Ocean conservation has been an emerging field of environmentalism and activism in recent years. As discussions regarding climate change have increased in the last decade, ocean conservancy agencies have called to protect our oceans and the wildlife who call them home. But why is protecting our oceans and their biodiversity really so important? What do the oceans actually do for us?
The oceans help us more than we know, no matter how land-locked we may seem.
1. A healthy ocean regulates climate and reduces climate change impacts
By distributing heat across the globe, ocean currents regulate temperature and weather. The ocean is also capable of absorbing over 90% of the heat and approximately 30% of the CO2 emissions produced by human activities.
2. The ocean generates more than half of the air we breath
Tiny marine plants called phytoplankton that live on the ocean’s surface photosynthesize and produce between 50-80% of Earth’s oxygen.
3. The ocean provides us with 1/5 of the animal protein we eat
Oceans play an integral role in food security, accounting for 20% of global animal protein consumption and over 50% in many developing nations.
4. Ocean ecosystems provide ingredients for critical medications
Over 10,000 compounds used in biomedical research, medications, treatments, and diagnostic testing have been extracted from marine environments
5. The ocean provides millions of livelihoods that fuel local and global economies
The “blue economy” employs millions of individuals around the world and contributes to several trillion dollars of goods and services to the global economy every year. This is especially important in developing countries.
Because of the vast size of the world’s oceans, humans long assumed that oceans were immune to our impacts. It wasn’t until recently that scientists came to understand the devastating impact and continued threat of human activities that put oceans at risk. Through overfishing, habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change, no area has been left untouched.
When discussing ocean conservation, it’s important to take into consideration who takes part in our conversations. Whose perspectives are we involving? Whose voices are we hearing? It is essential that we include Indigenous communities, voices, and opinions when tackling this issue of ocean conservation.
The efforts of Indigenous communities toward environmental conservation have been described as inseparable from their cultural identities and political organizations. As Indigenous resurgence has taken place in the last decade, including reintegration and reestablishment of Indigenous ways of living, the long-term environmental stewardship of Indigenous communities has been documented around the globe, specifically in the context of the world’s oceans. Lara Taylor, a member of the Kairangahau Maori tribe, explains that environmental management systems are often based on Indigenous knowledge that connects places and cultures, and emphasizes holistic approaches. Her community in Australia works to acknowledge the relationships between “human and nonhuman beings” like plants, animals, forests, and rivers. Emphasis is put on reciprocity and respect towards all beings.
In Canada, there remains significant barriers to the meaningful and necessary participation of Indigenous peoples in ocean conservation. For as long as we have known, Indigenous communities have lived sustainably in the country we now call Canada. They have a unique and diverse way of understanding the role of humans in the natural world, with knowledge systems shaped by cultural heritage, law, and oral tradition.
So... why do Indigenous peoples remain on the outskirts of political decisions when they are outstanding caretakers of the natural environment? Time and again, Indigenous communities have been seen on the front lines of land defence and conservation issues, yet their voices are lost. It’s time for policy changes.
New approaches are needed. Only by partnering with Indigenous communities and learning from them will we be able to generate societal and systems change, to restore the biodiversity essential to healthy oceans. Only by amplifying Indigenous voices can we save our world’s oceans.