The Science
Our concern for the welfare of our ocean and ourselves is based on science.
Scientist have shown that the state of our ocean is serious cause for concern. It has been found that rates of extinction on Earth are far greater than background extinction rates, and higher even than previous periods of mass extinction; leading to the proposition that we are headed for the sixth mass extinction.
The ocean acts as a buffer to the majority of the damage humans are inflicting on our Earth. The ocean absorbs a third of the excess carbon humans have released into the atmosphere, has taken in 90% of the heat excess greenhouse gases have trapped in the atmosphere, provides an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ dumping zones for our waste, and gives us food where our land cannot.
All of this is not without consequence. It is important to note that the consequences of our global society’s actions are not just in the emotional hearts of a few individuals but have been scientifically proven by the best marine minds of our day. See the links below for deeper reading into the science of marine destruction.
Reports and Scientific Articles
General
Factsheet: People and Oceans. 2017. The Ocean Conference, United Nations.
People and Oceans. 2010. Conservation International.
Troubled Waters: Special Report. 2009. The Economist.
Ecological Collapse
Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. 2019. UN Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
This is a crisis - Facing up to the age of environmental breakdown. 2018. Institute for Public Policy Research.
Living Planet Report - 2018: Aiming Higher. 2018. WWF.
Climate change
WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2018. 2019. World Meteorological Organization.
Global Warming of 1.5°C Summary for Policy Makers. 2018. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages. 2018. Nature Letters. Terry Hughes et al.
Quantification of ocean heat uptake from changes in atmospheric O2 and CO2 composition. 2018. Nature. L Resplandy et al.
Climate-driven changes to ocean circulation and their inferred impacts on marine dispersal patterns. 2016. Global Ecology and Biogeography. Laura Wilson et al.
Ocean heat uptake and the global surface temperature record. 2015. Grantham Institute.
Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Organisms and Ecosystems. 2009. Current Biology. Andrew Brierley and Michael Kingsford.
The Consequences of Climate Change for Life in the Oceans. 2014. Alfred Weigner Institut.
Pollution
A Crisis of Convenience: The corporations behind the plastics pollution pandemic. 2018. Greenpeace.
Marine Litter Vital Graphics. 2016. United Nations Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal.
Marine plastic debris and microplastics – Global lessons and research to inspire action and guide policy change. 2016. United Nations Environment Programme.
Valuing Plastics: The Business Case for Measuring, Managing and Disclosing Plastic Use in the Consumer Goods Industry. 2014. United Nations Environment Programme.
Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems. 2008. Science. Robert J. Diaz and Rutger Rosenberg.
Harmful Fishing
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 - Meeting the sustainable development goals. 2018. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Global catches, exploitation rates, and rebuilding options for sharks. 2013. Marine Policy. Boris Worm et al.