World Ocean’s Day Today

A decade ago, June 8 was designated as World Oceans Day, "a chance to celebrate and honor the body of water that links everything on the planet," as Andrew Sharpless of the international environmental organization Oceana puts it. "We rely on the oceans for so much — food, oxygen, inspiration — and it’s vital that we continue striving for healthier and more abundant oceans."

Although Sharpless’ organization is intimately familiar with the grave challenges that face our oceans, scientists are optimistic about the potential to reverse current negative trends. A new report released by Oceana this week explains how "smart ocean management can help to feed the world’s hungry." Read it and you’ll learn that 25 nations control more than 75% of the world’s fish stocks. (The U.S. is among them, of course.) Oceana advocates that those countries implement measures that reduce overfishing, protect habitat, and limit bycatch. By doing so, the organization claims that fish stocks could increase to the point that wild seafood could sustainably feed 700 million people a day.

It’s projected that by the year 2050, Earth will be home to 9 billion people. The prospect of trying to feed them all is truly staggering.