How can we protect life below water?

Words by Smiley Team

We might not see what’s below our ocean waters often – but there’s a world under there that needs preserving and protecting for the future of our planet.

Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70% of our planet and you might not realise it, but we rely on them for food, energy and water.

One of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is “Life Below Water”, and it focuses on conserving and sustainably using our oceans, seas and marine resources.

The ultimate goal of SDG 14 is to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development"

“This means that ocean creatures and the resources we use such as food, materials, medicines (but also cultural resources), remain in a healthy state so that future generations can utilise and enjoy them in the same way,” says Rebecca Daniel, a marine biologist, science communicator, and director of the non-profit organisation The Marine Diaries.

“It means that instead of depleting the ocean, we should be working in harmony with nature to ensure it has ample time or assistance to recover from anything we extract or damage.”

Emma Daffurn, PADI's corporate social responsibility specialist, says Life Below Water means "everything beneath the surface that often goes unseen and remains out of mind for many".

Why we depend on the ocean

The ‘Life Below Water’ goal refers to all life in the ocean, explains Rebecca. This includes coastal and marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. “It covers everything from the smallest plankton to the largest whale, from the depths of the ocean all the way to the mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems which straddle the land-ocean border,” she says.

“The ocean is vital in so many ways,” she says. “It's estimated that 3 billion people directly rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. But really it affects us all - even those of us who don't live near it. It’s also estimated that between 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. So you have the ocean to thank for at least every second breath you take.”

And Emma agrees. "The ocean isn’t just a wonderland of seemingly alien life, it is a vital life giving force that comprises over 50% of our planet," she says. "Our home is 'Earth', but in many ways our planet should be called “ocean”.

"Our oceans act as a stabilizer and regulator of the very systems we rely on for life, acting to slow down human-induced climate change. Besides the climate, the ocean also provides and income and staple diet for millions of people globally, with coral reefs globally acting as storm barriers against increasingly unstable weather events."

Regulating the climate

The ocean also plays a huge role in regulating the global climate, says Rebecca. It acts as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide and storing it in the deep ocean.

Around 25% of all CO2 emissions are absorbed by the ocean, making it one of the world's largest 'carbon sinks', she explains. Global ocean circulation redistributes heat from the equator to the poles, helping to regulate global temperature – and the ocean has also absorbed 90% of the excess heat caused by increased carbon emissions.

“Not only is the ocean an essential life support system for the whole planet, but we also rely on it for food, energy, water, materials, medicines, transport, and recreation,” she adds.

How can we protect life below water?

Scientists have been calling for ‘30 by 30’, explains Rebecca, which is to protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030.

The Global Ocean Alliance is an initiative led by the UK government focusing on protecting 30% of the world’s ocean through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) by 2030. "So far 71 countries have joined," she says, "with many making their pledges at COP26 . Fully protected areas (free from damaging activities) can be one of the most effective tools for ocean conservation, because they can protect entire ecosystems as well as endangered species, and provide refugia for populations to recover."

There are many ways in which we can all help conserve our ocean, and ensure blue resources are used sustainably. “By voting for governments taking action on the environment, as well as voting with your purse by making informed purchasing decisions, and ultimately, consuming less - you can make a big difference,” she says.

A key threat to the ocean is climate change, which is causing ocean warming and acidification. “To tackle this we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a priority, and remove carbon from the atmosphere,” she says. “One of the most impactful things you can do as an individual, is to eat a more plant-based diet. Why not try Veganuary or Fish Free February? Both these initiatives aim to shed light on the negative impacts of how we currently produce meat, dairy, and fish, and encourage people to reduce their consumption of these products (for those that are able to do so).”

To protect the oceans, individuals can also focus on reducing their plastic consumption, as well as buying locally and certified fish.

Learning from those who care

Rebecca runs The Marine Diaries, which is an ocean science communication nonprofit working towards each of the ‘outcome’ and ‘means of achieving’ targets of SDG 14. “It uses digital media to educate, advocate, and inspire the public about marine conservation issues,” she says. “The Marine Diaries tells stories about the ocean to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public.”

The Marine Diaries’ awareness campaign, Plastic Not Fantastic, made efforts towards reducing marine pollution (Target 14.1 of the UN Goal). Focussing on plastic pollution and its impact on the marine environment, it brought together over 35 stakeholders across the plastisphere - from researchers and campaigners, to organisations tackling plastic head-on. The goal of the campaign was to expose the sources of plastic pollution, its effect on marine organisms, and to inspire behavioural change.

The PADI AWARE Foundation has set out the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action in response to the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Directly supporting these international goals, PADI Mission Hubs, Divers and related NGOs are working together to tackle five key challenges by 2030. These goals are:

1. Reduce Marine Debris by 50% in targeted countries
2. Protect 30% of the ocean
3. Protect 20 vulnerable shark and ray species
4. Restore 5% of coral reef habitats
5. Achieve carbon neutrality across the PADI organization, mobilizing divers to restore seagrass habitats.