The Oceans and Seas - Earths Greatest Natural Resources - Some Facts

At least 100 million unnamed species live on the ocean floor alone!

The Worlds Great Oceans.

The ocean is our earth's greatest natural resource. It gives us life. It is the place of origin for most life forms. Millions of people rely on the ocean for survival. Twelve million fishermen operate three million vessels landing about 90 million tons of fish each year, providing work for over 200 million people worldwide. More than 60% of the global population live within 60 km of the coast.

The ocean provides the majority of our oxygen and even the rain itself. The ocean buffers the weather and helps regulate global temperature and manages vast amounts of pollutants. More than 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide are absorbed by the ocean every year. It is home to some of the most amazing creatures on earth 80 percent of the world's biodiversity lives in the sea and there is still much to be discovered. At least 100 million unnamed species live on the ocean floor alone. Thousands of pharmaceutical compounds have been isolated from marine animals and plants.

The cures for HIV/AID's, cancer, malaria, tuberculosis and leukemia, etc. could lie beneath the waves. The ocean is in our backyard, yet more is known about the moon. We are just now beginning to understand the ocean and with that understanding has come the increasing realization that the ocean is in deep trouble. Marine conservation efforts are overwhelmed by the number and scale of the problems the ocean faces.

Coastlines.

The total length of the world's coastlines is about 315,000 miles, enough to circle the Equator 12 times. As coastal zones become more and more crowded, the quality of coastal water will suffer, the wildlife will be displaced, and the shorelines will erode. 60% of the Pacific and 35% of the Atlantic Coast shoreline are eroding at a rate of a meter every year. More than half the world’s population live within a 100 km or 60 miles distance from the coast.

This is more than 2.7 billion people. Rapid urbanization will lead to more coastal mega-cities containing 10 million or more people. By the end of the millennium 13 out of 15 of the world’s largest cities will be located on or near the coast. Growing population in coastal areas leads to more marine pollution and distribution of coastal habitats. Some 6,5 million tons of litter finds its way into the sea each year.

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Fisheries.

The sea provides the biggest source of wild or domestic protein in the world. Each year some 70 to 75 million tons of fish are caught in the ocean. Of this amount around 29 million tons is for human consumption. The global fish production exceeds that of cattle, sheep, poultry or eggs. Fish can be produced in two ways: by capture and by aqua culture. The total production has grown 34% over the last decade. The largest numbers of fish are located in the Southern Hemisphere due to the fact that these waters are not largely exploited by man.

Fifteen out of seventeen of the world's largest fisheries are so heavily exploited that the reproduction can't keep up. With the result that many fish populations are decreasing rapidly. Species of fish endangered by overfishing are: tuna, salmon, haddock, halibut, and cod. In the 19th century, codfish weighing up to 200 pounds used to be caught. Nowadays, a 40 pound cod is considered a giant. Reason: overfishing.

Ice fields.

Antarctica has as much ice as the Atlantic Ocean has water. 10% of the earth's surface is covered with ice. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean, holding only one percent of the Earth's seawater. This is still more than 25 times as much water as all rivers and fresh water lakes. The average thickness of the Arctic ice sheet is about 9 to 10 feet, although there are some areas as thick as 65 feet. In the unlikely event that all the polar ice were to melt, the sea level all over the world would rise 500 to 600 feet.

As a result, 85 to 90% of the Earth's surface would be covered with water as compared to the current 71%. The U.S. would be split by the Mississippi Sea, which would connect the Great Lakes with the Gulf of Mexico. The Arctic produces 10,000 to 50,000 icebergs annually. The amount produced in the Antarctic regions is inestimable. Icebergs normally have a four-year life-span; they begin entering shipping lanes after about three years.

Marine conservation is the business of all of us, if the oceans die so do we. Share

The Oceans and Seas - Earths Greatest Natural Resources

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