Understanding and Protecting the Ocean

Without the ocean, there would be no life. Fossil evidence indicates that the first forms of life on earth lived in saltwater. Even in this day and age, life is dramatically connected to the ocean. There are examples of all major species in the ocean. If you were to make a list of all the major groups of plants and animals living in the ocean, you would find a representative of each group in the ocean. Another connection of the ocean to life is human blood plasma—the liquid part of blood. Human blood plasma contains exactly the same salts in precisely the same concentrations as seawater.

The ocean covers 75% of our planet and 97% of the earth’s water lies in the sea. The interaction of the ocean and atmosphere influence climate and weather. The ocean provides food, natural resources, transportation, and an amazing variety of recreational opportunities for millions of people. In some regions the ocean provides fresh drinkable water. For instance, in Saudi Arabia large desalination plants are built on the coast to convert ocean water to fresh water.

The simple fact is that the ocean is a vital part of life. Yet, we know very little about the ocean. Even though 95% of the ocean is still unexplored, it is obvious that within the past 25 years the ocean has undergone much change. The ocean has changed because of what we put in it.

The Importance of Protecting and Understanding the Ocean
The new Transportation Secretary claims that one of the world’s greatest challenges is protecting and understanding the ocean. We probably know less about the ocean today than we did about space in 1960. However, the ocean’s importance to humankind may be even more significant than space. As land space become less available because of increasing population, we will turn to the ocean for expanded sources of food. What we consider a typical diet today will be impossible to produce in the future because farmland will become increasingly scarce. In Asia, kelp and other forms of algae are already a significant source of protein.

Oil spills, debris, pesticides, fertilizer runoff, sewer sludge, and over-fishing are some of the ways we threaten the living ocean. From time to time we read about devastating oil spills. It is even more shocking to report that 1,644 tons of oil, mostly from non-accidental sources, reach the ocean everyday. Four million miles of coastal waters surround the U.S. and its possessions. These coastal waters are increasingly threatened by the careless disposal of toxic materials. Frequently, dangerous debris, particularly plastics, ends up in the ocean. Countless examples tell us that pollution starts on land. Our trash is killing the ocean making ocean conservation more urgent than ever.

Connecting to Our Faith
1. Discuss these quotes made by marine biologist Sylvia Earle. What are your concerns about the ocean? How do your concerns relate to the call to be stewards of God’s creation?

• “Going into the ocean is like diving into the history of life on Earth.”
• “More has changed in the ocean in the last half century than in all of human history, and the problem stems not only from what we are putting into the sea but what we are taking out.”
• “We’ve made the investment to venture into the skies, and it has paid off mightily. We’ve neglected the ocean, and it has cost us dearly. This is the time to do for the oceans in the 21st century what our predecessors did for space.”