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PREFACE
SUMMARY
WHY OCEANS MATTER
THE SEA – ONE OF THE LARGEST
FOOD FACTORIES ON THE PLANET
SEAMOUNTS AND CONTINENTAL SHELVES –
THE OCEAN’S UNPROTECTED TREASURE VAULTS
CORAL REEFS
THREATS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SEA
CORAL BLEACHING
EXTREME WEATHER AND HURRICANES IMPACT COASTS
SEA LEVEL RISE
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
INCREASING SEA TEMPERATURES ALREADY CAUSE CHANGES
IN DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE LIFE
SLOWING DOWN OF THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION AND
CONTINENTAL MARGIN DENSE-WATER EXCHANGE MECHANISMS
MARINE POLLUTION AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT OF UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES ON
SEA BED AND OCEAN PRODUCTIVITY
EXOTIC AND INVASIVE SPECIES INFESTATIONS –
THE NEW PIRATES OF THE WORLD’S OCEANS
THE PRESSURES AND FATE OF THE
CONTINENTAL SHELVES IS BOTH A NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
CONTRIBUTORS
REFERENCES
CONTENTS
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