We can learn a lot about how we’re treating the planet from the state of its oceans.
Footage of mass coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures and images of an astonishing amount of plastic junk and debris collecting in vast masses out at sea serve as all-too-visible signs of environmental decline.
As well as threatening marine life, scientists have found that polluted seas pose a clear danger to human health, as microplastics and toxins find their way into our food supply.
Imagine for a moment that you are 2 inches tall. Submerged in the ocean (don’t worry, you can breathe!), you hitch a ride on the back of a translucent jellyfish. Suddenly, a massive leatherback turtle swoops above your head, chasing down its next meal. As you get closer, you realize the floating translucent object is not another jellyfish — the turtle’s favorite food — it’s a plastic bag. Looking up toward the surface, you notice the sunlight is peeking through a thick layer of bottles, containers and other plastic trash. This is Conservation International’s new social virtual reality experience, “Drop in the Ocean.” Four players are transported under water and brought face to face with the global plastic pollution crisis — from the perspective of the creatures that live in it.
As part of the #CleanSeas campaign, UN Environment’s Global Partnership on Marine Litter is launching its latest edition of the popular Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on marine litter.
The Coral Restoration Foundation™ is the largest coral REEF restoration organization in the world. We were founded in response to the wide-spread loss of the dominant coral species on the Florida Reef Tract. The Coral Restoration Foundation™ is headquartered in Key Largo, Florida, and offers numerous preservation and education activities
Over 80 different species of whales and dolphins are found throughout the world’s oceans and major river systems. We still know relatively little about many of these species. Some have only been identified from bones and live in the deepest and most remote places in the ocean. Only by finding out more about their lives can we develop meaningful conservation measures that will protect them and their homes.
Sea level rise poses a new, serious threat to coastal habitats already impacted by human activities and populations focused along the coast. To inform current and future adaptation decisions and conservation actions, The Nature Conservancy in California and the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) collaborated to produce the first statewide, comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability of California’s coastal habitats, imperiled species, and conservation lands to sea level rise.
Why Healthy Oceans Need Sea Turtles: The Importance of Sea Turtles to Marine Ecosystems.
More information coming soon.
