Marine Conservation
“No water, no life. No blue, no green” – Sylvia Earle
Why we should care
The marine environment is an essential component of the global life-support system
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Did you know that our oceansโฆ
– Provide us with more than 50 million jobs
– Supply a staple food source for more than 60% of the world’s population
– Host more than 80% of the planet’s diversity
– Provide vital renewable energy
– Regulate weather
– Contribute to over 80% of the oxygen we breathโฆ
Ecosystems and what they are all about:
An ecosystem is a system of living organisms which interact with one another and their surrounding environment. This includes all of the plants, animals and other living things that make up the communities of life in an area. An ecosystem also includes non-living materialsโfor example, water, rocks, soil, and sand.
A balance in the various ecosystems around the world is what is vital for a sustainable and healthy planet.
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The coastal-marine environment has several different ecosystems โ all functioning as a dynamic unit under the influence of a set of physical factors (ocean tides, wave action, sea temperature, ocean currents, levels of light, wind, type of topography, climate)
A few marine ecosystems which Iโm sure you are familiar with are:
Due to each ecosystem being made up of different species, in different types of habitats โ there are many ways that humans exploit these marine environments and cause massive damage their fragile ecosystems.