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Save the oceans, save ourselves

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 19, 2008 at 5:34 am

From the San Jose Mercury News, this commentary, written by Steve Sorensen, long time Alameda County resident and avid sea kayaker, among other things:

Since man has inhabited the Earth common thought has been that the oceans are much too big to be affected by human action. The idea that the oceans are indestructible has met its end. Despite their size, the oceans are vulnerable to the same unsustainable trends that are degrading the terrestrial environment.

The impact we have had on ocean ecosystems has been vastly underestimated. Did you know only 10 percent of all large fish — both open ocean species including tuna, swordfish and marlin, and the large bottom fish such as cod, halibut, skates and flounder — are left in the sea, according to research published in the scientific journal Nature? And the state of California warns those big predatory fish are full of the toxins and other pollutants that we cast into the oceans. Plankton in the ocean generates more oxygen than land-based plants and the oceans remove carbon dioxide from our air. Bottom line, we don’t take care of our oceans, we won’t be around.

Millions of Californians enjoy the state’s coast line and waterways every day — nine out of 10 will visit the beach at least once this year. However, many of those people are unaware how their daily activities can impact the plants and animals off our shores.

Read more from the San Jose Mercury News by clicking here.

September 19, 2008 · Filed Under Other Oceans & Beaches Stories

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