Ecowatch: Why oceans matter to our health

This 2024 photo is showing bleached and dead coral around Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australian waters. — Filepic/AFP

I’VE been fascinated by the ocean since I learned to scuba dive 20 years ago – a sport I love. But what I see now beneath the surface is a far cry from then: bleached corals and depleted marine life, and it leaves me with a deep sense of sadness.

The ocean covers over 70% of Earth’s surface, but it is more than just water. It’s the cradle of life, a vital climate buffer, and a source of food and medicine. Today, it is besieged by everything from warming and acidification to industrial trawling, and deep-sea mining.