6 Marine Resources, covering biotic, mineral, and energy resources

Case Study 1: Sustainable Fisheries Management – Norway’s Cod Fishery

Geographical Thought & Perspectives:

• Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin, 1968) – Overexploitation of shared marine resources.
• Sustainable Yield Theory (Schaefer, 1954) – Balancing fish stock regeneration and harvesting.
• Anthropogenic Climate Change (IPCC, 1988–Present) – Human-induced disruptions in marine ecosystems.

Models/Theories/Laws:

• Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) Model – Optimal fish stock management.
• Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) – Holistic approach to marine conservation.
• Quota-Based Fisheries Regulation – Government-imposed catch limits.

Recent Data:

• Norwegian Cod Fishery: Recorded stable fish stock levels due to strict quotas.
• Climate Impact: Rising ocean temperatures affecting cod migration patterns.
• Satellite Observations: ESA confirms changes in fish distribution due to warming waters.

Spatial Variation:

• North Atlantic: Sustainable fisheries management ensuring stock stability.
• Arctic Waters: Increased cod migration due to temperature shifts.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Overfishing concerns observed since 1990s.
• Future Projections: Expected adaptation strategies due to climate change.

Insight:

Sustainable fisheries management validates marine conservation models, emphasizing the role of policy-driven resource protection.

Case Study 2: Deep-Sea Mineral Extraction – Polymetallic Nodules in the Pacific

Geographical Thought & Perspectives:

• Marine Sediment Classification (Murray, 1895) – Categorization of ocean deposits.
• Plate Tectonics and Sediment Accumulation (Wilson, 1965) – Influence of seafloor spreading on deposits.
• Anthropogenic Resource Extraction (UNEP, 2000s) – Human impact on deep-sea mining.

Models/Theories/Laws:

• Hydrothermal Vent Deposit Model – Formation of polymetallic sulfides.
• Manganese Nodule Growth Model – Slow accumulation of deep-sea minerals.
• Sediment Transport Model – Movement of ocean deposits due to currents.

Recent Data:

• Pacific Ocean: Estimated 6 billion tons of manganese nodules.
• Deep-Sea Mining Impact: Concerns over biodiversity loss due to extraction.
• Satellite Observations: ESA confirms sediment distribution patterns in the Pacific.

Spatial Variation:

• Clarion-Clipperton Zone: High concentration of polymetallic nodules.
• Abyssal Plains: Sediment accumulation influencing deep-sea ecosystems.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Deep-sea mineral formation observed over millions of years.
• Future Projections: Expected increase in mining activities.