This slide show illustrates some of the riches of the deep sea that must be protected from increasing threats. Click on the images to see larger versions and background information.

The world ocean is facing challenges like never before from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. Bringing to light an urgent message of ocean conservation to the public, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute CEO Chris Scholin and Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard wrote a column that was published in the New York Times today.

While pointing out serious threats, Scholin and Packard discuss the need for a global initiative to accelerate our understanding of the deep sea—its myriad creatures, its function, and ultimately its health. They suggest a cooperative ocean-wide monitoring network to track and report threats to inform climate policy and sustainable ocean management.

“Each of us has a role to play in helping society make informed decisions for the future – whether it’s visiting a local aquarium on World Oceans Day on June 8^th to learn more, joining the March for the Ocean on June 9^th, or committing to buying sustainably caught seafood and saying no to single-use plastic,” Scholin and Packard wrote.

“Our ocean is the largest home for life on our planet and the blue heart of Earth’s climate system. We must use it wisely. Otherwise, we risk using it up.”

Read the full column

For additional information or images relating to this article, please contact: Kim Fulton-Bennett
831-775-1835, kfb@mbari.org