Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Vanuatu

CONTENTS

4 6 8

FOREWORD SEA OF ISLANDS : THE SOUTH PACIFIC A LARGE OCEAN STATE : ADMINISTRATION

VALUING

PLANNING

MANAGING

10

40

66

STILL WATERS RUN DEEP : OCEAN DEPTH SUPPORTING VALUES VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA : GEOMORPHOLOGY

USES

68

SPACE TO RECOVER : MARINE MANAGEMENT

12

42

FISHING IN THE DARK : OFFSHORE FISHERIES

70

ONE WORLD, ONE OCEAN: INTERNATIONAL MARITIMEORGANIZATION (IMO) MARPOL CONVENTION VANUATU’S COMMITMENT TO MARINE CONSERVATION A MARINE LAYER CAKE CONFLICTING VERSUS COMPATIBLE USES

14

44

SMALL FISH, BIG IMPORTANCE : INSHORE FISHERIES

72

16

46 48

UNDER WATER MOUNTAINS : SEAMOUNT MORPHOLOGY

FISH FROM THE FARM : AQUACULTURE BEYOND THE BEACH : MARINE TOURISM UNDER WATER WILD WEST : DEEP SEA MINING AND UNDER WATER CABLING

73 74

18

SMOKE UNDER WATER, FIRE IN THE SEA : TECTONIC ACTIVITY GO WITH THE FLOW : SALINITY AND SURFACE CURRENTS STIR IT UP : MIXED LAYER DEPTH PUMP IT : PARTICULATE ORGANIC CARBON FLUX SOAK UP THE SUN : PHOTOSYNTHE- TICALLY AVAILABLE RADIATION

50

20

52

FULL SPEED AHEAD : VESSEL TRAFFIC

22 23

THREATS

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PLASTIC OCEAN : MICROPLASTICS CONCENTRATION THE DOSE MAKES THE POISON : PHOSPHATE AND NITRATE CONCENTRATION HOTTER AND HIGHER : MEAN SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND PROJECTED SEA LEVEL RISE TURNING SOUR : OCEAN ACIDITY REEFS AT RISK : REEF RISK LEVEL STORMY TIMES : CYCLONES CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS

24

56

HABITAT VALUES

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HOME, SWEET HOME : COASTAL HABITATS

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58

SHAPING PACIFIC ISLANDS : CORAL REEFS

77 78 82 83

CONCLUSION REFERENCES

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TRAVELLERS OR HOMEBODIES : MARINE SPECIES RICHNESS

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APPENDIX 1. DATA PROVIDERS APPENDIX 2. PHOTO PROVIDERS

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HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY KNOW? COLD-WATER CORAL HABITATS

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NATURE’S HOTSPOTS : KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS

36 38

SPECIAL AND UNIQUE MARINE AREAS BEYOND THE HOTSPOTS : BIOREGIONS

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR VANUATU • MARINE ATLAS

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