The oceans have it all: from microscopic life to the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth, from the colourless to the shimmering, from the frozen to the boiling and from the sunlit to the mysterious dark of the deepest parts of the planet.
Oceans are an essential component of the Earth's ecosystem -- a source of biodiversity, food, and life. According to FAO, over 40 percent of the world's population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast. Better management of the ocean resources is thus crucial to ensuring global food security.
We are never too young to start learning about the many benefits our oceans provide. Without them, life could not exist. Although the list is almost endless, here are seven to start off with:
1. Fisheries and aquaculture currently employs directly 56 million people. In addition, many more are employed in follow-up activities, such as handling, processing and distribution. Altogether, fishing and fish farming support the livelihoods and families of some 660 to 880 million people, that’s 12 percent of the world’s population.
2. Oceans are an important source of food. They host 80 percent of the planet’s biodiversity, and are the largest ecosystem on Earth. Fish provide 20 percent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Only ten species provide about 30 percent of marine capture fisheries and ten species provide about 50 percent of aquaculture production.
3. Oceans provide vital renewable energy. Devices are being developed to generate electricity from waves and tides, as well as offshore wind farms.
4. Oceans regulate our climate. Did you know that the oceans absorb a quarter of all the carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere? This makes them a ‘carbon sink’, but its ability to absorb even more carbon is limited. Over 90% of the additional heat caused by global warming is stored in the Oceans. Without this service, and the heating and cooling effects of ocean currents, world temperatures would be too unstable to support life.