Defending our Oceans

Our oceans are not just pools of water; they are essentialto life on Earth. They give us oxygen and help regulatethe planet’s temperature by providing a sink for the heattrapping greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2).

Scientists believe that life started in the oceans billions ofyears ago. Today, the oceans contain the greatest diversityand abundance of species on the planet – from the world’slargest being, the blue whale, to microscopic plankton thatform the basis of the ocean food web. With their remoteand hidden underwater forests, mountains and canyons, we have only begun to understand the mysteries ouroceans hold.

Coastal nations worldwide rely on the bounty of the oceansfor their livelihood, nourishment and survival. Canada hasa history entrenched in marine resource exploitation, all too often improperly managed for short-term gain.