Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The escalating global resource crisis, driven by population growth and unsustainable consumption patterns, necessitates exploring unconventional resource pools. Oceans, covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface, represent a vast and largely untapped reservoir of resources. These resources range from fisheries and mineral deposits to energy sources and genetic material. However, harnessing these resources requires careful consideration of ecological impacts, international law, and equitable access. The recent focus on the ‘Blue Economy’ highlights the growing recognition of oceans as a crucial component of sustainable development, but also raises concerns about overexploitation and environmental degradation.
Ocean Resources: A Categorical Evaluation
Ocean resources can be broadly categorized into living and non-living resources. Each category presents unique opportunities and challenges.
1. Living Resources
- Fisheries: A primary source of protein for billions, fisheries are already heavily exploited. Sustainable fishing practices, combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and aquaculture development are crucial. Overfishing has led to the collapse of several fish stocks (e.g., cod in the North Atlantic).
- Marine Biotechnology: Oceans harbor a vast biodiversity with potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial applications. Research into marine organisms is yielding novel compounds with medicinal properties.
- Seaweed Farming: Seaweed cultivation offers a sustainable source of food, biofuel, and bioplastics. It also contributes to carbon sequestration.
2. Non-Living Resources
- Oil and Gas: Offshore oil and gas extraction remains a significant source of energy, but carries substantial environmental risks (e.g., oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010).
- Mineral Resources: Polymetallic nodules, seafloor massive sulfides, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts contain valuable minerals like manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt – essential for green technologies. Deep-sea mining is a nascent industry with significant environmental concerns. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates deep-sea mining activities.
- Renewable Energy:
- Tidal Energy: Harnessing the energy of tides is predictable but geographically limited.
- Wave Energy: Wave energy is more widely available but technologically challenging to harness efficiently.
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Utilizing the temperature difference between surface and deep ocean water is a promising but expensive technology.
- Freshwater: Desalination, though energy-intensive, can provide a crucial source of freshwater in arid regions.
Critical Evaluation & Challenges
While ocean resources offer potential solutions to the resource crisis, their exploitation is fraught with challenges:
| Resource | Potential Benefits | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-Sea Mining | Supply of critical minerals for green technologies | Habitat destruction, sediment plumes, unknown ecological impacts, regulatory gaps |
| Offshore Oil & Gas | Energy security, economic benefits | Oil spills, greenhouse gas emissions, marine pollution |
| Fisheries | Food security, livelihoods | Overfishing, bycatch, habitat damage, IUU fishing |
| Renewable Ocean Energy | Clean energy source, reduced carbon footprint | High costs, technological limitations, environmental impacts (e.g., noise pollution) |
Geopolitical Concerns: Control over ocean resources can lead to territorial disputes and conflicts. The South China Sea is a prime example. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a framework for resolving maritime disputes, but its implementation remains challenging.
Environmental Sustainability: The ocean ecosystem is fragile and interconnected. Uncontrolled exploitation can lead to irreversible damage, impacting biodiversity, food webs, and climate regulation. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are crucial for conservation, but their effectiveness depends on adequate enforcement and management.
Conclusion
Harnessing ocean resources to address the global resource crisis requires a paradigm shift towards sustainable and responsible practices. Investing in research and development of environmentally friendly technologies, strengthening international cooperation and governance frameworks (like UNCLOS and the ISA), and prioritizing marine conservation are essential. A ‘Blue Economy’ approach that balances economic development with ecological integrity is crucial for ensuring the long-term health of our oceans and the well-being of future generations. Ignoring the environmental consequences in pursuit of short-term gains will ultimately undermine the very resources we seek to exploit.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.