation of Green Sea Turtles, Bloom Association in HK, and CITES Hong Kong and our surrounding seas Enforcement. have provided us with a livelihood for generations. We have achieved We also provide the latest insights on international importance because of our underwater ecology: how do fish feel? relationship with the ocean. Our What do they know? The benefits of the Fragrant Harbour and our bond to the ocean ecosystem, fish stock depletion, Greater Bay Area are home to more and coral reef ecology. than 30 million people and play an ever-expanding role in global Lastly, let's work toward the United development. Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, to embark on our We rely on the oceans for food, journey echoing \"Why the Ocean transportation, and recreation. And yet, Matters\". our oceans are under substantial threat. How can we not put our concern on the Welcome. ocean and our future? Dr Glenn Frommer World Oceans Day is upcoming on 8 Executive Programme Director of June. We take this opportunity to Matters Academy commemorate World Oceans Day by this booklet sharing the work of ten leading individuals and their organizations affecting ocean change in Southeast Asia. 3

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WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Earth's vast oceans have long been a source of fascination for humans, the mysterious waters stretching over the horizon. This is no surprise, as the oceans take up much of the planet's space. According to the United States Geological Survey, around 71% of the world's surface is water-covered; of this, the Ocean holds more than 96% of our world's water. However, the importance of the Ocean is not only due to its size. While we should all take the time to appreciate the beauty of the Ocean, we cannot overlook the significance of Ocean matters. Whether you be residents of coastal cities or towns, or in the middle of a desert, the Ocean plays a significant role in our daily lives and activities. A myriad of marine wildlife species and environments are integral to not only the natural processes of the oceans' complex ecosystems but also our own ecosystems above water. As an advanced species living on Earth, we humans have a responsibility to protect life on our planet. However, over time, our actions have unfortunately resulted in negative impacts on the environment. From climate change and pollution to loss of biodiversity and introduction of invasive species, our actions have a real and substantive impact on the Ocean. The consequences of our actions are now more prevalent than ever; we are facing a global emergency. To address this emergency, we must raise awareness of these challenges, and leverage our knowledge to innovate ways to protect our oceans. 5

What Does the Ocean Ecosystem Do for Us? Global leaders have been advocating for and bringing attention to Ocean conservation for many years. As conscientious global citizens, we also have a responsibility to take action and take a stand against this global emergency. The first step to taking action is to understand what the Ocean and its ecosystems do for us. Here are just 5 interesting things that the Ocean contributes to our lives: More than half of the world's oxygen is produced in the Ocean. It also stores 50 times more CO2 than our atmosphere (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Other than seafood, the Ocean also contributes ingredients to other kinds of foods like soymilk and peanut butter. The Ocean is also a source of many ingredients used in medicines to treat a variety of health issues, from cancer to arthritis to heart disease. The Ocean helps us regulate our world's climate and weather patterns, transporting heat from the equator toward the poles. There are a large number of Ocean-related cultural services derived from the natural ocean ecosystem including recreation and ocean tourism, ecosystem services, and more. 6

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Our Footprint Now that we have a better understanding of what the Ocean does for us, what are we doing to our oceans? What impacts do our daily activities and consumption have on marine ecosystems? Ocean acidification. Pollution. Overfishing. Loss of essential marine life. Around 40% of the Ocean is heavily affected by these threats, representing only a fraction of the many challenges and problems that our Oceans are faced with as the result of our actions. Here are some human activities that pose a threat to the Ocean: Much of our waste ends up in the Ocean. hazardous waste, municipal waste, industrial waste, and agricultural waste. More than 31 percent of fish stocks are either overfished or fished to capacity according to an estimate by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Invasive species of poisonous algae, plants, animals, and bacteria have disrupted the ecological balance. 7

Throughout the years, communities Plankton and Algae are the most worldwide have been using the Ocean autotrophs (organisms that can produce as a means to dispose of waste– their own nutrients from sunlight and patches of waste have piled up, with carbon) of the marine food web. In some some even large enough to warrant a cases, phytoplankton and algae are name. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch unable to photosynthesise due to is the largest accumulation zone of photodegraded microplastics blocking marine debris in the world, consisting of the sunlight. Threats to their litter such as plastic bags, bottles, communities will drastically change the fishing nets, microplastics, polystyrene marine food web. Animals that feed on foam, resin pellets, and more. These these autotrophs (such as fish) will have pose a significant threat to marine life. less food, which will, in turn, affect their While there are some very obvious predators and the food which we threats to marine ecosystems, such as consume. those that mistake plastic waste for food or are caught and stuck in the Threats resulting to our ocean species waste, there are greater risks to the have a ripple effect, as it leads to the marine ecosystem. imbalance of the ecosystem, and interruptions to the regulatory ecosystem service. We need to be more mindful of our waste disposal and our waste's impact on the Ocean. 8

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS To add to the pre-existing problems of waste disposal in the Ocean, the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic has modified our behaviour. The utilisation and disposal of single-use plastics have increased dramatically, stemming from the increased use of face masks, personal protective equipment, medical waste, and more. The associated disposal of the waste into our Ocean presents a serious marine plastic pollution threat to the Ocean's wildlife and ecosystems. In recognition of these prevailing problems and the added waste and behavioural changes stemming from the global pandemic, Matters Academy decided to organise a lecture series, Ocean Matters. With speakers from all kinds of marine-related backgrounds, the series draws from the insights of these marine experts and is centred around the challenges, threats, and our overall impact on the Ocean, and how we can take steps to address them. The aim of this series is to enlighten our audience on Ocean matters and inspire them to take action and make a positive change. 9

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While waste is inevitable, we should be more conscious of our waste behaviours and pay special attention to how we dispose of different waste types. Our throwaway culture intensifies the inter- generational challenge of plastic pollution in the Ocean. 12

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Sam Cooke Research Associate, OceansAsia Plastic is found everywhere. It is made up of a highly versatile, lightweight material that can be shaped into thin and transparent films or highly durable building materials. Humans have made tons of plastic. Since the 1950s, the material is highly used in manufacturing consumer products. Ever since, plastic production has grown by 8.7% per year. Global plastics production was estimated to be 359 million tonnes in 2018. That is nearly the same as the size of 740,000 Boeing 747 jumbo jets. To put it differently, this is 63 times more than all of the waste Hong Kong produced in 2019. The rise in plastic production has been linked with the versatility of plastic and the evolving trend of the 'throwaway culture'. Throwaway culture has resulted in a significant amount of plastic being discarded. It is recorded that 2,320 tonnes of plastic waste enter the landfills in Hong Kong on a daily basis, which is around 846,800 tons per year in 2019. Marine Plastic Pollution from Face Masks English 13

Marine debris has negative global ecological, social and economical impacts—marine species are at risk due to this human pollution and require conservation efforts to address these threats. 14

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Sharon Kwok Director, Aquameridian Conservation & Education Nowadays, the sea has become A common waste issue associated our garbage pitch. The polluted with green sea turtles are the environment caused by ocean disposal of plastic bags in the littering is a threat to endangered Ocean. Floating plastic bags look marine species like green sea like jellyfish, and sea turtles turtles. mistake them for prey, leading to health issues and usually prove Green sea turtles have existed for fatal. since the time of dinosaurs—they inhabited the planet long before Experts are still discovering the we existed on this Earth. Not only Ocean across many different are we not doing enough to areas, coming across new marine protect them but we are pushing creatures, micro-organisms, whale them to extinction through our species, and other life. waste disposal habits. We need to teach the next generation to It is crucial for us to not take the protect these and other marine ocean for granted, and to be species. responsible for ocean conservation, to protect the Chemical pollution can cause environment which marine species tumours in sea turtles, tar waste live in. can cause liver and intestinal issues, metallic waste can cause Conservation of lesions, even hatchlings can be Green Sea Turtles disoriented by light pollution. Cantonese 15

The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in an enormous amount of mask usage, resulting in a massive amount of medical waste. With improper disposal, the used face masks become marine debris that are disposed of in the Ocean—this waste problem is a global challenge that is threatening the ecosystem. 16

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Gary Stokes Co-founder, OceansAsia Our OceansAsia's team has found dozens of masks washed up on beaches around Hong Kong on every visit. Although this problem was first found in the city, it has now become a major global issue. In Europe, piles of face masks were found on the seabed near Côte d'Azur in France. Additionally, over 300 discarded gloves and face masks were found and photographed around Southampton in the United Kingdom. It is not difficult to find disposable masks being littered across the streets. With that being said, the increase of personal protective equipment littering is also becoming a major challenge faced by cities around the world. Marine Plastic Pollution from Face Masks English 17

Not only does the disposal of waste into the Ocean have detrimental effects on the marine ecosystem but large amounts of waste end up washing ashore. With ocean debris numbering in the trillions, it is inevitable that some of this waste is returned to the shoreline. They can be brought in by anything from regular tidal movements to natural disasters. The constant stream of plastics and other waste returning is but a small reminder of our global consumption. 18

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Hidy Yu Founder, DEVE I have organised shoreline One unforgettable clean-up cleanups to collect large amounts experience for me was witnessing of marine debris washed ashore the aftermath of the Typhoon from the ocean. Other than ghost Mangkhut back in 2018. The nets, which I have seen a lot of typhoon washed tons of marine underwater, there are many debris to Heng Fa Chuen, where different forms of marine debris. we found large amounts of This includes construction waste, indecomposable plastic waste medical waste, expired food, that may have existed for over animal bodies, and even Mahjong 20-30 years. pieces, brooms, and air conditioners. It is sad to say that Typhoon Mangkhut has brought to light the Nowadays, we find discarded challenges of plastic waste which marine debris such as plastic bags we face in our society. and bottles, drink cans, and face masks being washed ashore. The Fireside Chat with scale of marine debris is Ocean Warriors significant in the city and it is difficult to imagine the scale of Cantonese waste and the variety of what waste you can find here. Typhoon Mangkhut 19 Super Typhoon Mangkhut was the second longest duration of the Hurricane Signal No. 10 since World War II. It brought damaging winds and record-breaking storm surges to Hong Kong, causing widespread and serious impacts. Source: https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/mangkhut18/report.htm

What are Ghost Gear? Ghost gear is any abandoned/ lost/ discarded fishing gear including nets, pots, lines, hooks, and more. Ghost gear is ranked as one of the top 10 most commonly found marine debris in Hong Kong, according to the 2016 Coastal Watch Marine Litter Survey. Source: https://www.wwf.org.hk/en/oceans/litter/ghost-gear/ Fishing nets account for a shocking 46% of the mass in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Marine animals who swim or collide into these discarded nets, also known as ghost nets, can sometimes not extract themselves from them. Unfortunately, this interaction often results in the death of the marine life involved. This can also lead to a chain reaction when predators come after the smaller ocean creatures entangled by ghost nets. Ghost nets are described as silent killers of the ocean because they cause life hazards to humans and marine creatures for their deadly presence in the sea. 20

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Harry Chan 2020 HKSAR Honours and Awards Medal of Honour (M.H.) in recognition of dedicated community service and contribution to the promotion of environment and conservation education Throughout my experience, I Under these circumstances, I have encountered some of the kindly advise divers to bring largest ghost nets in the ocean. scissors and torches whenever These ghost nets can reach up they go diving to rescue any to the size of two ferries marine life from these trappings. combined, or even as large as a basketball court. Ghost nets account for 46% of all marine debris across the Discarded ghost nets often world's oceans. They have damage coral reefs by blocking become a threat to a multitude corals from sunlight exposure of marine species, which in turn and bleaching them . Worse still, weakens the overall balance of ghost nets also contribute to the the marine ecosystem. trappings of marine life including coral fish and crabs, as well as Such losses often have a ripple posing danger to human divers. effect, not just on the marine ecosystem, but also on human There are numerous occasions beings and our local economy. where we have found marine creatures such as live crabs being entangled by these ghost nets. Fireside Chat with Ocean Warriors Cantonese 21

Other than dumping waste into our Ocean, there are many other activities that have a negative impact on the marine ecosystems. The oceans has been a source of food for the world for centuries but the rate at which we are consuming seafood has increased over the past few decades. We need to consider how this impacts marine life. 22

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS The Wrong Pick in the Ocean At the rate which we are overfishing our oceans, it is inevitable that fish stocks will deplete faster than the fish growth rate. While this brings attention to the direct consequences, we often neglect the fact that our consumption habits may indirectly impact the survival of some marine species. There are large numbers of commercial shrimp trawlers that are often found to have captured marine creatures as bycatch. This practice has resulted in the loss of a wide range of marine species, including larger creatures like dolphins. 85% bycatch Bycatch are fish or marine species that fishermen do not want, cannot sell, or are not allowed to keep 23

Jamie Piyada Monmaneerat Project Leader, Manta Trust (Thailand) All species in the ocean are suffering from unsustainable fishing practices. Bycatch is caused by the wrong use of fishing practices and types of gear such as trolling boats which drag everything on the face of the ocean, including the coral reefs. The solution to this problem is simple. Locate where your seafood comes from and try to reduce your seafood consumption. With the influence of social media, people are also increasingly more drawn to travel to coastal areas and beaches. Before taking a dip into the water, it is important to carefully choose the type of products used on our skin. This would reduce traces of chemicals that might pose serious threats to the marine environment. As simple as that, we need to be mindful of our actions before stepping into the ocean and respect the natural habitats of marine species. Thailand Manta Project English 24

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS We are living in a digital world full of technological innovation. Citizen Science capitalises on these advancements and encourages collaborations between the general public and wildlife researchers. The photos and videos captured by your smartphones or cameras are a treasure trove of information, allowing researchers to remotely have access to useful data. The researchers can then use these images and videos to analyze the natural world with the aim to protect the animals. Even if you are not living close to the sea, you can still be a citizen scientist for the plants or animals around you by submitting the information to a suitable organisation. 25

While bycatch is an important area to bring awareness to, the fishing and consumption of endangered marine species is another key area that threatens the Ocean's ecosystem. Safeguarding marine biodiversity is important to maintaining the ecological community of the Ocean. 26

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Andrea Richey Executive Director, H.K. Shark Foundation When I first volunteered for H.K. Shark Foundation, I was blown away. I never thought that I was contributing to the decline of the shark population by consuming shark meat. Sharks play an important role in balancing our ecosystem, by keeping the sea clean and controlling the fish population. However, it is estimated that over 100 million sharks were killed for shark fin soup. It is alarming that there is an increasing amount of products containing sharks. This has prompted me to use my voice to raise awareness for shark conservation, and their impacts on the marine environment. Save Sharks, Secure Your Future English 27

Corals play an integral role in the marine ecosystem—a quarter of the Ocean's fish depend on healthy coral reefs for shelter, reproduction, food, and more. Not only are they important for marine life, corals are beneficial to land populations as well. Coral reefs protect coastlines from waves, floods, and storms by providing a buffer. Human activities that lead to climate change, unsustainable fishing, and pollution have been threatening these marvels. 28

Marine Biologist The average growth rate of corals is 3cm per year. However, branching corals such as staghorn corals can grow as fast as 10cm per year. Whilst, large corals such as Pavona grow less than 1cm on average per year. Damaged coral reefs could take at least 50 years to recover or might not recover at all in some cases. Although corals are sometimes mistaken as being rocks, but they are considered animals and require sunlight to survive. During the daytime, coral reefs can appear very much like rocks. After dark, corals become active and start to bloom into flower-like forms. Saving Corals, A Philippines Story English 29

Navigating the Waters of Hong Kong To protect our marine environment and coral communities, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in Hong Kong performs reef checks to examine the health conditions of coral reefs in Hong Kong waters. A total of 84 coral species were discovered in Hong Kong waters. Apart from hard corals, the AFCD also recorded 29 soft corals species and 38 gorgonians species. 84 Coral species 29 Soft coral species 38 Gorgonians species 30

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Dr Loby Hau Ph.D. in Marine Ecology, The University Of Hong Kong Humphead Wrasses have an extraordinary life. They are one of the few species that can protect coral reefs by consuming natural predators such as crown-of-thorns starfish. Humphead Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites - born female and change sex to male at some point in their life. Unlike other fish species, Humphead Wrasse takes longer to reach sexual maturity. Therefore, the prematurity stage is critical for this type of species to survive. However, the fishing of Humphead Wrasse often occur when they are still young, depleting the species of their young and female. In the long run, this results in a decline in the reproduction and population of the species. Saving Face: Humphead Wrasse CITES Enforcement Cantonese 31

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WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS What Do Fish Know? Fish are much more resourceful than you may think. Jonathan Balcombe, the author of \"What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins\", suggests that we as humans often underestimate the thinking abilities of marine vertebrates. The memory of a Frillfin Goby is found to last around 40 days. This type of marine fish uses techniques to build mental maps of tidal zones and retain them for weeks at a time. The orange-dotted tusk fish can uncover clams by blowing water on the sand and taking a mollusc in its mouth to a nearby rock. This is followed by actions of breaking the clam on the rock with a series of skilled head flicks. This process reveals the logical sequence of behaviours and planning abilities to achieve the desired outcome. Groupers are often found to invite moray eels to join in a foray. If the grouper tracks a fish into a reef, the slender eel will go after the hidden fish by receiving a grouper's body signal. If the fish escapes to the open water, the grouper will wait. 33

Fish Memories When we think about fish memories, we think about the rumour that fish have a memory span of three seconds. How accurate is this? One of the leading studies directed by Dr. Csilla Ari, a marine biologist, found that manta rays have self-recognition skills. Manta rays are often targeted in fishing for their sets of gill rakers in order to be used for medicinal purposes. Now that you know fish species have sensory and memory abilities, what would you do to protect our fish friends? Bath Time Everyone likes being clean, even fish. The Coral Reef Ecology Laboratory, at The University of Queensland, has found that cleaner fish, labroides dimidiatus visits 'clients' (reef fish), typically more than 2,300 times a day, removing ectoparasites and infected tissues on their surfaces. Interestingly, another study found that cleaner fish increases their levels of cooperation in the presence of bystander client reef fish. 34

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS How Can You Tell A Fish's Age? Scientists can determine how old a fish is by counting growth rings on its  scales or otoliths (ear bones). Like the annual rings in tree trunks, the rings mark seasonal growth patterns. Otoliths grow like pearls but the added material changes colour depending on the season. The summer rings tend to be whiter, while the winter rings are thinner and more translucent. In scales, a series of fine rings appear as the scales grow. In the summer the rings are wider apart.  In the winter  the rings are closer together because  the fish grow  more slowly. Each pair of rings indicates one year. To learn more: 10 Ocean Matters English These 10 Ocean Matters episodes will discuss the contemporary research on ocean creatures, include some fun facts, and shed some light on what issues our ocean is facing. 35

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WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS The ocean covers over 70% of the planet and produces at least 50% of the planet's oxygen. It is our life source, supporting every people, animal and plant on earth. To protect and preserve the ocean and all it sustains, we must make a change and take action. 37

Things to do Following United Nations's Sustainable Development Goal 14 01 Find a Goal 14 charity you want to support. Any donation, big or small, can make a difference! Reduce waste – much of the trash we produce on land 02 ends up in the oceans. Stop using plastic bags: Usage and improper disposal of plastic is a major cause of marine pollution. 03 Never buy bottled water – boil, filter, chlorine, rainwater, do what you can. 04 Run a campaign on the effects of plastic use on the seas and oceans. Organise a cleanup project for rivers and oceans. 05 Encourage your community to engage with clean-ups in local river, seaside or ocean. 06 Buy local and certified fish. You can support small-scale producers by shopping in local markets and shops. 07 Stay informed. Follow your local news and stay in touch with the Global Goals online or social media. Source: https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/14-life-below-water/#things-to-do 38

WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS Special Thanks To in alphabetical order 39

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