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The power of benthic flux monitoring lies in its potential to forge a path towards sustainable growth and collaboration among industries, while simultaneously filling a critical gap in our ability to keep a finger on the pulse of the global oceans.
As global consumption grows stronger, the concept of a Blue Economy gains prominence - encompassing a vast spectrum of industries that harness the resources and services provided by the sea. From fisheries that feed nations to renewable energy initiatives that fuel a sustainable future, the Blue Economy is a realm where innovation, sustainability, and profitability converge. Anchoring this emerging domain is a science that's shaping its destiny – benthic flux monitoring.
Industries have always relied on healthy oceans for their sustenance and prosperity. Fishing, shipping, tourism, energy, and even agriculture is deeply intertwined with the well-being of marine environments. What often goes unnoticed, however, is the silent impact that the chemistry of the underlying seafloor has on these industries. Chemical exchanges between the sediments and water column, A.K.A. benthic fluxes, involve the swapping of gases, nutrients, and pollutants between the sediments and the overlying water column. Thus, sediment health is at the center of ocean health, influencing the growth of marine life, the distribution of resources, and the occurrence of natural phenomena.
A partial list of sediment-adjacent blue industries that have the potential to benefit from benthic flux monitoring.
Consider the mariculture industry, where the condition of fish farming operations is directly linked to te local water’s nutrient balance. By monitoring benthic fluxes, we can gain insights into nutrient availability and help mariculturists make informed decisions about how to decrease the negative effects of their effluent on the surrounding environment. This ultimately ensures sustainability and regulatory compliance, while also ensuring optimal efficiency of operations relating to the fate of added food (i.e. nutrients). Similarly, the energy sector, reliant on offshore activities like oil extraction and renewable energy installations, can benefit immensely from understanding the consequences of the disturbances caused to the seafloor by these activities.
Tourism, a colossal industry for coastal regions, faces the challenge of maintaining pristine shorelines and underwater ecosystems. Innovative benthic flux monitoring technology offers the tools to predict deoxygenation, algae blooms, and other potential threats, allowing authorities to implement measures to protect both nature and tourism revenue. Even agriculture, often associated with land, profoundly impacts sediment composition through nutrient and particulate runoff, which can degrade coastal water quality. By understanding the role of benthic fluxes, farmers can adopt practices that minimize their impact on marine environments.
Finally take burgeoning carbon removal industry intended to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere to limit climate change. Ocean-based solutions are gaining traction, with hundreds of millions of dollars of Silicon Valley funding invested in this space in the last couple of years alone. Many of these rely on enhancing the burial of carbon in sediments, but the permanence of this sequestered carbon is uncertain. Benthic flux measurements of carbon dioxide, alkalinity, organic carbon, and methane are all important leaks that must be accounted for.
The power of benthic flux monitoring lies in its potential to forge a path towards sustainable growth and collaboration among industries while simultaneously filling a critical gap in our ability to keep a finger on the pulse of the global oceans. As we decode the secrets of sediments, we unravel a narrative of interconnectedness that urges us to rethink how we operate within the Blue Economy. With each insight gained, we equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to foster responsible practices that safeguard both industry interests and the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. The world beneath the waves holds a wealth of inspiration and innovation, beckoning industries to tap into this under-studied field and steer toward a brighter future for all.
