The Nature Conservancy - Priorities for Coastal and Marine Conservation

Dr. Anthony Chatwin is dedicated to the protection of marine biodiversity by working to protect sensitive areas of the marine environment and ensure that decision makers incorporate science- based, sustainable practices with marine-related human activities. He currently leads the South America Marine Program for The Nature Conservancy. From 2003-2006, Chatwin led ecoregional planning efforts across the Caribbean Basin in the eastern U.S. and in six countries in South America.

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As demand for ocean resources increases, the world’s coastal and marine environments face mounting threats. Nowhere is this more true than in South America, where the Atlantic Ocean converges with the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

A study recently released by The Nature Conservancy identifies the top ten threats to coastal and marine environments in South America, and proposes the creation of almost 100 million acres of new South American marine protected areas if species such as the Humboldt penguin, the Galapagos sea lion, and the La Plata river dolphin are to survive.

Nature.org talked with oceanographer Tony Chatwin, the lead author of this new study and the head of the Conservancy's marine conservation work in South America, to hear his hopes and frustrations on the challenges to marine conservation in South America.

Nature.org: What made you want to be an oceanographer?

Tony Chatwin: Ever since I was a child I have been drawn to the mysteries of the ocean. When it came time to choose a profession and I learned that I could dedicate myself to investigating those mysteries, it became an obvious choice.

Nature.org: Is it difficult to analyze the health of an ocean?

Tony Chatwin: Yes, it is. The ocean is very complex and dynamic and difficult to access. Despite technological advances and increasing understanding of the marine environment, the ocean remains the last frontier.

I am, however, particularly encouraged by the use of satellite technology to address ocean conservation challenges. For example, commercial fishing is known to be one of the key threats to the marine environment, but information about where it occurs is scarce at best. New vessel monitoring systems can provide satellite-derived data on where vessels are fishing, but many countries lack the resources to implement such systems.

For now, we have to make use of alternative methods like interviews with experts and computer modeling to infer where fishing is occurring. One of the key objectives of our new study, Priorities for Coastal and Marine Conservation in South America, was providing insight into the health of marine environments in South America.

Nature.org: What is the state of South America’s oceans?

Tony Chatwin: Without exception, coastal and marine habitats in South America are under-protected and increasingly subjected to the impacts of human use. Coastal zones are becoming more and more populated and urbanized, but basic infrastructure is not keeping up. In Brazil, 80 percent of the urban population is not serviced by public sewage systems. Estuaries are often focal areas for urban development, and therefore suffer the impacts of untreated pollution.

Nature.org: Why should anyone care about oceans in South America?

Tony Chatwin: In today’s globalized world, we should all be concerned about the heath of marine environments. Demand for seafood products both from domestic and foreign markets is driving economic activities that impact South America’s oceans. Unsustainable fishing practices will eventually deplete local resources, which besides having cascading environmental effects such as limiting food availability for other marine organisms, will also limit supply and cause increases in price for the consumer.

We should all be aware of where marine products come from and demand that they be produced sustainably. Consumers can look for marine products that are certified as sustainably caught: products with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label are available in the market place.

Nature.org: What specific challenges does South America face in seeking to protect its oceans?

Tony Chatwin: Many South American nations face important socioeconomic challenges, such as poverty alleviation, and lack the resources to enforce regulations relevant to marine conservation. A significant portion of the South American population depends on coastal and marine resources for their subsistence.

In the few cases where marine protected areas have been created, many governments around South America still lack the resources to adequately enforce the regulations. An example of this is the Paracas National Reserve in Peru. Although it includes Peru’s only significant marine protected area in terms of size, the reserve’s staff doesn’t have the boats and resources they need to be able to adequately protect the park.

Nature.org: Do you have a favorite marine species?

Tony Chatwin: I am enchanted by the diversity of life that exists in the ocean. From the delicate seahorses whose males give birth to their young, to sea turtles that cruise the world’s oceans only to return to the original beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, to the three-inch-long mesopelagic fish that produces its own light and swims up to the surface of the ocean from 600 feet of depth and back down again on a daily basis, I think they’re all fascinating.

Nature.org: Is there one particular location in South America facing the greatest danger?

Tony Chatwin: The assessment we just completed brought to light the fact that Chile and Peru’s temperate Pacific ocean is the least-protected marine environment in South America. It is also the home of the world’s largest fishery, and where just under half of the world’s farm-raised salmon is produced. The Conservancy is working with the governments of Peru and Chile to, among other things, create new marine protected areas and improve the fisheries’ policies.

Nature.org: What gives you hope that the marine environments of South America can still be preserved?

Tony Chatwin: In my lifetime, I have noticed a tremendous change in society’s appreciation for environmental values. This has been very important for marine conservation, as we now see many small environmental organizations that simply did not exist a decade or two ago. These organizations are now important partners for the Conservancy’s marine work in South America, and a good part of my day-to-day work is helping build their capacity to produce lasting conservation results in the water.

Another indicator of increasing appreciation for environmental values is the fact that all of South America’s coastal nations are signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and in 2004 committed to creating systems of marine protected areas by 2012. We still have a long way to go to turn the greater appreciation for the environment into conservation action, but the important steps that have been taken by both governments and local people give me hope.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC (Valdivian Coastal Reserve, Chile); Photo © Tony Chatwin/RNC (Tony Chatwin); Map © Demian Rybock/TNC.