The ocean: A vital resource for all

When you think of the ocean, what comes to mind?

How about a place where people can go to relax and enjoy the sun? A place where dolphins frolic and whales swim? Or perhaps it’s just a big, blue vastness that is so far away from your daily life that you forget it exists?

The truth is, the ocean is much more than what we perceive it to be – it is home to hundreds of thousands of species. It is also a majestic force that helps us breathe and keeps us alive – it feeds us, gives us energy, gives us medicines and other products, and provides a place to relax and play. The list goes on! Let’s break it down...

The ocean helps us breathe

The ocean is a source of oxygen. Think of it as a giant lung that filters air, absorbs carbon dioxide, and then releases it as oxygen. The ocean also plays an important role in regulating the climate – it helps control temperatures by absorbing heat from the sun and releasing it back into the atmosphere at night.

The ocean absorbs CO² so we don’t have to

The oceans absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide produced by human activity. Plant-like organisms in the ocean called ​​phytoplankton are responsible for drawing significant portions of carbon dioxide from the air. These tiny organisms exert a huge amount of influence on the planet.

The ocean gives us energy

The ocean is a great source of energy that can be harnessed. It uses the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater to produce electricity or heat without polluting the environment. This power source can significantly reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Ocean water protects the planet from climate change

According to Nasa’s Earth Observatory, the ocean absorbs about 90% of all the energy that comes into contact with them, keeping our planet cool. The ocean’s ability to store heat is the result of its high salt content and ability to transfer heat from one place to another quickly – both properties make it a good conductor of energy.

The ocean provides a place to relax and play

The ocean is a place where one can relax and play. It offers the chance to get some exercise while having fun at the same time – from swimming and surfing to boating, fishing and scuba diving.

The ocean gives us medicines and other products

The ocean is the largest ecosystem on Earth and research estimates that 50-80 percent of all life is found under its surface. Through this ecosystem, scientists have been able to harness natural products, molecules and drugs to develop anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiviral drugs through marine pharmacology.

The ocean supports life

The ocean supports life as we know it, providing food, energy, medicine and air for us to breathe. It’s a vital resource for everyone on the planet.

We benefit from the ocean in many ways, but we must protect it and be aware that our actions can have a negative impact – for example, through pollution.

Let’s protect our ocean by making sure we don’t pollute it with waste or chemicals.

Marine Protected Areas

At the Two Oceans Aquarium, we are proud to be supporting the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout South Africa’s territorial waters. These MPAs have been selected to protect unique habitats, preserve intact bioregions that have not been severely affected by human activity and provide crucial “safe spaces” for commercially important fish species to recover.

This is one of many ways we can answer the call to protect the ocean and its vital resources.

After all, the ocean regulates the climate and provides food and much more – the least we can do is protect it. It’s not just humans who benefit from the oceans; all life on Earth does.