5 solutions to preserve it

This Tuesday, June 8th, world sea day, created by the United Nations in 2008. The goal of today is to make citizens aware of better management of marine resources and their protection.

The oceans play an important role in regulating the earth’s temperature. They also play the role of ‘lungs of the earth’ by producing oxygen and capturing carbon dioxide, thanks mainly to phytoplankton, very small plant organisms.

The ocean is also home to most of the biodiversity worldly. With about 250,000 marine species described, it is estimated that there are between 500,000 and more than 10 million species in the world’s seas and oceans.

But today’s oceans have many dangers: plastic pollution, global warming, overfishing… To overcome them, there are several solutions. While they won’t be quite alone, they can offer hope for improving the health of the oceans.

1. Manta, sea cleaner

This is a project that RTL.fr talking to you since 2017. Manta is a project to clean the seas, led by navigator Yvan Bourgnon and associate TheSeaCleanners. Principle: a sailboat that can run 50 to 75% of the time without fossil fuels, and will sail the oceans to collect trash and turn them into useful components.

The project should lead to a ship launching by 2024. Meanwhile, another garbage and oil collection vessel, the Mobula 8, is being offered on June 2. He is expected to embark on his first mission to Indonesia in late autumn 2021.

2. Clearing the ocean, a floating barrier

The Dutch NGO The Ocean Cleanup has also developed a solution to recycle plastic. The association became famous for its project floating barrier that collects trash, and tested from San Francisco. However, in 2019, the barrier was broken, which ended the experiment.

The Ocean Cleanup has implemented a similar new system in the Pacific Ocean and is also focusing on it. river waste recycling, thanks to a conveyor belt system and a structure called catcher processing waste.

3. Marine protected areas

Marine protected areas are spaces that are demarcated to fulfill environmental protection purposes. There are different types, with different levels of protection. Fishing and certain recreational activities are regulated, or even prohibited, to be carried out let biodiversity flourish in peace.

In 2019, 23.5% of French waters are protected marine areas, only 1% in 2007. In April 2020, a study conducted by the Center for Insular Research and Environmental Observation in the Mediterranean, however, it is estimated that only 0.23% of the ocean has a high level of protection. A finding that should move the authorities to strengthen the level of protection of marine areas.

4. Artificial reefs

That artificial reefs is also a way to conserve marine biodiversity. This is a structure that can be made of different hard materials serves as a shelter for marine animals, especially juveniles, or as a substrate for certain plants, sponges, and corals to descend. Some associations also replant corals on artificial reefs.

Artificial reefs don’t really enable the marine environment, but they do weaken the environmental destruction by humans.

5. Get involved in saving the ocean

To save the ocean, community involvement remains an effective method. This can be changed through their daily habits, such as reducing waste, or consuming more responsibly.

Can also donate to association who work to protect the ocean, or if volunteers are involved. The final solution, and no less important, is to elect representatives who include marine protection in their programs or encourage elected officials to act in this direction.

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