Marine Conservation

Marine conservation is the protection of marine species and ecosystems in oceans and seas. And while the definition of marine conservation is fairly straightforward, the field of marine conservation is as vast as the ocean itself.  Marine conservation ranges from establishing national marine protected areas and the restoration of coral reefs to local beach cleanup days and letter-writing campaigns. It is the subject of international treaties protecting the high seas and individual town ordinances banning single-use plastic. It encompasses an extensive array of scientific, economic, policy and planning disciplines. It is so far-reaching that Greenpeace activists confronting whaling ships and tropical island resort guests spending an afternoon tagging sea turtles can both call themselves marine conservationists.

Health and Well-Being

So clearly, the field of marine conservation does indeed cast a wide net. And for a good reason. Whether we live near the coast or far from the ocean’s shores, the ocean impacts the health and well-being of every one of us. If you have any doubt as to the ocean’s importance to our lives, consider these facts:

• The ocean generates over half the oxygen we breathe. [1]
• The ocean is the largest biosphere on Earth. [2]
• The ocean contains 97% of Earth’s water. [3]
• The ocean is home to 50 – 80% of all life on Earth. [4]
• The ocean plays a crucial role in regulating our climate and weather. [5]
• The ocean provides nearly 3 billion people with their primary source of protein. [6]

Economic Impact

The ocean also has an enormous impact on both the U.S. domestic and global economies. While the value of the ocean and its resources is incalculable, snapshots of different areas of the ocean economy show that:

• Over 3 billion people’s livelihoods depend directly on coastal and marine ecosystems. [7]
• The market value of ocean resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5 percent of global GDP. [8]
• Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people. [9]
• About 80% of all tourism takes place in coastal areas. [10]
• 90% of international freight involves marine transport [11]

An Ocean at Risk

But with less than 3% of the ocean protected, the ocean is at risk. As our founder said in her welcoming message: “It’s no secret that the ocean is under tremendous threat. It has never been hotter or more acidic. It’s losing oxygen at an alarming rate. And pollution, especially plastic waste, is negatively impacting almost every aspect of marine life.”  Specifically:

• By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. [12]
• The ocean has absorbed over 90% of the excess heat trapped by man-made greenhouse gases. [13]
• Ocean heat is now at record levels, causing widespread marine heatwaves. [14]
• The sea level has risen over 8 inches since 1880 (with about 3 of those inches gained in the last 25 years). [15]
• Every year, an estimated 5 to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean. [16]
• The ocean has become more acidic due to the absorption of increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. [17]
• Global fish stocks are being depleted and marine life is decimated by overfishing. [18]

The unique thing about marine conservation is that you don’t need a degree, have to belong to an organization, or even possess any specialized knowledge to make a difference.  We can all drive less or eat sustainable seafood or stop using single-use plastic. But if you do want to get a degree in marine conservation or join an organization, or gain that specialized knowledge, there are certainly ample opportunities for you to do so.

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Citations

1. Why should we care about the ocean?, National Ocean Service, NOAA.
2. About the Ocean, World Resources Institute.
3. Life Below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
4. About the Ocean, World Resources Institute.
5. Why should we care about the ocean?, National Ocean Service, NOAA.
6. Sustainable Seafood, World Wildlife Fund.
7. Life Below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
8. Life Below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
9. Life Below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
10. Why should we care about the ocean?, National Ocean Service, NOAA.
11. The Ocean Economy in 2030, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
12. Will the ocean really be dead in 50 years?, The Natural History Museum, London
13. Why the Ocean is Everybody’s Business, Ocean Unite.
14. Climate Change Indicators: Oceans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
15. Sea Level Rise Explained, National Geographic
16. Life Below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
17. Climate Change Indicators: Oceans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
18. The sea is running out of fish, despite nations’ pledges to stop it, Woody, Todd, National Geographic (2019).