Oceans in Crisis

CGF3M Nov. 29, 2013

Oceans in Crisis Listen to this TED Talk by Oceanographer Dr.

Sylvia Earle about why we need to protect the oceans now- before it is too late.

Threat #1: Acidification Linked to high levels of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere We are changing the pH of the oceans when

we burn fossil fuels The ocean is 30% more acidic today As the ocean becomes more acidic, it corrodes

surfaces and organisms- coral reefs are most sensitive

407 dead zones in the global oceans

Threat #2: Garbage VIDEO See reading from yesterday Plastics and other garbage that is non-biodegradable

are filling the oceans, and accumulate in gyres 1 million seabirds choke on or get tangled in plastic

or other debris every year Marine litter releases toxic chemicals into the ocean Nurdles (tiny pieces of plastic) are eaten by fish and

passed along the food chain VIDEO 2

Threat #3: Overfishing

The population of predator fish in the ocean has declined by 90% since the 1950s

As larger species die out, we target fish lower on the food chain

Humans have recently turned to aquaculture (fish farming) as a solution

Canadian fish stocks are starting to bounce back after being nearly depleted in the 1990s

Threat #4: Pollution

About 80% of ocean pollution originates on land

Sewage, oil spolls, agricultural runoff Container ships lose an estimated 10 000

containers at sea each year, usually during storms

Cruise ships dump their waste (including raw sewage) at sea

In the News… Fabien Cousteau (grandson of famous ocean

explorer Jacques Cousteau) will be living underwater for 31 days this spring- see how HERE.

Reminder!

Unit 2 test is on TUESDAY Rivers Glaciers Oceans