For billions of years, life on this planet has revolved around two main resources, the sun and the ocean. Namely, without the oceans, there would be no oxygen, and without the oxygen, it is impossible for any living thing to survive. In the documentary, Mission Blue, directors Robert Nixon and Fischer Stevens explore “the life and work of oceanologist, marine biologist, and environmentalist, Sylvia Earle.” As the film rolls, we see just how big of a role the ocean plays on our everyday life, meanwhile, we also see how big of a role human life plays in destroying that
The Ocean has many ecosystems and animals that live and survive in there. We depend on some of the natural resources the ocean provides. We are hurting this by dangerous fishing and overfishing or overexploitation of the fish. The ocean has a great diversity
The ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet and plays a vital role in the worlds environment. It covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, contains 95% of the water on the planet and is an essential part of the natural cycles that make our planet habitable. The ocean is not only dynamic and sensitive, but it is also severely affected by our lifestyle choices. It regulates global temperatures, is the world’s biggest carbon sink (absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases), provides a home for trillions of plants and animals that make up various levels of the food chain, and so much more. Because of its immense appearance, it is frequently misinterpreted to be a stable and resilient environment immune to human activity. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Ocean is a resource for us to use and benefit from, however, it needs to be protected. It
The oceans need to be protected because it is where life began and if not taken care of, life as we know it will end. The well-being of the ocean is constantly being threatened and needs to stop. When dangerous substances go into the ocean, ecosystems suffer and become endangered along with the lives of people and marine life. The importance of protecting and preserving the quality and biodiversity of the world 's coasts must be recognized because they are truly irreplaceable. If humans are not educated , and become careless about what is thrown on the ground or sprayed on lawns, disastrous effects follow when it comes to the condition of the ocean’s ecosystems, which can endanger life itself, leading to a problem only we can correct. There is historical evidence of ocean pollution, although the problem still shadows us today.
In 2009, Dr. Sylvia Earle wrote The World is Blue to educate and alert the reader about human impacts on marine ecosystems. Through this book she conveys her passion and methodical arguments concerning the importance of the conservation of the ocean, which encompasses approximately 80 percent of the earth’s surface. Dr. Earle states “the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume” (17). This statement emphasizes the significance of the ocean, not only for marine life, but all life forms on earth. The book implies that currently in today’s world, the conservation of the ocean requires a global effort to reduce human damage from the past generations. Using facts gleaned from credible scientific resources, she defines the problems of overfishing, bycatch, and pollution. By analyzing human impacts on marine ecosystems, Dr. Earle determines successful and unsuccessful solutions to these problems and suggests various ways individuals can change their lifestyles to reduce impact on the environment as a whole.
Midway through the recent Netflix documentary Mission Blue (Robert Nixon and Fisher Stevens, 2014), which follows the renowned marine biologist and conservationist Sylvia Earle’s campaign to establish protected marine sanctuaries around the globe, the narrator pauses to note an irony: the same industries that have for over half a century exploited the ocean for oil and gas, wreaking environmental havoc, are also responsible for the greatest technological advances in ocean exploration. These advances, moreover, helped deepen scientific understanding of the ocean and of its ecological import. Ocean
The Ocean. Commonly known, as the big blue is one of the most ecologically diverse habitats on earth. It is home to 7000,000 million different species, all of which directly rely on the stability and natural habitats, which exist around the globe. In fact, over two thirds of the species living in the ocean are unknown (DNews). The industrial revolution changed the world for the better; the industrial revolution introduced hundreds of new products, which changed the way humans live. Throughout this paper we will discuss the causes and solutions to environmental degradation in the ocean.
I deem that the association between humankind and the sea is minimal. Nonetheless, I occupy the belief that people are breath taken and astounded by the view of survival in the ocean. To start
She then insinuates that because humans perceive the ocean as big and plentiful, that we can destroy it with the notion of forever food and resources, Earle shatters that ill-informed view of the oceans with word that the act of ocean preservation needs us more than ever. Partnered with Google Earth, Earle brings awareness to the oceans need, then declares that there is still time to fix what we’ve done, by establishing marine sanctuaries and creating an argument against large fishing fleets and mass fishing. At the end of her Ted Talk, Earle talks about her wish for the future. She wishes to get the word out about ocean preservation and restoration and create more ocean sanctuaries so the blue planet will be protected once
Humans have always had a relationship with the ocean. Whether the relationship is good or bad, the ocean links humans together and surrounds them. The ocean is an important resource that people learn more and more about every day. Technology has had great impact on the ocean as well as how people perceive the ocean. Both Richard Gillis and Rachel Carson touch upon this age-old relationship between humans and the ocean and how technology aids or hurts this connection.
95% of the ocean has not been explored. With all the species and environments within the ocean that we have discovered, it is mind blowing to think that we have only seen 5% of what the ocean has to offer. The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s are One explores our long standing relationship with the ocean. This book is penned by oceanographer, explorer, and lecturer, Sylvia Earle. She earned her B.S degree from Florida State University, M.S and PhD from Duke University, and has accumulated 22 honorary degrees. She has worked as a director for multiple corporate and nonprofit organizations and as chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [1]. Earle’s research concerns marine ecosystems with an emphasis on conservation, which is the focal point of her novel. It is woven with stories compiled from decades of work and exploration, and with facts and arguments concerning our changing ocean. Sylvia’s novel is about the relationship between humans and the ocean, whether it be through the extinction of species, climate change, or even exploration and aquaculture, we ultimately affect the ocean and it affects us.
In 2004 The US Ocean Commission proposed several critical recommendations to address the health and management of our oceans. These recommendations range from better organization of current management offices to education of the public on issues pertaining to oceans and coastal areas. The importance of healthy oceans, waterways, and coastal areas cannot be denied. As humans we rely on these areas for food, fuel, materials for various products, and recreation just to name a few. Aside from the human aspect the health of the earth’s oceans is also bound to the air and land. Many other creatures throughout the world depend on a harmonious balance of the human species with the waters that surrounds us. The sooner we can find equilibrium with
When I walk into the California Coast, I saw a giant fish that made me feel surprised. We can see different fishes, coral reef and other marine organisms in there. There had two things that attracted my eyes, which were the flashlight fish and the beautiful coral reef. The flashlight fish was very interesting because we can see some light in their body in the darker environment. I learned that flashlight fish appear to blink by blocking the bacteria from view. They either rotate the light organ or cover it with a flap of skin. Only we saw the real flashlight fish that known how interesting these fishes looked. In addition, I saw many colorful coral reefs. I learned that the bleaching of coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef was very serious, so I was glad to see so many colorful coral reefs in here. I saw that some underwater structures may look like rock, but they were the skeletal remains of tiny animals called coral polyps. And I learned that thousands of known species, from fish and jellyfish to sponges and sea stars, all hide, breed, and feed in and around coral reefs. In order to see the colorful coral reefs in the sea, human should stop to pollute the
For the last few decades hundreds of human activities have been severely impacting one of our most important ecosystems and the life it sustains. Ocean Pollution also known as Marine Pollution is defined as the spreading of deleterious substances such as human, industrial, and agricultural waste, oil, plastic, chemicals and much more. An article from the NOAA states “Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land.” Humans are responsible for the destructruction of the oceans, therefore it is our obligation within every citizen in playing there part to keep our oceans clean. Ocean Pollution doesn't only affect marine life, but us as well. An article from PlanetAid.org states “It provides over 70 percent of the oxygen
Since the beginning of the human race, people have flocked to the ocean. The largest civilizations were built in fertile, coastal areas. Oceanographer and professor at Stanford University, Mark Denny, opened up his book, How the Ocean Works: An Introduction to Oceanography, with the statement, “Throughout history, men and women have been drawn to the sea” (Denny 1). Here in Hawaii, this is especially notable. Hawaii was discovered by islanders who were adventuring across the sea, using it to feed them and working with the currents on their journey. Now, hundreds of years later, visiting the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of Hawaii is on nearly the whole world’s bucket list, but it might not be around for much longer. This would be devastating to the planet, as environmental expert Jennifer Weeks says oceans supply most of the Earth’s food and oxygen (Weeks). Not only does the sea provide the most basic necessities for survival, but it has also provided “...Anticancer and antiviral drugs based on substances produced by coral reef species...” (Weeks). Despite all the research that has been done, and is currently underway right this moment, we still know less about the ocean than we do about space! Elisabeth Mann Borgese, an expert in environmentalism, has written, “Our ignorance of the ocean is profound, and although we have learned much during the last hundred years, our knowledge of ocean processes and life in the oceans will remain forever incomplete” (Borgese 23). As Borgese said, it is impossible to learn all there is to know about the sea, but knowing what to do to fix the state of the world’s oceans is vital and attainable information.
It was Mihaljo Mesarovic, the author of “Mankind at the Turning Point”, who once said “The Earth has cancer and the cancer is man”. He was definitely onto something. In fact, humans have had a major negative impact on the world’s marine environment. Throughout recent human history, it has been obvious that the wellbeing of the marine environment has been in jeopardy. Pollution of the ocean, overfishing and the greenhouse gases these are all the aspects that can cause the destroying of the precious environments, such as reefs, sea-grass and coastal habitats. According to the essay and interview “Seafarming at the End of the World”, written by Peter Meehan, he presents the fact that human impact on the ocean is the main reason that causes the awful situation of marine ecosystem and organisms.