Threats to the Oceans:

The oceans are the basis for all life on this planet. Yet we - in our audacity - have utilized this life source as a waste repository, and exploited its resources approaching the point of non-recovery. In addition to the importance of fishing and other ocean harvesting, the oceans also add between 50 - 85% of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.

Here are some BIG ISSUES with our oceans. Click on highlighted issues for more information on why this is important, what are the causes, and what needs to be done.

1. Coral reefs are disappearing all over the world.

2. Non-biodegradable plastics, agricultural chemicals, soil runnoff, and chemical and oil spills cause extreme stress.

3. Illegal, non-sustainable, and questionable fishing practices wreak havoc with marine life and the biome.

4. Ocean acidification (changing pH level) is causing a range of problems.

5. Destruction of wetlands, estuaries, and the water souces that feed them are seriously impacting the oceans.

6. Destruction of top predators and marine mammals accelerate negative changes in the ocean.

7. Coastal waters fish-farming adds pollution, spreads disease and pest species, and decimates wild populations.

Science findings with respect to most of these issues are clear. But when correcting the problem threatens to impact corporate or government profits, there is a reluctance to act, and a tendency to ignore or supress much of the information though organizational and corporate “SPIN” in mainstream media. It is the ethical and moral responsibility of scientists to refute “SPIN”.