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The Earth’s surface is almost three-fourths covered by oceans, which are defined as large bodies of salt water bounded by land. All but 3% of our planet’s water is contained in Earth’s oceans, which are vital to all life on the planet. Hundreds of thousands of known species of life exist in Earth’s oceans, with the possibility of millions more that humans have yet to discover calling the ocean their home. Today, the world’s oceans are in danger from many threats, most of which have been caused by the effects of human life and activity on the oceanic ecosystems. What can we humans do as a species to preserve and protect these essential waters? You can learn a great deal about the earth’s oceans at marine biology camps; here are some of the topics that might be covered in a discussion about saving our oceans. Garbage Plastic is nature’s enemy. Designed to be strong and resilient, plastic goods can last almost forever—and that’s not good for the environment. Even plastic products designed to be biodegradable won’t decay unless given the proper exposure to the elements. And many plastic products, such as single-use plastic grocery bags, break down into their chemical components once they’re discarded, releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. In our oceans, plastic refuse not only creates unsightly messes, but it can harm sea life as well. Sea turtles consume plastic bags, thinking the bags are food, and the results can range anywhere from a life-threatening blockage of the turtle’s digestive system to harmful chemical buildup in the turtle’s body. Since most of the garbage in our oceans originates on land, we must make sure to dispose of trash properly, to buy consumer goods that are sold with less packaging, and replace single-use plastic bags with reusable tote bags. Overfishing Let’s face it: fish are delicious. Whether fried, broiled, sautéed, or eaten raw as sushi or sashimi, we all love the succulent taste and unique modes of preparation offered by the oceans’ bounteous fish species. But nature is not a factory—we simply can’t eat all we want and the sea will make more. Overfishing of certain popular varieties of fish can threaten the Earth’s oceans in many ways. First off, overfishing can drive a particular species to near-extinction by dropping the levels of that fish species below sustainable levels. Overfishing can also affect other fish species by removing from a habitat too many types of fish that provide food for other fish. The effects can be felt on shore in an economic manner as well, as several centuries-old fishing communities have slowly died due to the overfishing of their nearby waters, destroying this traditional form of employment. We can help stop the problem of overfishing by placing bans on fishing certain species until their populations have had the chance to recover, developing new fishing methods that don’t kill other fish and sea life species than the ones being harvested, and checking food labels and asking restaurant workers for information about whether or not the fish in question is harvested in a sustainable fashion. Coral Reefs Coral reefs are actually complex ecosystems that sustain life for a multitude of species. But coral reefs have been dying in oceans all over the world. Pollution, overfishing, and global warming are just a few of the causes of this problem. By curbing pollution, controlling overfishing, and addressing the issues raised by global warming, humans can help turn around the declining fate of coral reefs. Dead Zones Oxygen is needed by most of the ocean’s creatures to survive. An oceanic dead zone is an area of water where the oxygen levels have reached such low levels that marine life cannot survive there. Several hundred of these dead zones are known to exist around the globe. Pollution, particularly in the form of chemical runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, are the prime cause of these dead zones. By regulating and reducing these harmful chemicals, the oxygen levels in dead zones can be returned to the point where marine life is able survive in them again. The survival of our oceans is vital not just to the inhabitants of the sea, but to all of us on land as well. Be sure to look up marine biology camps for a chance to learn more about this fascinating and crucial topic in an exciting way.
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