The Ocean, The Source of Life
The ocean has been kind to us. It is our most vital renewable resource. It provides food, water, medicine, commerce, recreation, and even the air we breathe.
Air – Phytoplankton account for 90% of the world’s oxygen. The vast expanse in the oceans of this micro-algae functions identically to terrestrial plants to remove carbon from the air and generate oxygen. The ocean plays a critical role in maintaining our friendly atmosphere.
Medicine – According to the National Institutes of Health, the growing research on marine organisms is creating new opportunities for new, unique and effective pharmaceuticals. Based upon the huge diversity of marine species and algae, the potential for development of effective new treatments is being recognized as enormous. Significant research is currently being conducted by government agencies and private research laboratories.
Food – The oceans have been fished for thousands of years. The $85 billion dollar fishing industry provides approximately 16% of the world’s protein and employment for 35 million people.
Water – Our Oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon, nitrogen and sulfur are dissolved through the water cycle.
It is imperative that we keep our oceans healthy for future generations. Our fate and the ocean’s are one.