Why The Ocean Is the Most Important Thing for All of Us to Protect

By Saheed Kolawole, MSc Candidate at the Faculty of Aquatic Sciences of Istanbul University, for World Ocean Day 2022

Barathieu, G. (2016). Shallow Water Life, Mayotte Island. The Ocean Agency.

You see the ocean, right? It's enormous. The ocean is so large that it encompasses 71% of the Earth's surface, making it an aspect of our society that we can't afford to damage any further. For so long, everyone has been fascinated by it. The vast majority of us adore its beauty and uniqueness. Us, because we are a part of this thing called civilization. 

The ocean is deep and endless, just as humanity is vast and varied. Whether you are into underwater adventures, deep sea-bed diving, or love the sight of sapphire blue waters lapping on the white sandy beaches with your toes in it, there is this special feeling that the ocean leaves you yearning.

You also might not realize how the ocean helps us every day, but here are a few. 

Water management system
Oceans provide us with one of our most essential needs to survive on this planet, water, and in a big way. 

Water is life. We need it to survive, and the oceans are the biggest producers. The Earth's oceans are a significant source of water, which moderates the Earth's climate. As a carbon sink, they play an essential role in controlling the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by absorbing around 30 million tonnes of carbon per year. 

This makes them a vital part of Earth's climate-regulation system, influencing our weather patterns, coastlines, and even day-to-day weather.

Every minute, approximately 2,100 gallons of water evaporates from the oceans. These vapors rise into the atmosphere, where they form clouds. The clouds eventually produce precipitation and cool our planet. 

But the oceans are under threat, and it is a challenge we need to face head-on. 

Have you ever heard about the Great Pacific garbage patch? It's a 2.6 million km² area – triple the size of continental Spain – where plastic trash collects in the North Pacific Gyre. Did you know that there is an even bigger oceanic garbage patch that has been known since 1961? It's located in the North Atlantic Ocean. And contrary to other gyres, this one doesn't get washed up or sink fast but remains floating on its own. 

It's also estimated that if our oceans continue to warm and acidify at current rates, the chemistry of our oceans will be changed for good. This could lead to a collapse of ocean ecosystems and result in a mass extinction event. That would have devastating consequences for human life, which is closely linked to the health of global oceans.

Oxygen factory
Oceans produce over half of the oxygen we breathe. Many marine microorganisms and plants, such as phytoplankton, are responsible for this 'ocean factory.'

I will have you know that half of the oxygen we breathe is generated in our oceans. That's a pretty big deal when considering how imperative oxygen is for animals and humans. It's also worth mentioning that the average surface temperature of our planet has risen almost 1 degree Celsius over the past century — this is a figure scientists place into high context. Is there a meaningful causal link between oceanic oxygen generation and global warming? Maybe, maybe not. But scientists think rising ocean temperatures could stress out sea life and decrease their overall productivity. And where does your food come from? The ocean. So even if this new theory on oceanic oxygen generation isn't completely concrete, it is something to consider nonetheless.

Climate control and weather management
Oceans control and maintain our climate by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, regulating weather patterns, and preventing abrupt fluctuations in temperature.

As a result of our reckless burning of fossil fuels, climate change threatens to overwhelm the ability of oceans to absorb the excess heat that humans have generated. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere as a response to this excess heat, increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO2 destabilize ocean waters while also acidifying these waters and stimulating the growth of phytoplankton, making them more vulnerable to temperature increases. In other words, there's no place for excess heat created by human activities in or above the ocean, which absolutely must maintain the proper balance in its circulation systems. If not maintained properly, this could ultimately lead to irreversible shifts in our climate in a dangerous direction.

Cures for diseases
Marine life holds the key to curing many diseases, including cancer. Scientists have been investigating the anti-cancer potential of marine organisms for decades. They have found that most species are excellent sources of new medicines because they contain highly complex molecules capable of fighting disease-causing agents like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Have you ever wondered what causes cancer and how we can cure it? Cancer is one of the biggest threats to human health, and unfortunately, the number of people being diagnosed with the disease is on the rise. As a result, cancer has become one of the leading causes of death in many countries. According to research, over 60% of all cancers are curable. While medical science has taken a giant leap forward in treating cancer, more still needs to be done. 

It's strange, but whenever I mention to someone that we may be able to cure cancer by studying marine animals, the response is always a variation of "well, that's good because I don't want anyone to die from cancer." Yes, it is. And fast forward to the point where we are already researching the health benefits of marine life — and curing people from terrible diseases like cancer.

Food for people everywhere
Due to climate change and overharvesting, food production must keep up with a growing population. Right? Before answering that question, consider what is happening in the ocean right now. Yes, our ecosystems are changing. 

It's mainly been turbulent for coral reefs around the world. It's hard to be optimistic when we read headlines like this: "Coral' bleaching' event on Great Barrier Reef reaches worst levels ever recorded." 

Unfortunately, these ocean areas are suffering and are affecting the rest of the world. They're now being called "dead zones" because they no longer effectively support life in them. There have been several studies into what's happened and why it's happened, and all point to us, or humans, to be more accurate, being responsible. Earth's population is enormous, and we don't understand what we're doing to the oceans, which we depend on for our food source.

What's next? 
You might be asking yourself, why should I care about the ocean and climate change? The ocean and climate change are more than just a catchphrase you hear trending on Twitter. Climate change isn't just about the atmosphere and the rising temperature. The ocean is incredibly important to overall climate change because the oceans help support life on Earth. This includes our human existence as well.

It is crucial to understand theoretically and practically the effect of our actions on the environment. Our lives are consumed by ever-looming consequences of our actions as we make decisions that affect others today and into the future.

In conclusion, as a human race, we are forced to face the reality that we can no longer rely on machines or fossil fuels to sustain our lives. We must adapt to this vastly different environment in which we find ourselves and make the necessary changes (i.e., reducing fossil fuel usage, recycling more extensively) if we are going to survive well into the next century. And in doing so, it's imperative not just for us but also for our planet.

Our natural source of air pollution and everyday habits impact our planet and the environment, which we call home. The only way to combat these environmental issues is through education and awareness. Hopefully, this article provided some facts and perspectives on the subject matter.