1
|
Alós J, Aarestrup K, Abecasis D, Afonso P, Alonso-Fernandez A, Aspillaga E, Barcelo-Serra M, Bolland J, Cabanellas-Reboredo M, Lennox R, McGill R, Özgül A, Reubens J, Villegas-Ríos D. Toward a decade of ocean science for sustainable development through acoustic animal tracking. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:5630-5653. [PMID: 35929978 PMCID: PMC9541420 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The ocean is a key component of the Earth's dynamics, providing a great variety of ecosystem services to humans. Yet, human activities are globally changing its structure and major components, including marine biodiversity. In this context, the United Nations has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to tackle the scientific challenges necessary for a sustainable use of the ocean by means of the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14). Here, we review how Acoustic animal Tracking, a widely distributed methodology of tracking marine biodiversity with electronic devices, can provide a roadmap for implementing the major Actions to achieve the SDG14. We show that acoustic tracking can be used to reduce and monitor the effects of marine pollution including noise, light, and plastic pollution. Acoustic tracking can be effectively used to monitor the responses of marine biodiversity to human-made infrastructures and habitat restoration, as well as to determine the effects of hypoxia, ocean warming, and acidification. Acoustic tracking has been historically used to inform fisheries management, the design of marine protected areas, and the detection of essential habitats, rendering this technique particularly attractive to achieve the sustainable fishing and spatial protection target goals of the SDG14. Finally, acoustic tracking can contribute to end illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by providing tools to monitor marine biodiversity against poachers and promote the development of Small Islands Developing States and developing countries. To fully benefit from acoustic tracking supporting the SDG14 Targets, trans-boundary collaborative efforts through tracking networks are required to promote ocean information sharing and ocean literacy. We therefore propose acoustic tracking and tracking networks as relevant contributors to tackle the scientific challenges that are necessary for a sustainable use of the ocean promoted by the United Nations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josep Alós
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Kim Aarestrup
- Section for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - David Abecasis
- Center of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve (CCMAR), Faro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Afonso
- Institute of Marine Research (IMAR/Okeanos), University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
| | | | - Eneko Aspillaga
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | | | - Jonathan Bolland
- Hull International Fisheries Institute, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | | | - Robert Lennox
- NORCE Norwegian Research Center AS, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Aytaç Özgül
- Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - David Villegas-Ríos
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, Spain
| |
Collapse
|