Not a lot of people know this...

 

The earths surface is two thirds covered in water.

 

The oceans provide food, jobs, means of transport, sport, entertainment and ingredients for medicines.

 

50% of the earths oxygen is produced by ocean plants like the Posidonia. 

​

The ten biggest threats to the oceans are:

1.   Pollution.

2.   Plastic debris.

3.   Illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.

4.   Fishing coral reefs.

5.   Acidification.

6.   Over fishing.

7.   Melting ice caps. 

8.   Last remote places now accessible. 

9.   Food security.

10. Mining. 

​

Every year, around 5,300 different natural products and new compounds have been isolated from marine sponges. Such compounds proved to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumor, immunosuppressive, and cardiovascular activity.

​

It is estimated humans kill 100 million sharks globally each year. However, researchers accept it could actually be as high as 63 million to 273 million a year. 

​

The maybe around 5.25 trillion macro and microplastic pieces floating in open oceans. 

​

It estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year.

​

Plastic accounts for 75% of marine litter. 

​

The average time a plastic bag is used, is just 12 minutes. The time it will take to degrade is not actually known but it could be up to 1,000 years. 

​