The oceans are dying. See their condition on World Oceans Day!

Summary: Amidst the decades-long bombardment of doomster predictions, it’s difficult to see the actual threats to our world. The oceans rank high on the danger list, under pressure from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to assess the danger, and see how you can help.

Healthy oceans, Healthy planet. From the website.

World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future. This site serves as the central coordinating platform for World Oceans Day, with free resources and ideas for everyone – no matter where you live – to help expand the reach and impact of World Oceans Day on June 8 and year round.

The ocean is the heart of our planet. Like your heart pumping blood to every part of your body, the ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live. The ocean regulates the climate, feeds millions of people every year, produces most of the oxygen we breathe, is the home to an incredible array of wildlife, provides us with important medicines, and so much more! In order to ensure the health and safety of our communities and future generations, it’s imperative that we take the responsibility to care for the ocean as it cares for us.

Everyone’s health depends on a clean, productive ocean. During our celebration this year, we encourage our partners and friends to once again think about what actions each of us can take to safeguard vulnerable ocean communities. Please focus on whatever issues you think are most important for a healthy ocean future. …

Clean up your favorite spot

It’s great to get hundreds of community members out cleaning the beach or river, but it’s not the only kind of cleanup that makes a difference! Grab a few friends or family members and make an outing of it. Go visit your favorite beach, river, lake, or park for a picnic and bring some bags for trash.

Go a step further and host a beach, river, lake, wetland, or underwater cleanup. Try contacting local outdoor, dive and water sport shops to help organize and spread the word. You can recruit volunteers through the media, community posters, or local youth groups. Follow the cleanup with a celebratory dinner featuring sustainable seafood!

History of the event. Find an event near you!

——————– End excerpts from their website ——————–

Now for the sad news: this year’s theme is that we’re “choking the ocean with plastic”? It’s false. Go here to see the creation and spread of this myth. But despite that, the danger to the oceans is real.

The bad news, the good news

One of the best measures of the oceans’ condition is the Ocean Health Index. See the website.

The Ocean Health Index is a comprehensive framework used to measure ocean health from global to local scales. The 2015 study assessed the coastline (from the shore to 1 km inland) and waters (out to 200 nautical miles) of 221 regions, representing all coastal countries and territories as well as the Antarctic region. This year is the first time we have scores for all global oceans. Most scores have not changed much from 2012-2015.

The 2015 Ocean Health Index: bad news

One hundred is the score for oceans in their natural state. They’ve already taken serious damage. See the sub-indexes by type and region, by year).

Regional Ratings

Remote uninhabited islands scored the highest. The highest were Prince Edward Islands (92),
Howland Island and Baker Island (both 90). Twenty countries scored 50 or less in 2014. In 2015 nine countries scored 50 or less: North Korea and Lebanon (both 50); Liberia and Nicaragua (both 48); Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and the Congo (all 47); Dominica (46) and Libya (43).

Annual Ratings: the good news

The oceans’ condition has stabilized during the past four years. The percent number next to the score is the annual change.

For a deeper look at the oceans: UN World Ocean Assessment Website

To help provide a sound, scientific basis for decisions at the global level on the world’s oceans and seas, and a framework for national and regional assessments and management decisions, the United Nations General Assembly set up in 2004 a regular process to review the environmental, economic and social aspects world’s oceans and seas – the three pillars of sustainable development. This is the “Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects”.

Here is the 20015 report, the first. It’s got an amazing amount of information.