Oceans In Peril

Unsustainable fishing practices, pollution from developed areas, agricultural runoff and the rampant development of coastlines throughout the world (two thirds of major cities are situated along coasts), and warming sea temperatures is killing marine life, causing toxic algae blooms worldwide, that create human health problems, causes fish and marine mammal kills, shellfish losses and forces beach closures. It is threatening Earth's ecological stability.

Vast amounts of pollution related to human activites are draining in to our oceans daily, destroying coral reefs, mangroves and coastal habitat which are vital for breeding, food and shelter for commercially important marine species.  The currents carry pollutants far from the source of entry where marine life readily consumes and absorbs them, lethally entering the food-chain. 

Hundreds of thousands of marine mammals die in gill-nets and unscruplous fishing gear, collisions with ships and from chemical and noise pollution, which includes naval testing of sonar in the Ocean.

Ecosystems are at a tipping point, verging on a collapse from which they won't recover.  

Why Should We Care?

Earth is a water planet.  Our oceans cover about two-thirds of the Earth's surface. They impact our weather and regulate Earth’s climate by circulating heat around the globe  They provide the rainfall for our farms, rivers and forests, replenishing the essential nutrients and chemicals that allow life to thrive.

• The oceans are the planet's life-support system, consuming carbon dioxide and producing between one-third and one-half of the world's oxygen.

• The Ocean is home to plankton that produces oxygen, krill and thousands of species of fish and invertebrates, that are an important part of the global food chain.

• Coral reefs, salt marshes, estuaries, mangroves and seagrass beds are not only nurseries for commercially important marine species, they also act as a filtering system for coastal water. 
  

• Seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reefs are crucial to providing protection against tidal waves, shoreline erosion and flooding.

As the world's population is exploding, we stand at a crucial juncture.  Evidence is mounting that the Ocean is under increasing stress, and can no longer easily absorb our impact.

WE, as individuals, not the government, any one organization or corporation, have the power to change the world for the better.  But change must happen NOW, while we can still reverse the distressing declines in the Ocean.  Because it won't be long before we lose that power - the window of opportunity is rapidly closing and the Ocean will not wait for policy makers to gear up to save them.

This is what we can do together to turn the tide