Marine Conservation and Threats Assessment

Brian Skerry shares his journey as a National Geographic photographer, focusing on underwater photography and environmental issues. He discusses the challenges of capturing marine life, the decline of fish populations, and the importance of conservation efforts. Through stories of harp seals, sharks, and right whales, he highlights the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems. Skerry emphasizes the need for marine protected areas, showcasing successful examples like New Zealand's reserves.

What is one of the main challenges of underwater photography according to Brian Skerry?

• Poor visibility underwater

• High cost of equipment

• Lack of marine life

• Difficulty in finding subjects

Why did Brian Skerry shift his focus to environmental stories?

• To capture more beautiful images

• To travel to new locations

• To raise awareness about ocean issues

• To work with more marine animals

What alarming statistic did Skerry read about big fish in the ocean?

• 80% of big fish are overfished

• 90% of big fish have disappeared

• 70% of big fish are endangered

• 50% of big fish have disappeared

What is the most common method of fishing that Skerry highlights as destructive?

• Bottom trawling

• Gill netting

• Handline fishing

• Spearfishing

What conservation measure has helped sharks in the Bahamas?

• Introducing new shark species

• Creating artificial reefs

• Outlawing long lining

• Banning all fishing

What unique feature does the great hammerhead shark have?

• A wide head

• A long tail

• Bright colors

• Small size

What is a major threat to the North Atlantic right whale?

• Overfishing

• Ship strikes

• Pollution

• Climate change

What did scientists discover about healthy coral reefs at Kingman Reef?

• They have more reef fish than predators

• They are dominated by soft corals

• They have more predators than reef fish

• They are devoid of predators

What was the unexpected result of protecting Goat Island in New Zealand?

• Return of kelp forests

• Decline in fish populations

• Increase in sea urchins

• Decrease in tourism

What percentage of the world's oceans are currently off-limits to commercial fishing?

• 5%

• 1%

• 10%

• 0.1%