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Saving the ocean, saving the people
Overfishing, litter and acidification threaten both the ocean and people. Human activity is responsible for this.
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See-through sea: A fisherman tries to reach the shore of one of the Fam Islands. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he ocean is amazing. It covers almost three quarters of the Earth’s surface and contains 97 percent of the Earth’s water. Billions of people depend on the ocean for their income and nutrition and this is also true for Indonesia, which has the second longest coastline in the world, and a large share of its population living in coastal areas.
The ocean is home to almost 200,000 identified species, although the actual figures are thought to be in the millions. Indonesian waters hold an astounding biological diversity and beauty. The ocean has long been our best friend in the battle against climate change by absorbing the carbon dioxide and heat that humans have released into the atmosphere and through the photosynthesis transforming it into oxygen.
Every second breath we take is generated by the ocean. Life as we know it is dependent on the ocean.
But unfortunately the world’s oceans are in a critical condition. Overfishing, litter and acidification threaten both the ocean and people. Human activity is responsible for this. It must therefore also be human activity that turns this around.
If we fail in reversing the current trend soon, we can expect major problems in the future. Billions of people rely on fish as a major source of food and livelihood. Excessive fishing depletes the resource.
Ultimately this leads to poverty and malnutrition for people dependant on the ocean. Sustainable fishing practices are therefore essential for reaching several sustainable development goals.
Animals — and ultimately people — will also suffer as the oceans are being filled with increasing amounts of plastic, which is broken down into microparticles that eventually end up on our plates. The nursery of tropical waters, the coral reefs are of particular importance in Indonesia. It is estimated that two thirds of the Indonesian coral reefs are already damaged. Saving coral reefs has multiple benefits — for wildlife, sustainable fishing as well as for eco-tourism.
