Sea Legacy - Jody MacDonald Photography

I have a vivid memory from when I was young. I was on vacation with my family in the Maldive Islands, snorkeling with my parents. I hadn’t been in the ocean much, I remember putting on a mask and sticking my head under the water. It took my breath away. I saw a wall of technicolor wonder. I thought to myself, this is the most amazing aquarium I have ever seen. This experience was a harbinger of things to come in my life. When I began sailing around the world years later, that first memory became a reference point. Sadly, only a few places over 10 years ever met this high expectation but my fascination with the oceans has remained constant. I’m telling you this story not to depress you but to say that I believe we can restore our oceans to places of abundance and prosperity. I dream of the oceans teaming with life with healthy fish stocks and coral reef systems, of children being able to snorkel like I did, being able to experience all the magic the oceans have to offer. I do believe we can get there. The oceans are exceptionally resilient. Like all things, they do have a breaking point, but if each of us make small changes in our lives, we can have tremendous impact. That is why I have joined the Sea Legacy Collective to help share stories from the ocean realm to help inspire all of us to fight to protect them.

Without healthy oceans, we cannot survive.

From the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the climate we live in, we all depend on our oceans. Today, they are more important than ever. Healthy oceans absorb carbon from the atmosphere and help reduce the impact of climate change.

Eighty percent of fisheries are overfished or collapsing. Pollution is choking sea birds, seals, and whales. Vast areas of reef are dying rapidly, and species from plankton to polar bears face precipitous decline.

“We are entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history.”

— INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM ON THE STATE OF THE OCEAN

Today our oceans are at the limits of their resilience.

Overfishing, climate change, pollution, and acidification have pushed our oceans to the brink of collapse.

Together, we can turn the tide for our oceans.

The solutions are already out there. Fisherman are becoming ocean farmers. Scientists are growing new reefs. Communities are protecting their oceans for the generations to come. When we work towards together, against all odds, vibrant life flourishes once again.