Ocean Pioneering Increasing “70% Increase by 2028”

According to a new survey published in Nature Sustainability, the mapping of infrastructure such as offshore and offshore oil drilling rigs, pipelines, cables, fish farms, ports, and offshore wind power plants is equivalent to that of Maryland, USA. Marine pioneered been confirmed by the 30,000 human 2,000km ² in the seabed that.

It is said that these physical areas are not all, but the range of human activity effects is up to 340 km ² . This includes port noise and various ripple effects. Human-built infrastructure in the sea occupies 1.5% of all beta economic zones within 370 km of the coast. This number is comparable to the percentage of urbanized land on the planet. However, since it was not considered for coasts such as breakwaters, it could actually be increased.

Then what are humans doing in the sea? For example, in China, it is known that aquaculture is carried out in a vast area, the UK builds the world’s largest wind power plant, and the United States is known for large-scale offshore drilling in Mexico.

According to research, such offshore construction is expected to increase by 70% by 2028 in the form of energy such as wind and tidal power in addition to aquaculture. The figure could be higher if more coastal impacts were made to respond to sea level rise as a result of climate change. It shouldn’t be forgotten that marine infrastructure is only part of the human impact on the sea. In addition to ocean heatwaves caused by overfishing or climate change, sea level rise, disasters such as heavy oil spills, all factors can expose marine ecosystems to crisis.

This study says that it is necessary to think more carefully about where and how mankind will develop the sea in the future. For example, if efforts are made to restore coastal wetlands instead of building something new depending on the region, flooding measures could be taken that could not bring a crisis to the ecosystem. Regarding offshore wind power generation, ecologically beneficial solutions such as population and leaves are being developed, but research needs to be conducted to see what will be affected in the long term. Related information can be found here .