Scientists urge world leaders to respond cooperatively to Pacific Oce...(islands said Palumbi a professor of bio...)

In addition to listing the serious environmental challenges facing the Pacific Ocean, the consensus statement also highlighted a set of potential solutions now being applied and tested at various scales throughout the region. Examples include the establishment of marine protected areas and the creation of economic incentives for activities that promote rather than degrade ecosystem health. "These efforts have shown remarkable success at local scales in maintaining biological and human economic diversity, particularly when applied with adequate levels of regulation and enforcement in place," said Caldwell, a senior lecturer at Stanford Law School and at the Woods Institute. "These solutions are indicators of hope within an ocean of distress."

The consensus statement was largely based on a synthesis of more than 3,400 scientific papers on the threats and impacts to the Pacific prepared by the Center for Ocean Solutions. The Pacific Ocean Synthesis provides "a roadmap by which governments might chart a new course of policy for the Pacific region," said Biliana Cicin-Sain, a professor of marine policy at the University of Delaware and coordinator of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, a multi-stakeholder network committed to advancing ocean issues within international agreements.

"The impacts of misuse of our ocean resources on our economy, our environment and our community can no longer be ignored," said Gov. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang of the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi, whose capital, Manado, is hosting the World Ocean Conference. The governor will convene the event with Caldwell on Wednesday. "We must work together at the regional and transboundary levels to find solutions for improved management of our common ocean."

'/>"/>