Antarctica

The sea has become the universal sewer.
Jacque Cousteau

Along with overpopulation, climate change, and the threat of thermonuclear war, the persistent decline of the world's oceans ranks among the great global crises confronting the human race today. But this huge threat to planet earth receives only a fraction of the "press" as the dozing of tropical rain forests. One is right out in front for all to see, the other hidden beneath the surface. And yet our future depends on whether or not we take notice of this plight and begin to do something about it.

A few facts about our oceans: 1)they contain 80% of all life on the planet 2)they provide half the oxygen in the atmosphere 3)oceans sequester five times more carbon than tropical rain forests 4)they determine and stabilize our climate to a large extent 5)ten percent of people make their livings from the oceans 6)about $25 billion of illegal stock is removed from the oceans every year 7)half of what we eat from the ocean is now farmed 8)stocks of most large game fish have been reduced by 50-90% in the last 25 years 9)coral reefs and estuaries, equivalent in productivity and diversity to tropical rain forests, are under serious threat.

According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization: "Stresses caused by human activity on the ocean's life support systems are widely acknowledged to have reached critical levels.....Our oceans are at risk of irreversible damage to habitats, ecological functions, and biodiversity because of overfishing, overexploitation of coral, climate change, pollution, and coastal development among others."

It makes no difference whether you live in coastal Florida or landlocked Kansas, the impact of oceans on the earth's ecological systems knows no boundaries. For the sake of marine life, for our own sake and that of unborn generations as well, we must restore the health of the planet's oceans. Nothing that we can do, short of avoiding nuclear war, will have a greater impact on the survival of life on earth. And no task before us will require more courage, sacrifice, and true leadership.

Return to Collection	Next Photograph

The sea has become the universal sewer. Jacque Cousteau Along with overpopulation, climate change, and the threat of thermonuclear war, the persistent decline of the world's oceans ranks among the great global crises confronting the human race today. But this huge threat to planet earth receives only a fraction of the "press" as the dozing of tropical rain forests. One is right out in front for all to see, the other hidden beneath the surface. And yet our future depends on whether or not we take notice of this plight and begin to do something about it. A few facts about our oceans: 1)they contain 80% of all life on the planet 2)they provide half the oxygen in the atmosphere 3)oceans sequester five times more carbon than tropical rain forests 4)they determine and stabilize our climate to a large extent 5)ten percent of people make their livings from the oceans 6)about $25 billion of illegal stock is removed from the oceans every year 7)half of what we eat from the ocean is now farmed 8)stocks of most large game fish have been reduced by 50-90% in the last 25 years 9)coral reefs and estuaries, equivalent in productivity and diversity to tropical rain forests, are under serious threat. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization: "Stresses caused by human activity on the ocean's life support systems are widely acknowledged to have reached critical levels.....Our oceans are at risk of irreversible damage to habitats, ecological functions, and biodiversity because of overfishing, overexploitation of coral, climate change, pollution, and coastal development among others." It makes no difference whether you live in coastal Florida or landlocked Kansas, the impact of oceans on the earth's ecological systems knows no boundaries. For the sake of marine life, for our own sake and that of unborn generations as well, we must restore the health of the planet's oceans. Nothing that we can do, short of avoiding nuclear war, will have a greater impact on the survival of life on earth. And no task before us will require more courage, sacrifice, and true leadership.

© Danny Kimberlin 2015