Marine Ecosystems - Challenges and Opportunities

Date: 9 - 12 February 2009

Organisation: Marine Biological Association of India

EN

The diversity and productivity of marine ecosystems are important to
human survival and well-being. These habitats provide us with a rich
source of food, medicine and income, and support species that serve as
animal feed, fertilizers for crops, additives in foods and cosmetics.
Hence, sustainability of these fragile ecosystems should be our primary
concern. It is now well known that increased human activities such as
fishing, shipping, coastal development, pollution and introduction of
exotic species have caused considerable damage and pose a serious
threat. Already 30% of the world's coral reefs have been severely
damaged, and further 60% may be lost by 2030. The decline of populations
of larger predatory fish species due to overfishing and destruction of
spawning/breeding grounds is a critical factor in the deterioration of
marine ecosystems. Scientists have warned that climate change could pose
potential challenges to marine ecosystems. Species that are unable to
adapt and/or migrate or compete with other species may face regional or
global extinction. There are several natural phenomena such as El Nino,
cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis, which cause serious damage to the
ecosystem. The capacity of coastal ecosystems to regenerate after
disasters and to continue to provide resources and services for humans
can no longer be taken for granted, according to a recent report in Science.

It is obvious that health of the marine ecosystem is key to the
survival of life on earth. In order to protect the ecosystems of the
ocean, we need to build an integrated framework that transcends all
relevant organizations and stakeholders. The objective is not only to
save the ecosystems, but also to utilize the service opportunities
provided by various resources. There are several such opportunities in
the areas of food and medicine production, which could be advantageously
utilized through frontier areas of science such as biotechnology,
mariculture etc.

The idea of conducting an international symposium is to address these
concerns, many of which are global in nature, but with varying
magnitudes between one region to another. The Symposium, MECOS 09 would
provide an excellent platform to discuss these issues to transform the
challenges in to opportunities.

The closing date for submission of abstracts of oral presentations and
posters will be 15th November 2008
Contact Details

Dr. K. Sunil Mohamed
Head, Molluscan Fisheries Division
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute [CMFRI]
PO Box 1603
COCHIN 682018, Kerala State, INDIA
Tel: +91 484 2394867; +91 484 2394794 (Per)
Fax: +91 484 2394909


--

http://pankaj-atcrossroads.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankajsekhsaria/
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/psekhsaria/Atcrossroads

C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gym
Pune 411004
India
Tel: 020 25654239
Mob: 09423009933
Email: psekhsaria@...