The oceans, the atmosphere and the lands are all interconnected. Abusing the oceans will result in adverse changes to the lands. The oceans are the blue lungs of Earth. They absorb around 30 percent of the atmosphere's carbon dioxide. If not, the Earth's climates would be a lot warmer. However, there is a flip side to this. As we introduce more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we are increasing the acidic level of the oceans. This is leading to destruction of many life forms such as the coral reefs. Algae are also attacking many marine habitats as they flourish in the high carbon dioxide- low oxygen environment. As the algae flourish, other marine lifes are being crowded out.

How have humans been abusing the oceans? With a ruthless efficiency, we are over-fishing the world's oceans. The oceans supply protein for billions of people in the form of fishes, seaweed and other seafood. Each year, we took almost a hundred million tonnes of fishes from the oceans. This is an increase of 5 times the amount of fishes fifty years ago. This is an unsustainable trend. If we do not do something about it, hundreds maybe thousands of species face extinct. We have to realise that many species are interdependent. One species extinct, can mean may more species up the food chain dying out. This is where governments need to step in. Subsidies for the fishing industryy should be stopped. There is clearly an over-capacity right now. Indiscriminate fishing methods such as bottom trawlers and dragnets should be banned. Fishing should be regulated to allow the fish stock to be replenished. Coral reefs which the nurseries of marine lifes,should be protected.

We should think seriously about how to protect the oceans because there are many benefits for us. Remember, we only borrow Earth from our children. Surely, we want a future where our children's children can enjoy eating fish.