THE OCEAN IS OUR LIFELINE

The world ocean is essential for our own existence; producing over half the world’s oxygen, regulates our climate and weather patterns, whilst also providing food, medicine, jobs, transportation and recreation.

Fun fact the ocean covers 71% of the earths surface and currently takes up to a third of carbon emitted from human activity (approx 2 billion metric tons a year)

In the ocean, carbon sequestration (a process where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere) is achieved through ocean life…plankton sits on the ocean surface and through photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide into food & oxygen the same way trees & plants do on land.

This process operates at it’s most efficient in colder climates…the Earths warming climate through human activity results in the photosynthetic rate declining rapidly and instead creates a vicious cycle.

Another fun fact: did you know our planets coastline is extensive enough to wrap around the earth almost 15 times! (approx 372,000 miles)

Coastline ecosystems can trap and store 2 to 35 times more carbon than even ocean phytoplankton (plankton that has photosynthesised carbon dioxide)…but in the past 50 years, 50% of the worlds mangroves have vanished due to human activity.

For positive change to occur and for our oceans to be protected & therefore our own livelihoods, we must reduce our carbon footprint and restore habitats.