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Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, Wildlife Trust and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute sponsored a Congressional briefing on emerging diseases in marine species as sentinels of degradation of coastal habitat and global climate change. Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, provided opening remarks.

The marine coastal environment is being subjected to increasing pressures from residential, recreational, and commercial development. Spills, leaks and accidents associated with oil extraction and transport create additional disturbances. The combined impacts are altering coastal marine biology, while the new stresses posed by a warming and more volatile climate are contributing to the emergence of diseases across a wide range of species.

Diseases and adverse events affecting marine life are key indicators of environmental stressors and thus serve as sentinels of change in marine coastal ecosystems. The expert panel examined diseases emerging among marine mammals, marine birds, sea turtles, coral reefs and those directly impacting human health. The panel presented these findings with the aim of educating the public about the growing consequences of human activities along coastlines and climate change, in the belief that this knowledge can contribute to ecological preservation and restoration, and to policies that promote cleaner and healthier development. The briefing featured the following topics and expert speakers: