The oceans,
covering 71% of the planet are critical in enabling life to exist on Earth.
There is
overwhelming evidence that the oceans are in crisis. Oceans are over-fished, over-polluted, over-warmed
by climate change, and are becoming increasingly acidic.
As a result
dead zones are spreading, marine species are disappearing, fish stocks are fully
exploited and in some cases depleted.
A
report by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) warns
that the combination of these factors will inevitably cause a mass marine
extinction if swift action isn't taken to improve conditions.
Professor
Alex Rogers, Scientific Director of IPSO said: “The situation should be of the
gravest concern to everyone since everyone will be affected by changes in the
ability of the ocean to support life on Earth.”
The
solutions include global agreements on conservation, fishing, and reducing CO2 emissions.