The ocean covers more than 70% of the planet’s surface, regulates the Earth’s climate, produces a large proportion of the oxygen in our atmosphere and is the major source of food proteins for over a billion people. However, it is increasingly affected by global changes and degraded marine ecosystems are under persistent and growing risk of further damage from microbiological and chemical pollution, overexploitation, and climate change.
The interactions between ocean and human health are numerous, complex and yet largely unknown to the major part of the public, the stakeholders and the scientific community. While the future state of the ocean will largely determine the future health and well-being of everyone.
The purpose of the 1st International Symposium on Human Health and the Ocean, in a changing world, to be held in Monaco December 2-3, 2020, is to provide an update on the various risks human activities expose the oceans to and the threats that those activities and the resulting ocean degradation pose to human health, but also to consider the various benefits that the Ocean can bring to the health and wellbeing of populations.”
On this occasion, the Scientific Centre of Monaco (CSM) and International Coral Reef Society (ICRS) have produced a brochure entitled Coral reefs and human health (PDF), that describes how coral reef ecosystems can contribute to human health.
