{"id":3416,"date":"2022-06-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www-prod.greenpeace.org\/usa\/campaign-updates\/3416\/why-protecting-the-ocean-means-protecting-people\/"},"modified":"2024-11-22T05:35:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T05:35:35","slug":"why-protecting-the-ocean-means-protecting-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/why-protecting-the-ocean-means-protecting-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Why protecting the ocean means protecting people"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 3 billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, the vast majority of which are in the Global South.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hawksbill Turtle in the Seychelles
Hawksbill turtle off the coast of Mahe, Seychelles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you read the phrase \u2018ocean conservation\u2019 what images come up in your mind? A mighty blue whale? Cute penguins from our recent Antarctica trip? Maybe some fish swimming in a colorful coral reef?<\/p>\n

Animals like whales, sharks and turtles have been icons of the mainstream ocean protection movement for decades.<\/strong> After all, they live in the ocean we are trying to protect and are facing grave threats to the future of their species. And they happen to be very cute!<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s another species that relies on healthy oceans, but isn\u2019t always mentioned in conversations around ocean conservation and that\u2019s\u2026 humans!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Artisanal fishing pirogues leave the fishing port of Kafountine, Casamance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How humans depend on the ocean<\/strong><\/h3>\n

More than 3 billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, the vast majority of which are in the Global South. The ocean provides coastal communities with jobs in small-scale fishing, a practice that has been passed down through generations, as well as newer industries, like tourism. The oceans also keep us fed. Seafood is a key part of billions of people’s diets, and many people rely on it to survive. Communities all over the world have deep cultural and spiritual connections to the ocean, and many Indigenous Peoples in particular have put the sea at the centre of community life for centuries.<\/p>\n

How humans are impacting the oceans<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While some people are working hard to protect our oceans, members of the same human species are exploiting our oceans for profit which is threatening the livelihoods of other people globally.<\/p>\n

Destructive industries like industrial fishing are emptying our oceans of life, including in international waters which have very few laws to stop this activity.<\/p>\n

This fishing free-for-all in international waters is having a devastating impact on coastal communities. The UN estimates that around 60 million people are employed worldwide in fishing and fish farming. Most are in developing countries, and are small-scale, artisanal fishers and fish farmers. Often, there aren\u2019t enough fish being caught to make a living out of or feeding families so people have to fish for more days of the week.<\/p>\n

For example, we spoke to Oke, a fisherman in Nigeria who said,<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cOur children are not able to frequently go to school anymore. It has affected our wives’ being able to sell their wares, the cost of living has skyrocketed<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hear more from Oke in this video:<\/p>\n