Member-only story

Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them

Cristian Cox

·15.7k Followers· Follow

Published in Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans And What We Can Do To Save Them

6 min read · 3 weeks before

152 View Claps

12 Respond

Save

Listen

The Current State of Our Oceans

The oceans are the lifeblood of our planet. They cover over 70% of the Earth's surface and are home to an estimated 80% of all life on Earth. The oceans provide us with food, oxygen, and transportation. They regulate the Earth's climate and provide us with a source of recreation.

Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them

by Ted Danson

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	24548 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	312 pages

However, the oceans are facing a multitude of threats from human activities, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. These threats are putting the health of our oceans at risk, and with it, the health of our planet.

Overfishing

Overfishing is one of the most serious threats to our oceans. When fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, their populations can collapse. This can have a devastating impact on the entire marine ecosystem, as fish are a vital food source for many other marine animals.

There are a number of factors that contribute to overfishing, including:

Increased demand for seafood: As the global population grows, so does the demand for seafood. This demand has led to a dramatic increase in fishing pressure on our oceans.
Government subsidies: Many governments provide subsidies to fishing companies, which can lead to overfishing by encouraging them to catch more fish than they need.
Illegal fishing: Illegal fishing is a major problem in many parts of the world. It is estimated that up to 20% of all fish caught are caught illegally.

Pollution

Pollution is another major threat to our oceans. Pollution can come from a variety of sources, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage. These pollutants can have a devastating impact on marine life, causing health problems, reproductive problems, and even death.

There are a number of different types of pollution that can enter the oceans, including:

Ocean acidification: Ocean acidification is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This makes the ocean water more acidic, which can damage the shells and skeletons of marine animals.
Eutrophication: Eutrophication is caused by the excess of nutrients in the water. This can lead to algal blooms, which can block sunlight from reaching underwater plants and animals. It can also cause oxygen depletion, which can kill fish and other marine animals.
Plastic pollution: Plastic pollution is a major problem in our oceans. Plastic can entangle marine animals, block their digestive tracts, and leach harmful chemicals into the water.

Climate Change

Climate change is another major threat to our oceans. As the Earth's atmosphere warms, the oceans are absorbing more heat. This is causing the oceans to expand and sea levels to rise. It is also causing the oceans to become more acidic and less oxygenated.

These changes are having a devastating impact on marine life. Coral reefs, which are home to a quarter of all marine species, are being bleached and killed by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. Fish are migrating to new areas in search of cooler water, and many species are facing extinction.

What We Can Do to Save Our Oceans

The oceans are facing a multitude of threats, but there is still hope. We can take action to save our oceans and protect the marine life that depends on them.

Here are a few things we can do:

Reduce our consumption of seafood: One of the best ways to reduce our impact on the oceans is to reduce our consumption of seafood. This will help to reduce the demand for fish and put less pressure on fish populations.
Support sustainable fishing practices: When we buy seafood, we can choose to support sustainable fishing practices. This means buying fish that has been caught using methods that minimize bycatch and habitat damage.
Reduce our pollution: We can reduce our pollution by reducing our use of plastics, recycling more, and conserving water. We can also support policies that reduce pollution from industrial and agricultural sources.
Support climate change mitigation: Climate change is a major threat to our oceans, so it is important to support climate change mitigation efforts. This means reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Educate ourselves and others: We can help to save our oceans by educating ourselves and others about the threats they face. We can spread the word about the importance of ocean conservation and encourage others to take action.

The oceans are facing a multitude of threats from human activities, but there is still hope. We can take action to save our oceans and protect the marine life that depends on them. By working together, we can create a future where our oceans are healthy and thriving.

Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them

by Ted Danson

4.5 out of 5