WORLD OCEAN DAY is one week away!
Over 80% of our oceans remains unexplored — the reason and what might be lost before it is found.
Despite their important role, we have explored only a fraction of our planet’s oceans. In fact, we have explored so little, we know more about the moon than we do about oceans. Put another way, if the oceans were Manhattan, only about one block of it would be explored.
What undiscovered wonders might ocean depths hold? Scores of marine life, perhaps in the millions.
Much of this marine life exists in the deep sea, a place where nearly no light exists beyond 200 meters and whose deepest point is approximately 2,000 meters deeper than Mount Everest is tall. From the elusive giant squid to tusked whales to a newly discovered purple orb-like creature that may be a kind of slug, the deep sea remains both a mystery and a place of constant discovery.
Recently, over 5,500 species were newly discovered — include a type of sea cucumber nicknamed “gummy squirrel ” — in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific. 90% of these species have yet to be classified. Unfortunately, because this area has been deemed a future mining hotspot, scientists are now racing to understand and protect these species (and many more) before its too late.
Additionally, because of their enormity and power, only 25% of global ocean floors are mapped. Advancing this ocean floor mapping and exploration is essential to identifying biodiversity hotspots, understanding ocean currents to forecast climate change, and uncovering human history (including 3 million shipwrecks).
Without further exploration and protection, much of our ocean’s mysteries may be lost forever. Let’s help our OCEANS — donate today.
