It’s really quite shocking to learn that we know more about the moon than we do about our deepest oceans and the lifeforms they sustain. There are very deep Atlantic and Pacific trenches that are miles deep, and with such tremendous pressure, you wouldn’t think there would be life at such depths; yet scientists have found life in the deepest of oceans.
Technology Enabled Discoveries
We can now build submersibles that can reach the deepest ocean floors and carry out tests, which help us to understand just how much life there is in our seas and oceans, and with the current global warming issues knocking at the door, it is imperative that we fully understand the oceans; how they interact with one another and where the major currents are located.
- Northern & Southern Hemisphere Whales – The northern whale population can be found off the West Coast of America and they travel northwards past Washington State and onto the Gulf of Alaska and the Arctic. The southern hemisphere whales tend to breed in the Caribbean or off the coast of South America, then head past Australia to Antarctica, where they love to feed on krill and small fish.
Success Stories
Ever since we collectively made efforts to preserve marine life, perhaps the most successful campaign of all was “Save the Whale”, which spearheaded serious action to ban whaling. Today, almost all the many species of whale are experiencing a steady growth in numbers, and such are the numbers of Humpback Whales, you can book a day Sydney whale watching, when you can witness these majestic creatures first-hand.
Dolphins & Turtles
Both species are also seeing the benefit of global action to protect these endangered marine creatures, and there are conservation groups that wait for turtles to come to shore at night and bury their eggs; these eggs are then carefully dug up and kept in special conditions until they hatch, when they are all released into the sea at the same place they were so carefully laid by their mother. While this is interfering with nature – something not normally practiced – it does ensure that all of the baby turtles make it to the ocean, otherwise many would fall victim to a range of predators, so it will be done until such time as turtle numbers are in balance with nature.
The Impact of Human Behaviour
Sadly, we have long regarded the sea as a bottomless resource and man has aggressively fished the oceans since he was first able, which has led to a serious depletion, plus the millions of tons of plastic that are congregating in specific areas. Hopefully, the programs we have in place will undo the damage we have done over the centuries and help our oceans to recover.
Get Involved
Whether you enrol in a coastal program to protect turtle eggs, or go out on a whale watching trip, there are many ways that you can get involved in helping to preserve marine life. Saying no to single use plastic is one thing to do, and you can learn more about the incredible underwater world in our oceans.
