The Asia-Pacific region is home to three-quarters of global coral reefs and more than half of all mangrove areas.
Through aquaculture production, the region supplies 60% of the world’s total fish consumption.
However, the region is also the epicentre of marine plastic pollution, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a news release.
Overharvesting of fish here is also putting global food security and the entire seafood industry in danger.
According to ADB, 8 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean every year and mostly from Asia, along with huge volumes of agricultural pollutants and untreated wastewater.
Climate change is causing rising sea levels, ocean warming, and acidification, while unsustainable fishing is depleting fish stocks. Not taking action means the death of 90% of coral reefs by 2052 and the loss of all commercially exploitable wild fish stocks by 2048.
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https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/09/15/adb-s-blue-bond-aims-to-protect-ocean-health