Our oceans in crisis

Whether our homes are near or far from the oceans, our lives depend on them.

Oceans supply half the oxygen we breathe, and provide food and livelihoods for more  than a billion people. They are also home to a wondrous array of wild species, from tiny plankton to the biggest creature that’s ever existed – the blue whale.

But our oceans are in crisis. 

Centuries of overuse and neglect threaten to leave us with a vast blue wasteland. It’s time to change the way we see our oceans – from places where we take what we want and dump what we don’t, to a shared resource of immense value and fragility.

Our oceans in crisis

The oceans may seem endless, inexhaustible and indestructible but the truth is they are in serious trouble.

We’ve already lost half our coral reefs and mangroves − some of the most productive habitats on Earth. And we’ve pushed many crucial fish stocks to the point of collapse, threatening people’s livelihoods and food security – and harming other species including seabirds, turtles and dolphins.

Coastal areas are more densely populated than anywhere else on Earth and are where some of the most valuable natural resources are found. So it’s no surprise this is where the problems are most acute. And the loss of reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds leaves coastal communities vulnerable to erosion, storm damage and food shortages.

Pollution – from plastics to oil spills to agrochemicals – also harms nature and contaminates food chains. And climate change is making the ocean hotter and more acidic, which could spell disaster for coral reefs, polar regions and the rich variety of life they support.

An ocean of opportunity

The extraordinary diversity of life in the oceans, the services they provide to us, and the joy and wonder they inspire, are priceless. But oceans also have a massive economic value.

At a conservative estimate, the goods and services the oceans provide – from fishing to tourism and coastal protection – are worth at least US$2.5 trillion per year. That would make the oceans the world’s seventh largest economy. And they could play an even bigger role in supporting people in developing countries – but only if we use them sustainably.

Protecting the oceans pays huge dividends – and we know they can often bounce back. We’ve seen fish stocks recover thanks to better management, while marine protected areas have created jobs and boosted tourism by reviving nature. 

Source: WWF