The Ocean in the Anthropocene: Threats, Challenges and Solutions

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The Ocean in the Anthropocene: Threats, Challenges and Solutions

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The ocean is the largest ecosystem on Earth with a volume of 1.3 billion cubic kilometres and an average depth of 4,200 meters. It regulates temperature, climate and atmospheric gases and is a vital source of food and other natural resources. But vast reaches of the ocean interior have not been explored and more people have stood on the moon than have visited the deepest point in the ocean. Despite its enormous size, the ocean is now changing rapidly as a result of human activities such as overfishing, destructive fishing practices, habitat destruction through coastal development, pollution - including plastic debris - and the introduction of alien species. These impacts are superimposed on the pervasive effects of climate change which are causing warming of the ocean, acidification and a decline in ocean oxygenation. But the ocean has miraculous powers of recovery if pressures are removed from it. If we are to transform the oceans from decline to recovery, we must act quickly and decisively to reduce the pressures it is under and to protect a significant portion of the ocean area from extraction.

Speakers :

Prof Alex Rogers

Science Director

REV Ocean Foundation