The Importance of Sea

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy

Did you know that the oceans and seas cover more than 70% of the surface of the Earth, making our globe surrounded by a Big Blue? Why should we be concerned about the ocean's inhabitants so much? Is it important if a species goes extinct? To put it another way, the ocean is important, and here are some points to support that statement.

1. Oxygen; We rely on the ocean to just breathe. Seventy percent of life-giving oxygen comes from the ocean. Ocean oxygen is beneficial for plant’s photosynthesis. In order to survive, oxygen is a necessity for both people and other living things. At least 50% of the oxygen on Earth comes from phytoplankton, which are little aquatic organisms that resemble plants. They use photosynthesis to turn light into energy and generate oxygen as a byproduct, which makes them similar to land-based plants. They also devour carbon dioxide, taking 10 gigatons of carbon every year out of the atmosphere and dumping it into the ocean's depths.
2. Weather and Climate; Our climate and weather are driven by the ocean. The sun's heat is massively absorbed by the water. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that the oceans have accounted for more than 90% of the Earth's warming during the past 50 years. That heat tends to be at its most intense nearer the equator, with the water nearest the surface warming the most. Ocean also helps regulate the water cycle by absorbing around 30% of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, Oceanic absorption of CO2 contributes to the maintenance of the carbon cycle and, consequently, of temperatures. It works in a manner akin to how our global climate control system does. Tides and currents, which are impacted by gravitational attraction, are influenced by the ocean as well. These elements influence the temperature and weather patterns of our planet.
3. Source of Food; For millions of people worldwide, the ocean supplies an unending supply of food. Fish is consumed by billions of people each day all around the world. Nearly 16% of all animal protein consumed worldwide comes from it. Even while fish is by far the most prevalent and well-known variety of seafood, it is only one component of the food group. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization lists sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iodine among some of the important nutrients in seaweed. Iodine deficiency has been identified as the “most prevalent and easily preventable” cause of impaired cognitive development in children. In addition, to get just one gram of protein from cattle, you need 112 litres of water. The oceans, if properly managed and maintained, could form an important part of a more sustainable approach to feeding the planet’s growing human population
4. Recreation and Transportation; A crucial component of our transportation system is the ocean. Millions of tons of merchandise are transported by ships every day on rivers, canals, seas, and other navigable waters. A cheap and effective kind of transportation is shipping. Remote areas in the world can readily receive commodities because to the ocean. The means of mobility, including jet skis, boats, and ferries. The ocean also offers us a variety of fun activities, such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and whale watching. In this sense, it may also be a place for recreation.
5. Medicine; We receive our medicine from the ocean. It is a source of several chemicals that are used to create a variety of medications, including antibiotics, analgesics, blood thinners, and anticoagulants. Medical advancements have been made in amazing ways thanks to the water. From pacemakers, which were developed by engineers in the 1950s with help from doctors, through penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.

So, one of the most significant features of our world is the ocean. It gives us food, employment, and much more. Unfortunately, our ocean is not in a good condition, thats why we must contribute to help our Big Blue. Let’s be the Ocean Warrior!

References:

Basit, N. (2022, March 4). 15 Reasons Why The Ocean Is Important. Curious Desire. https://curiousdesire.com/importance-of-ocean/

Fleming, S. (2021, March 30). Why should we care about the ocean? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/here-are-5-reasons-why-the-ocean-is-so-important/