The Southeast Asian tropical coastlines host some of the world’s most vital and diverse marine ecosystems. However, recent research conducted by an international team has shown that while fishing and tourism are crucial to local communities, they also pose significant environmental threats.
The Southeast Asian tropical coastlines host some of the world’s most vital and diverse marine ecosystems.
Nonetheless, these ecosystems are highly susceptible to damage, with coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds facing growing risks from a variety of human activities.
To gain a clearer understanding of these potential dangers, an international research team has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the activities occurring in coastal and marine environments and their effects on these ecosystems.
The study examined specific sites in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, including marine protected areas within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Reserves and a Marine Park.
Out of 26 different activities analyzed, it was discovered that certain fishing methods, along with tourism and recreational activities, posed the most significant threats to these ecosystems.
Fishing techniques like trawling and the use of gill and seine nets were identified as causing a range of physical damages, including abrasions, smothering, siltation, and even complete habitat destruction.
On the other hand, tourism activities introduced different forms of stress, such as organic enrichment, litter, and pollution, which particularly affected coral reef environments.
As fishing and tourism are vital for the region’s economy, the researchers hope that by highlighting their impacts on specific regions, it may encourage more sustainable practices in the future.
This study, published in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology, was led by researchers from the University of Plymouth and included collaborative efforts from across Southeast Asia.
The research was part of the Blue Communities initiative, a £6.7 million project funded by the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), in conjunction with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Dr. Fiona Culhane, who led the study during her Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Plymouth and is now a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ireland’s Marine Institute, was the principal author of the study.
She stated: “These sites are globally significant for their high marine biodiversity, but are under severe threat from human activities. Our collaboration with local communities and researchers in the region has revealed that different locations face varying levels of risk, contingent on human activities in the marine environment. By gaining a better understanding of how these activities influence different marine habitats and the ecosystem services they provide, we can offer local stakeholders and marine managers more concrete evidence to guide future decisions.”
Professor Melanie Austen, a Professor of Ocean and Society at the University of Plymouth and leader of the Blue Communities project, noted: “This study exemplifies robust collaboration between researchers from the Global South and Global North. Its objective, mirroring that of the entire program, has been to supply essential analysis and information to assist coastal communities in managing their use of natural marine resources sustainably.”
In addition to fishing and tourism, the study examined other significant activities such as waste disposal, sand mining, aquaculture, coastal development, and the exploration of antique resources.
The research assessed the extent to which each activity disrupted essential aspects, including light, noise, and water pollution, along with physical damage to the coastline and seabed, and the habitats they support.
Across the different countries, variations in the most significant pressures were observed; for instance, seine nets were a primary threat in Vietnam, while fish farming was more risky in Malaysia, and pots, traps, and barricades posed serious concerns in the Philippines.
The study also revealed variations among key habitat types: trawling and blast fishing were major threats to coral reefs, shrimp farming severely impacted mangroves, and both trawling and tourism posed significant risks to seagrass beds.
Dr. Amy Y. Then, an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences at Universiti Malaya in Malaysia, commented: “The findings of this paper challenge conventional approaches to spatially managing multiple economic activities and their effects on critical coastal ecosystems. By identifying the interactions between these activities and the habitats they affect, we can enhance marine spatial management to promote the sustainability and resilience of these socio-ecological systems.”
Dr. Radisti Praptiwi, a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, added: “This study is crucial, especially in data-scarce regions like Indonesia. Understanding the chains of impact linking various activities and pressures on the marine environment not only helps prioritize activities and habitats for management but also indicates areas that require further research for evidence-based policymaking.”
