World Ocean Assessment Overview

Pressures Activities that put pressure on the environment

Our growing population means increased human activity and a greater use of the ocean every year (e.g. increases in fishing, ship transport, marine based tourism, exploitation of non-living resources, etc.). Human activities exert ‘pressures’on the environment through production or consumption processes (Ref. Summary of WOA, Theme E, page 8).

Evolution of world’s capture of marine species

- in million tonnes

90

60

30

0

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

00

05

10

Year

Source: SOFIA (FAO 2014)

Example of increase in pressures through consumption in the fisheries sector (Ref. WOA Summary, page 16).

- the world’s eet of ships has been increasing rapidly since 2000 Total size of the world´s eet of ships 1980 – 2013

2000

1500

1000

500

0

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2013

Year

Oil tanker

Dry bulk

General cargo

Container

Other

Source: UNCTAD, 2013

Example of increase in pressures through global growth of shipping fleets (Ref. WOA Summary, pages 23 to 24).

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World Ocean Assessment Overview

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