Who owns the sea?

• Marine environments are highly diverse and support a wide range of plants and animals. However, marine ecosystems and the organisms that live there are being affected by human activities such as overfishing, deforestation and pollution. Because marine organisms are interconnected by complex feeding relationships, the removal or interference of one member of a marine ecosystem can have far-reaching consequences.
• The protection of the world’s marine environments requires finding a balance between the consequences of human activities and environmental sustainability. Many different people and organisations are involved in assessing the sustainable management of marine environments on a local and global scale. Environmental decision makers should include ethical considerations such as cultural traditions, take into account community needs and consider economic factors when making decisions relating to the management of the marine environment.
• When conducting scientific investigations, students should be able to formulate appropriate questions to test, plan and conduct the investigation, collect and process data, and interpret their findings. It is important that they understand what makes a test a fair test, and can explain relationships and patterns revealed by the data. Students should also select appropriate ways to present their data including graphs, tables and charts.
• Scientists use a variety of techniques to present and communicate their results and evidence-based opinions on environmental issues. When sharing their findings, scientists must ensure they present information in a way that is appropriate and accessible to their target audience. Sometimes scientists use standard written documents such as Environmental Impact Statements to report to decision-making groups such as governments.

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