EGU WEBINARS - Ocean Conservation
Channel: European Geosciences Union
Date: 2021-08-04

Our global ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface with about two thirds comprising the high seas – marine waters beyond national jurisdiction. Despite covering a vast area and a wealth of biodiversity only 1% of the high seas is protected. Every year human activities continue to harm life in the ocean whilst uncoordinated governance leaves marine environments vulnerable to abuse. In this Webinar,  EGU's Committee Programmes Coordinator Simon Clark interviews Dr. Rebecca Helm, Marine Biologist at University of North Carolina Asheville. We’ll be asking our expert how are human activities impacting the marine environment? What is being done to secure a sustainable future for the human-ocean relationship? And how much does an unhealthy ocean impact us terrestrial humans?

Rebecca R. Helm is an assistant professor of Biology and the University of North Carolina Asheville, and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Helm studies the ecology and evolution of life in the open ocean, and this research ranges from the developmental biology of life cycles to the broad-scale distribution of species on the high seas. Recently, Dr. Helm began studying the impacts of high-seas development on marine life, and the role that policy plays in mitigating this impact.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:58 - Meet Rebecca Helm
02:11 - How did you get involved in ocean conservation?
05:36 - What are the threats facing marine life?
09:35 - How is marine life impacted by pollution?
13:17 - What are the trade-offs of conservation for marine life?
14:56 - How are humans affected by pollution?
19:00 - Do some marine species benefit from pollution?
22:42 - Why are the high seas a focus for conservation?
26:35 - How are the high seas currently protected?
30:33 - Do private initiatives exist?
34:39 - Are garbage patches an important conservation focus?
37:35 - What are the conservation goals for the high seas?
41:14 - How can be people help?
43:04 - What’s the take-home message?
44:20 - Audience Q&A

For more information about future webinars visit: https://www.egu.eu/webinars/


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