FOOD FOR THOUGHT: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OCEANS

Understanding the ways in which food reaches our plate is both overwhelming and incredibly important to be aware of. Having recently watched the Netflix documentary, Seaspiracy, I thought it would be a good idea to do a blog post about the oceans.

After watching this documentary (and if you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend it), I think there are many parts of sustainability that have changed for myself. Ali Tabrizi, the director of Seaspiracy, defines sustainability as the ability for something to go on and on and this really changed my notion of what entails this term and how we think of sustainable practices. Is there really such a thing as sustainability anymore?

Image: Bouche (2020) Great Pacific Garbage Patch 

Now, you may be wondering how this documentary and Forever Fresh are connected. My hope for Forever Fresh is to not only be a business that sells products, but also makes a difference; in more ways than one and in more fields than just ours. Forever Fresh is an outdoors-based business, and as such, we have adopted the mindset that we will fight to protect the outdoors, and that includes the oceans. Because without the oceans, there is little hope for anything else.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE OCEAN

1. The ocean is responsible for producing 50-80% of our oxygen

 

2. The ocean is home to 80% of all life on Earth

 

3. The ocean absorbs 4 TIMES MORE Carbon Dioxide than the Amazon Rain Forest

 

4. The ocean regulates the Earths Climate

There is more heat stored in the first 3-4 metres of the ocean than in the entirety of the Earth’s atmosphere. Why is this important? Because this heat is transferred from the ocean into our atmosphere. This process, of heat being transferred across the planet, results in a habitable climate we humans can breathe in.

Without the oceans, life on Earth for humans will no longer be possible and that is the HARD TRUTH.

The documentary also taught me to be sceptical about some of the so-called environmental warrior organisations. Many of these NGOs are linked to bigger corporations and therefore are not providing consumers with the correct and adequate information needed to make responsible and ethical choices in our lives. It’s all about voting with our money and in many cases, these organisations profit greatly when we spend our money in certain ways. Educating ourselves on these connections is important if we are to make proper decisions about how we want to spend our money and who we want to support.

There are, however, many great organisations out there who are doing amazing things! We just need to make sure of these. The documentary speaks highly about an organisation called Sea Shepard, a non-profit conservation society, which has been doing an incredible service for the oceans.

Sea Shepard actually has a team here in South Africa where you can get involved and make a difference! https://www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdSA/ This is the link to their Facebook page.

 

Image: CIMSEC, 2016 

So, how can you combat some of the tragedies hitting our oceans?

1. REDUCE YOUR FISH CONSUMPTION
2. STOP SUPPORTING UNETHICAL BUSINESSES, OR ORGANISATIONS THAT CLAIM TO BE SUSTAINABLE
3. DO YOUR RESEARCH
4. HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND ASK QUESTIONS
5. GET INVOLVED

 

I would love to hear what you are doing in the comments! 

 

 

References:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/an-ocean-renaissance-is-key-to-our-survival/

https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-02-04-plastic-pollution-is-threatening-fish-populations.html

https://www.wastewiseproductsinc.com/blog/plastic-pollution/recycling-developments-in-the-fishing-industry/