Life in the Oceans

Introduction

The infinite blue horizon of our oceans makes planet Earth a unique place in the solar system. Life started in the oceans, but we tend to forget it. This could be because oceans are a hidden world covered by water inaccessible to our daily experience. Still, the survival and continuation of life on Earth is inextricably linked to life in the oceans. This is because many of the planetary systems that sustain life on Earth flow from the sea: the generation and renovation of oxygen, thermo-regulation of the planet, and CO2 storage capacity. However, in the Anthropocene area, we are not being gentle with our oceans: overfishing, pollution and waste dumping, acidification, oil spills, dead zones and reduction of oxygen, deep sea mining and exploitation, microplastics, destruction of marine habitats, and warming of the waters. These are just a few consequences of human activities on the Ocean. This short article will contextualize and narrate the loss of marine biodiversity due to climate change, one of the many consequences of the Anthropocene on our seas. The issue is part of the SDG 14: life below water. First, we will introduce the problem by contextualizing it and then explore the cultural significance of the problem and how this impacts local communities and minorities. We will also offer further opportunities to reflect on the situation by suggesting relevant movies and documentaries.

What is happening

Climate change impacts the biodiversity of the Ocean in several aspects. Several recent studies show that under the current circumstances, a loss of between half a million and a million marine species is expected before the end of the century. If the calculations are correct, the scenario is catastrophic due to the deep connection and dependency between water and earth life. Two of the most significant effects of climate change on the oceans are the acidification of the seas and the increase in temperatures. Acidification of the Ocean is strictly connected to CO2 emissions. Due to chemical reactions, oceans absorb large amounts of CO2 emission (around 30%, according to the data); however, the assimilation of CO2 has consequences. CO2 impacts and decreases the level of PH, changing the building block components for life in the water. Acidification impacts marine life in several ways; from the structures of shells and corals to the fish skeleton, organisms, and behavior. Therefore, ocean acidification is a phenomenon produced by anthropocentric activities that makes life in the water more vulnerable and under threat of extinction. The second most significant effect is the water's temperature increase. The rise in the water temperature directly affects marine ecosystems, influencing the behavior and migration patterns of the fish. This impacts the local ecosystem and introduces new parasites and pathogens, destabilizing the ecosystem and reducing the fauna population; that also affects the human communities that rely on the fish for proteins and economies.

Unfortunately, the acidification and the increase in temperature of the oceans are not the only effects of climate change. Also, the degradation of habitats and coastal regions is part of climate change's effect on our oceans. These are directly connected to the local communities in the degraded areas impacting cultural values and human well-being.

Oceanic cultures and cultures in oceans

The cultural significance of the Ocean is vital to indigenous and coastal communities. For example, during the UNESCO Pacific World Heritage meeting in November 2009, 15 country representatives stated the importance of the Pacific Ocean as "for many Pacific communities there are sacred and intrinsic links with land, sky, and Ocean… [which]constitute… a fundamental and spiritual basis of existence… The Ocean is their identity, way of living, values, knowledge, and practices that have sustained them for millennia [1]".

Art has also played a significant role in representing the Ocean, with works such as Katsushika Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa. The painting captures the power and beauty of the Ocean, as well as its potential for destruction and danger.

Whales hold a distinctive cultural importance and display a level of intelligence that has gained greater recognition from both the scientific community and the general public. For example, recent studies discovered that humpback whales' songs are evolving and possess characteristics of cumulative cultural evolution [2]. Their songs were found to be increasing in complexity. Brian Skerry, an American photojournalist, notes in the new documents series "Secrets of the Whales" that "When you see them underwater, you realize they have very rich lives and complex behaviors, how they feed or what they know about their local waters, how they socialize, their parenting techniques. These animals have culture.".

The Ocean's cultural and environmental significance is complex and multifaceted. It is clear that oceans do not only have a cultural significance for us, but they are also the homes of billions of animals and plants. As we are closer to celebrating the World Ocean Day once again and continue to work towards Sustainable Development Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably treat the Ocean, it is crucial to remember that the Ocean is not just a resource to be exploited but a living entity that we are all responsible for protecting.

Movie Suggestions

To provide a little bit more of an engaging entry point to this topic, we have listed some movies that provide different approaches to life in the Ocean:

Seaspiracy: A 2021 documentary about the environmental impact of fishing and fish consumption. The documentary tackles several environmental issues, such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and ghost nets that are affecting oceans.
Finding Nemo: The 2003 classic animated movie tells the adventure of Nemo, a clownfish who gets separated from his father because of fishing, and his father, Marvin, who tries to find Nemo.
Snow and Ashes: The 2005 documentary is composed of still and movie cameras, and it portrays a poetic relationship between humans and animals; it contains enchanting images that might move your soul.
My Octopus Teacher: The story of a filmmaker who begins diving in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa and meets a female octopus who casts a spell on him. The documentary shows the beauty of simplicity hidden inside our oceans, but even more, it shows what we can learn from nature once we accept to start seeing again.

References

1- https://whc.unesco.org/en/events/609/

2- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstb.2020.0313