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UCSB study says people damaging O.C. coast
May 12th, 2009, 4:25 pm · 1 Comment · posted by Gary Robbins, science writer-editor
A new study led by UC Santa Barbara says that humans are damaging California’s coastline to varying degrees and some of the worst impacts are occurring off parts of Orange County.
Marine ecologist Ben Halpern claims that the coast is being stressed by “25 human-derived sources,” ranging from climate change to recreational and commercial fishing to urban runoff. The stressors have a cumulative affect that can affect everything from water quality to marine life.
The map above shows the Orange County coast. Areas in red, says, Halpern, are undergoing high levels of ecological stress. The cumulative stress levels decline from there, as noted by the color legend at the top of the page. The gray blob immediately west of Orange County is Santa Catalina Island.
Click here to read the UCSB news release that more broadly outlines Halpern’s two year study. And CLICK HERE for the interactive research map. If you click your cursor on specific areas, it will display the scores for the categories listed below:
| Coastal power plants | 0.000 | |
| Coastal engineering | 0.000 | |
| Demersal non-destructive high-bycatch fishing | * | |
| Ocean acidification | 0.874 | |
| Trash | 0.000 | |
| Light/Noise pollution | 0.000 | |
| UV radiation | 0.771 | |
| Recreational fishing | * | |
| Sediment decrease | 0.000 | |
| Commercial shipping | 0.050 | |
| Sediment increase | 0.002 | |
| Demersal destructive fishing | * | |
| Atmospheric deposition of pollutants | 0.524 | |
| Pelagic high-bycatch fishing | * | |
| Aquaculture | 0.000 | |
| Invasive species | 0.000 | |
| Inorganic pollution | 0.000 | |
| Beach access (direct human impact) | 0.000 | |
| Ocean-based pollution | 0.014 | |
| Organic pollution | 0.000 | |
| Nutrient runoff | 0.000 | |
| Pelagic low-bycatch fishing | * | |
| Demersal non-destructive low-bycatch fishing | * | |
| Sea temperature anomalies |
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Gee would the fact that there are too many people in the state and the world would have anything to do with it?
How about some major population control!
Stop rewarding the OCTOMOMS and millions of others like her to pump out un-nessesary kids!
It will save tax payer funds, water, energy, enviroment and the ocean!