The ocean covers over two-thirds of the planet, yet most of its life is unaccounted for. However, part of this gap in our knowledge was narrowed earlier this year when the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census announced one of the largest discoveries of marine life to be released, where 866 new species were documented. Over the course of two years, more than 800 scientists from about 400 different institutions used materials like scuba tanks, remote-operated vehicles, and deep-sea submersibles to explore various areas of the ocean, from sun-lit reefs to as deep as 5,000 meter trenches. Finding hundreds of new life forms is exhilarating, but also a stark reminder of how much can be lost before we know it exists.
The documentation of these species is especially important. As Ocean Census Executive Director Mitsuyuki Unno notes, “only around 10 percent of marine life has been discovered so far, leaving an estimated 1-2 million species undocumented." Because of this, we cannot determine whether ecosystems are stable or in recovery because we do not have the full understanding of what lies in the depths of the ocean. Understanding these big discoveries is important because pollution and habitat destruction accelerate marine extinctions at increasing rates.
Plastic is everywhere. Global plastic production skyrocketed from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 460 million tonnes in 2019, and about 1-2 million tonnes of this leak into our oceans every year. These break into microplastics, tiny plastics less than 5 mm long, entering food webs across the seas. This also means that we eventually end up consuming the plastics that pollute our oceans.
Additionally, there is a lot of direct habitat destruction from deep sea damage, coral reef collapse, and environmental losses. Deep-sea mining for minerals scrapes bottom ecosystems and destroys them. Some of these ecosystems include coral gardens that have been there for centuries. Additionally, half of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 70 years. According to UNEP, the UN Environmental Programme, 14% of the remaining reefs was lost in just the last decade. It’s not just coral reefs that are ruined, it's also mangroves, salt-marshes, and beds of seagrass. About half of the world's mangroves have also been ruined over the past 50 years. These destructions can be attributed to development and aquaculture, the repeated farming of organisms.
But not all hope is lost. There are many organizations that work to protect these vital ecosystems and marine life. One of these organizations is the Surfrider Foundation! For over three decades, Surfrider has empowered volunteers and promoted lawmaking to protect ocean biodiversity from the threats affecting our oceans. Surfrider has led hundreds of campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, organized impactful beach cleanups where they have removed thousands of pounds of waste from coastlines, and helped to restore many coastal habitats. Surfrider’s programs also focus on public education and ocean-friendly practices which make it easier for everyday people to make choices to help fight for the ocean.
You can be part of the solution as well. Supporting Surfrider’s mission can be as simple as joining a local beach cleanup or donating to support their programs. You can also volunteer with your local Surfrider chapter to contribute to a greater movement. Every action that you take helps to protect ocean life and keep our beaches healthy for people and animals. While the threats from pollution and climate change are real, so is our ability to do something about them. With the help of organizations like Surfrider and the support of people like you, we can turn our new knowledge into action and defend the earth and the seas.
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About the author: Alana Cable, is a 12th grade IB student passionate about biology, bioengineering, and marine sciences. Currently, she is leading a service project focused on ocean conservation and water safety, organizing clean-ups, promoting environmental awareness, and advocating for safe practices in the water. As a certified lifeguard, she combines her love for marine life with her commitment to protecting the people and ecosystems. In her free time, she swims and serves as a captain of her school's middle school Model United Nations team.