Why the Ocean Matters

Covering 72 percent of the Earth and supplying half its oxygen, the ocean is our planet's life support system—and it’s in danger. Watch this video to learn why a healthier ocean means a healthier planet, and find out how you can help.

With every breath we take, every drop we drink, we're connected to the ocean. Our planet depends on the vitality of the ocean to support and sustain it. But our ocean faces major threats: global climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species, and a dramatic decrease in ocean fish stocks. These threats to the ocean are so extensive that more than 40 percent of the ocean has been severely affected and no area has been left untouched. Consequently, humanity is losing the food, jobs, and critical environmental services that a healthy ocean generates. National Geographic Society's Ocean Initiative aims to restore health and productivity to the ocean by inspiring people to care and act, reducing the impact of fishing, and promoting the creation of marine protected areas.

Watch this video during formal or informal instruction to explain to students why a healthier ocean means a healthier planet. Covering 72 percent of the Earth and supplying half its oxygen, the ocean is our planet's life support system. This video dives into why the ocean is important and some of the biggest threats it faces.
Articles & Profiles
Websites
- National Geographic: The Ocean
- National Geographic: The Ocean: Critical Issues

Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
climate	Noun	all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.	Encyclopedic Entry: climate
conservation	Noun	management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.	Encyclopedic Entry: conservation
coral reef	Noun	rocky ocean features made up of millions of coral skeletons.
dead zone	Noun	area of low oxygen in a body of water.	Encyclopedic Entry: dead zone
Explorer-in-Residence	Noun	pre-eminent explorers and scientists collaborating with the National Geographic Society to make groundbreaking discoveries that generate critical scientific information, conservation-related initiatives and compelling stories.
impact	Noun	meaning or effect.
marine protected area (MPA)	Noun	area of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activity.
national park	Noun	geographic area protected by the national government of a country.
nature	Noun	environment or ecosystem, usually without human development.
ocean	Noun	large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth.	Encyclopedic Entry: ocean
oxygen	Noun	chemical element with the symbol O, whose gas form is 21% of the Earth's atmosphere.
vulnerable	Adjective	capable of being hurt.

Credits

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Editors

Jessica Shea
Mary Ford, National Geographic Society

Page Producer

Samantha Zuhlke, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

Oct. 23, 2012

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