Natural resource managers and marine scientists are organizing to have a seat at the table in discussions on ocean wastewater pollution. Historically, the public health, utilities, and planning sectors have been tasked with managing wastewater discharge, but their decisions were uninformed by the expertise of those in the environmental and conservation fields. However, this is changing as marine practitioners become increasingly involved in contributing their perspectives and implementing measures to mitigate pollutant effects on downstream environments.
In recent years, marine ecologists have identified coral reefs as key ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of wastewater pollution. In fact, 104 out of 108 human-inhabited areas with coral reefs were identified as having a documented wastewater pollution problem. To raise awareness in the conservation realm, the Reef Resilience Network began hosting the Ocean Sewage Series webinars to introduce coral reef managers to the sanitation space. Together with The Nature Conservancy and in consultation with various expert advisors representing the public health, planning, and ocean management sectors, the Reef Resilience Network’s efforts culminated in the development of the Wastewater Pollution Toolkit.
The new toolkit features the latest science and provides an array of monitoring, management, and collaboration strategies to help marine practitioners address wastewater threats worldwide. It summarizes the impacts of wastewater pollution to human and marine health, current management strategies and innovative solutions, and integrative approaches to mitigate wastewater pollution. With 10 case studies, 29 journal article summaries, and the webinar series, the toolkit is anticipated to be a key resource for building bridges and fostering collaboration across fields.