Question

The oceans of the Earth can exist without us. We, however, cannot exist without the oceans. Explain in detail the importance of oceans for humans. Discuss the major threats posed on oceans by humans.

Answer 1

Approach:

• Write about oceans in brief
• Explain the importance of oceans
• Write about major threats Provide way forward

The ocean is a continuous body of saltwater that covers more than 70 per cent of the Earth's surface. Geographers divide the ocean into five major basins: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.

Importance of the ocean:
The oceans of the Earth are the primary life support system on Earth, the lungs, climate regulator, and ultimate food factory - connected deeply to each of us and nearly every economic activity that makes our world go round.

The world ocean provides so many benefits for humans and the planet:

• The ocean produces over 70 per cent of the world's oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere to keep the carbon cycle, and accordingly temperatures on earth, in balance.
• Climate regulation: Covering 70 per cent of the Earth's surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and It also regulates rain and droughts. Holding 97% of the water of our planet, almost all rain that drops on land comes from the sea. Transportation: Maritime transport is essential to the world’s economy as over 90% of the world’s trade is carried by sea and it is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world.
• Recreation: From fishing to boating to kayaking and whale watching, the ocean provides us with many unique activities.
• Economic benefits: The value of the global ocean-based economy is estimated between USD 3-6 trillion/year and more than 3 billion people rely on the oceans for their livelihoods (Source: UNCTAD).
• Food: as a food source 16% of world animal protein consumption by humans comes from fish.
• Medicine: Many medicinal products come from the ocean, including ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.

Major threats to the world's oceans:

• Unsustainable fishing:90% of the world's fisheries are already fully exploited or overfished, while billions of unwanted fish and other animals die needlessly each year. Unsustainable fishing is the largest threat to ocean life and habitats and the livelihoods and food security of over a billion people.
• Shipping:The oceans are huge highways, across which we ship all kinds of goods. Like other human activities, this heavy traffic is leaving its mark: oil spills, ship groundings, anchor damage, and the dumping of rubbish, ballast water, and oily waste are endangering marine habitats around the world.
• Habitat destruction:While marine habitats deal with the pressure of coastal pollution, most notably coral reefs, there are other ways we are systematically destroying the ecosystems that marine plants and animals need to survive.
• Warming:the temperature rise of oceans over the past century is estimated at about 0.1 degree Celsius - that is enough to kill the algae that keep corals alive, move species into new areas, and cause sea levels to rise.
• Acidification:Like warming, acidification is related to carbon dioxide, which dissolves in oceans to form carbonic acid. The greater the acidity, the less able marine-calcifying organisms are to form shells, disrupting their reproductive process.