...Tubbatah Reef and Pangasinan Oil Spill: Reflection of Nature’s Exhaustion Over a million years, as humanity starts to seek convenience and life preservation, our environment is greatly affected from the time that industrial revolution began until now when the height of technology is unstoppable. Smoke fumes from factories, harmful chemicals thrown in the water ways, poor waste disposal and other malpractices of humans toward our environment caused our mother earth to count its remaining breathes. Several issues and incidents have been reported about the devastation of our natural resources due to the careless hands of man were a great shock for those who are aware, an alarming phenomena for those who care and just a scoop of news for those who are not interested and paying no importance for our environment. The latest environmental issues today are the incidents that happened in Tubbatah reef and Pangasinan. Clashed Tubbatah Reef Before, the Tubbataha Reef in our native tongue, Bahurang Tubbataha is an atoll coral reef and a Natural Marine Park in Sulu Sea, Philippines composing of two huge atoll (the North Atoll and South Atoll) and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef. The park is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) located 150 kilometres southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan according to the reefs' official website but according to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the reefs are 181 kilometres...
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...international policies to help protect coral reefs? Section 1: Coral Reefs are an important ecosystem that our planet needs to function correctly. Coral is a living organism that forms in colonies which can stretch out for hundreds of miles long and are then called coral reefs. These coral reefs are habitats for a large number of marine species. There are about 600,000 km of coral reef worldwide (State of the Reefs). Most reefs today are about 8,000 years old, and there are records of some being as much as 2.5 million years old (Dimitrov). The ecosystems of coral reefs have the “largest (amount) biodiversity per unit of area on earth” (Dimitrov). Scientists have discovered 93,000 coral reef species; however some estimate that there could be from 950,000 to as much as 9 million different species of coral reef (Dimitrov). Coral reefs are the second largest ecosystem next to tropical rainforests on Earth. The deterioration of coral reefs is a huge warning sign for everyone internationally to implement more policies on coral reef conservation. The problem that is happening internationally is the deterioration of coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. For the first time in history they will be included on the World Conservation Union’s red list of threatened species (Oliver). According to the United Nations Environment Program and the Nature Conservancy, “around 30 percent of the world's coral reefs are already damaged, some irreparably...
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...or by any means- electronic or mechanical, without permission. To order copies, call 0091-40-2343-0462/63/64 or write to ICFAI Center for Management Research, Plot # 49, Nagarjuna Hills, Hyderabad 500 082, India or email icmr@icfai.org. Website: www.icmrindia.org BECG/045 THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL “ExxonMobil’s tactics are well-known, and this is a classic case of deny, dupe, and delay. Just as it denies the science on climate change, it denies that oil from the spill is causing damage in the Prince William Sound. And on both issues it is running campaigns to dupe the public into thinking it is an environmentally and socially responsible corporation.”1 - Anita Goldsmith, Greenpeace International Campaigner. “Exxon would meet its obligations to all those who have suffered damage from the spill.”2 op INTRODUCTION Lawrence Rawls, Chairman, Exxon. y - ot C On March 24, 1989, one of the worst ever environmental disasters occurred in the US. Exxon3 owned oil tanker – Exxon Valdez (EV) spilled 11 mn gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound (PWS).4 The oil spilled over 1500 miles of the Alaska coastline and affected many islands in PWS (Refer Exhibit I for the map of the...
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...the background of the ExxonMobil Company. It will identify legal issues and obstacles that could be broken and will provide recommendations to minimize possible litigation. It will discuss its union policies and any benefits the employees may gain by joining and whether or not the union bargains; and if so, the effects it may have on the organization. ExxonMobil was formed in 1999 by a merger between Exxon and Mobil. It is a major United States producer of domestic oil production and is also involved in domestic petrochemicals and chemicals operations. They are strong competitors in the oil and gas industry with such rivals as Royal Dutch Shell and BP America. Over the years they have stayed committed to their explorations and development in the industry. In 2011 they achieved strong earnings and generated huge returns for their shareholders. According to the company, “ExxonMobil’s results for the third quarter of 2011 reflected a continued commitment to operational integrity, disciplined investing and superior project execution.” (Business Monitor International, 2012) ExxonMobil faces legal issues that include environmental, discrimination, and human rights issues. Some of the environmental issues include the possibility of oil spills and allowing pollutants to escape into the air, which can affect global warming. Because of these issues ExxonMobil has been criticized by a well-known environmental lobby group called Greenpeace. According to the EPA, “On March...
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...Despite the major advancements of previous research toward our understanding of DFG (derelict of fishing gear) and ghost fishing, detailed information on catch rates, mortality rates and the economic impacts of DFG is still scarce.It continues to capture fish and other marine animals after the gear is no longer under the control of a fisherman, but other types of fishing gear, like long-lines and trawls, can also ghost fish if they become DFG. There are many ways that fishing gear can become derelict, and more than one of the following can be contributing factors: 1. Environmental: storms, wave action or currents, sedimentation, ice cover, deep-water conditions. 2. Gear conflict: entanglement with other vessels or bottom topography such as...
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...| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution | This page is one of a series of web pages developed by the CAR/RCU on various Environmental Issues in the Caribbean. These pages are a good starting point for research into many of the pressing concerns of the nations and territories of the Wider Caribbean Region. They contain definitions, descriptions, discussions, links to relevant on-line documents and web sites. Read about other Issues. | | * Introduction * Land based pollution sources and their environmental impacts * Sewage * Oil hydrocarbons * Sediments * Nutrients * Pesticides * Solid waste and marine debris * Toxic substances * Planning and management of environmental pollution * CEP and land based sources of pollution * Pollution related CEP reports * Links to pollution related websites | INTRODUCTION | The major sources of coastal and marine pollution originating from the land vary from country to country. The nature and intensity of development activities, the size of the human population, the state and type of industry and agriculture are but a few of the factors contributing to each country’s unique pollution problems. Pollution is discharged either directly into to the sea, or enters the coastal waters through rivers and by atmospheric deposition. In order to mitigate and control the impact of pollution on coastal and marine resources, it is essential...
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...billion people traveled worldwide which indicates the huge scale of the tourism industry. And the speed of tourism growth is also outstanding - airplane numbers have increased thirty times since 1960 and in the last fifteen years the number has doubled. And the amount of international tourists is also increasing rapidly. In 1939 there were only one million tourists worldwide whereas in 1999 there were more than one million international tourists from New Zealand alone (Otago University Resource, 2001). After understanding how large the tourism industry is and the speed it is growing at, it is necessary to then learn about the associated impacts from tourism. The impacts are divided into three categories: economic, socio-cultural and environmental and each impact can create either a positive or negative outcome. Obviously the most important impacts that need to be dealt with are the negative ones. Throughout this essay each different impact will be explained and an example provided. It will also indicate how important it is for a tourism manager to be aware of these impacts and how they could possibly minimise or eliminate any of these adverse effects. Custom Essay on Tourism ! Socio-cultural impacts are concerned with the effects tourism has on host communities and the residents. Travelers can have either a positive or negative impact on a host community but in this particular example the negative socio-cultural impacts on Queenstown will be examined. Queenstown is a...
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...DCI. All other departments extend support services to Operations Department in meeting the above responsibilities. Operations department is responsible for monitoring and control of various projects undertaken. Operations Department exercise control over all the Project Offices as well as all the Vessels. Project Offices are headed by Project-in-charge (PIC) and Vessels are headed by Masters. Masters of all DCI vessels, report to PICs who in turn report to HOD (Ops). Operations department strives for improvement of performance/ production, provides safe practices in dredging operations, complying with all Statutory Rules & Regulations of the Government, Ports and by establishing Procedures to safe guard against all identified risks and avoidance of damage to the property particularly while working and at sea. Operations Department looks after deployment of various dredgers at Dredging and Reclamation Projects as per the contracts concluded between the DCI and customers such as Major Ports, Minor Ports, Indian Navy, Ship building yards, Inland dredging organizations in India and major dredging and reclamation projects abroad. Operations department also looks after issues with respect to carrying out Hydrographic survey, soil explorations/ investigations and analysis apart from undertaking towage of dumb dredgers and crafts by the Tugs owned and hired. HOD (Ops) is assisted by Dy. General Managers, Managers, Dy. Managers, Asst. Managers, Surveyors and Administrative...
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...beautiful landscapes: not only in the poles but also in the mountains, as we can see on the picture. As a result, the global warming gives a great opportunity for the adventure travel industry. Indeed, it “has had an adverse effect on activities” L.1-2, that are decreasing, such as “coral-reef diving”, or “polar-bear watching” L.2. The ice melting allows developing new tours or cruises L.5 “new adventures are emerging” and many activities that tourists can do, that are even more thrilling than those existing so far. In fact, vessels can now travel further in the polar circle. It allows people to see very rare species they had never seen before like “leopard seals” and “the snowy sheathbill” L.14. Today, people are always looking for new sensations, and they are more and more demanding. Those trips and activities are a way to let people dream. They need to be amazed and surprised by breathtaking views. For example, the tourists get so close to some “humpbacks” L.17 (sort of whales), that they were gawking and “Everyone’s heart was swelling” L.19. However, these companies are aware that by developing their business, they contribute to the extinction of many species. Here’s the hate issue for the adventure-travel industry: their business depends on the diversity of species. The more there’s, the better the business will be. But, by engaging their activities, they may scare or disturb the wildlife. In that way, this business is ethically harmful. In an ethical point of...
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...Leigh Howarth, who is a Marine biologist from the University of York suggests that there are many techniques can be used to manage the overfishing and help protect sea habit and promote fish stock recovery. There are three pillars of sustainability which are environmental, social and economic. But the fact is, there is always a conflict between environmental and economic perspective. Scientist suggests protecting 20-30% marine habit around the world while political target to protect 10% world ocean in 2010. Unfortunately, in the year 2015, less than 3% of the world ocean is protected under any type, overfishing is still a significant issue. The idea that reserved area in an ocean with the potential to benefit both environment and fishing industry, in the long run, aims to create a win-win situation. Examples given below shows two practical...
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...deal with a spill the scale and complexity of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. As one of its key recommendations to President Obama for addressing the causes and consequences of the spill, the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in its final report, stated the need for “strengthening oil spill response, planning and capacity”. Industry best practice dictates that quickness and accuracy are key requirements for effective oil spill response and preparedness planning (OSRPP); yet it took nearly three months to seal the Macondo well. This paper is accordingly concerned with the reasons for the apparent failure of the BP oil spill response plan. This failure will be considered in light of current international environmental regulations on OSRPP and applicable United States legislation, whilst assessing the BP oil spill response plan’s compliance therewith. The study will also consider some theory in the development of OSRPP by looking specifically at risk assessment tools and applying key criteria to the BP oil spill response plan to determine its adequacy and appropriateness for its operations in the GOM. What the research will show is that the ill preparedness of BP and the U.S. Government to effectively respond to the blow out is symptomatic of the significant gaps in both industry and government’s existing response capacity in dealing with deep-water drilling environments primarily as a result of insufficient risk assessment, lax regulation...
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...The Decline of Tuna due to overfishing Tuna are remarkable and impressive wild animals. The Atlantic bluefin can reach ten feet in length and weigh as much as 1500 pounds (more than a horse). Their specialized body shape, fins and scales enable some species of tuna to swim as fast as 43 miles per hour. Tuna swim incredible distances as they migrate. Some tuna are born in the Gulf of Mexico, cross the entire Atlantic Ocean to feed off coast of Europe, and then swim all the way back to the Gulf to breed. These extraordinary marine animals are also integral to the diet of millions and are one of the most commercially valuable fish. The majority of the market is made up of four species: skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. As the methods of catching tuna have improved over the years, the conservation and management of tuna has not evolved as quickly. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, most tuna stocks are fully exploited (meaning there is no room for fishery expansion) and some are already overexploited (there is a risk of stock collapse). The once abundant Northern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus), which lives throughout the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is plunging in a free fall towards extinction. The Northern Bluefin Tuna population has a slow growth rate and also a late sexual maturity age. Bluefin larvae have a 1 in 40 million chance of reaching adulthood, an extremely low number for an endangered species. The Bluefin mature...
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...Introduction What role does tourism have in biodiversity conservation, community health, and quality of life? World tourism has grown significantly in my lifetime; from 1950 to 2010 international arrivals expanded at an annual rate of 6.5%, growing from 25 million travelers to over 900 million travelers. By 2020, international arrivals are expected to surpass 1.5 billion people. In addition, world tourism is one of the world’s largest employers, generating 231 million jobs, or nearly 1 out of every 12 jobs globally (WTTC, 2007). Therefore, I am forever filled with optimism that tourism developed sustainably will reduce and one day perhaps eliminate the variety of negative impacts on biodiversity—and will significantly contribute to the health and well-being of local people. Despite the considerable widespread political and economic restrictive environments imposed on the world development of travel and tourism during the last two three decades, the tourism sector has emerged as one of the fastest growing single industries in the World since the end of 1970s. At present, the tourism industry represents around 11% of the world’s GPD, around 8% of global jobs ( around 200 million jobs) and around 9% of global wages (WTTC,2000)[1]. It is the largest job generator of the world economy today. Over 5.5 million global jobs per year during the coming decade are expected from the industry. Despite the unequal distribution of these economic benefits, the expectations from tourism...
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...or that damages the ocean environment. Overfishing is causing irreversible negative effects within the ocean waters of the earth. Every living thing plays its part in the entire food chain from the smallest of organisms to the largest of animal. From the bottom of the food chain to the top all species are both predator and prey. Every living thing is connected in some fashion and relies on each other to complete the circle of life. When a part of this circle is either in shortage or is missing altogether, there is a break in the chain and everything pays the price in the end. Overfishing has become a major problem in recent decades. The damage that overfishing has already caused in the oceans is still often a surprise to environmental experts. Globally, 90% of large fish are already gone (Festa, Regas, & Boomhower, 2008). As the fishing stocks slowly disappear, commercial fisheries are starting to use bigger boats so they can go out farther and fish deeper to find new fish to support the populations appetite. As these fisheries target their particular species sustainable catching of one species may cause another species to starve because they rely on this particular species for food. Along with overfishing another problem occurs as a result, by-catch. By-catch is loosely...
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...Overfishing is the constant catching of too many fish for the stock to reproduce naturally than the system can maintain which leads the structure to degrade so fish are unable to manage their population. In shorter terms, the fish population in the oceans and lakes become less and less until there are no more fish to fish for. This environmental issue causes society to think they can bite more than they can chew but in reality that's a false statement. The truth is fish are caught at a rate faster than they can duplicate themselves. Researchers anticipate that in the event that we keep fishing as we are currently, there will be far less seafood available by the year 2048. Unsustainable fishing practices harm the ocean ecosystem and result in a lack regulations on fisheries. There are also the many individuals who depend on fish as a key wellspring of protein in their diet. Numerous types of fish are losing their unproductive fight due to poor fishing management laws, the supply and demand for fish, and destructive and unsustainable fishing practices....
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