Overview

The oceans play a crucial role on our planet, impacting both the global environment and human life. The various natural elements of the ocean, including currents, water temperature, marine chemistry, marine biology, and marine ecology, all have a significant influence on  our world. In fact, over three billion people around the world rely on marine biodiversity for their livelihoods in coastal regions. However, the current state of our oceans is concerning, with 30% of the world’s fish stocks being overexploited and unable to sustainably produce yields. Additionally, the ocean absorbs approximately 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by humans, leading to acidification of more than 26% of the world’s oceans since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Furthermore, marine pollution, primarily originating from land-based sources, has reached alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic debris found per square kilometer of ocean.