Photo Credit: NOAA

The Global Ocean Crisis

The world's oceans are in trouble. Our oceans have been depleted of resources and are now more vulnerable than ever to pollution, overfishing, and other human impacts. The world's population has tripled since 1950 and is expected to rise by another 2 billion people by 2050—and all that extra demand for seafood is putting even more pressure on ecosystems like coral reefs.

Our oceans are also covered in plastic waste, which can be toxic to marine life if ingested or inhaled. And climate change may lead to ocean acidification—a process whereby carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, making it less alkaline. This process would make it harder for many species of fish to survive.

The rapid decline of our ocean has been a long time coming. For decades, we've known that pollution and overfishing are taking an immense toll on our marine ecosystems. Now, with a growing body of scientific evidence, we know that these problems are only getting worse.

In fact, the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere is diminishing at an alarming rate, which will only make matters worse. And if you think it can't get any worse than it already is, then you haven't heard about how climate change may be causing some of the most dramatic shifts in fish populations we've ever seen—and those shifts could have dire consequences for our own food supply.

The global ocean has been in a crisis for decades. The United Nations has declared it the greatest threat to human life on earth. The oceans are dying, and we need to do something about it.

The ocean covers 71% of the Earth's surface, but it doesn't do a very good job of keeping us all safe. That's because it's not a single entity—it's made up of different parts, each with their own importance and concerns.

Let's talk about some of the most important ones:

• Oceans are where fish live. Most people eat fish, which means that the health of our oceans is going to have an impact on our lives as humans. Oceans also provide habitats for many species, including marine mammals like whales and dolphins, which are important for maintaining balance within ecosystems. It's important for us to keep these animals safe so that they can continue to provide food for humans and other species in need!
• Oceans are where boats go to get from place to place! They're also where ships travel—and those ships have chemicals onboard that can harm the environment if they leak into the water or onto land around them (which happens sometimes). If you see a boat leaking oil into the ocean, call an environmental hotline immediately so that someone can come help clean it up before it causes any damage!