The global ocean – the Earth’s oceanic waters, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans – supplies more than half the oxygen we breathe, and provides food and livelihoods for billions of people worldwide. It is also home to a wondrous array of wild species, from tiny plankton to the biggest creature that’s ever existed – the blue whale.

But our ocean is in crisis. 

Centuries of overuse and neglect threaten to leave us with a vast blue wasteland. It’s time to change the way we see our ocean – from places where we take what we want and dump what we don’t, to a shared resource of immense value. We must take action now to restore ocean health while the solutions are still within our grasp.  

What can you do?

Our ocean in crisis

The ocean may seem vast and indestructible, but the truth is it is in serious trouble.

We’ve already lost half our coral reefs and mangroves − some of the most productive habitats on Earth. And we’ve pushed many crucial fish stocks to the point of collapse, threatening people’s livelihoods and food security – and harming other species including seabirds, turtles and dolphins.

The problems are most acute in coastal areas – home to some of the most valuable natural resources but also more densely populated by people than anywhere else on Earth. Coastal communities are increasingly vulnerable to erosion, storm damage and food shortages as reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds are lost.

Pollution – from plastics to oil spills to agrochemicals – also harms nature and contaminates food chains. And climate change is making the ocean hotter and more acidic, which will spell disaster if left unchecked. 

"Humanity’s relationship with our ocean has become fundamentally unsustainable. Urgent and sustained action is needed to restore the health and abundance of our marine environment, from rich coastal seas to the deepest oceans.”

- Pepe Clarke, Ocean Team Leader

The ocean in numbers

💲: U.S. $2.5 trillion estimated annual value of the ocean economy
🌊: 2/3rds of global gross marine product relies on a healthy ocean
💭: 30% Anthropogenic CO2 emissions are absorbed by the ocean
👨‍👩‍👦: 500 million people depend on coastal resources for food
🐠: 90% of the world’s seafood comes from small-scale fisheries

An ocean of opportunity

The extraordinary diversity of life in the ocean, the services they provide to us, and the joy and wonder they inspire, are priceless. But the ocean also has a massive economic value.

At a conservative estimate, the goods and services the ocean provides – from fishing to tourism and coastal protection – are worth at least US$2.5 trillion per year. That would make the ocean the world’s seventh-largest economy. The ocean is an engine of economic development – but only if we manage it sustainably.

We have the tools to restore ocean health. Science-based management plans and marine protected areas can keep fish stocks healthy and support livelihoods the world over. These also safeguard vibrant habitats that draw tourists and create jobs. Protecting the ocean pays huge dividends.  

Up for a challenge?

Take our Zero to Ocean Hero Challenge!


Subscribe now to embark on a 5-week journey that will empower you with simple yet impactful tips and lifestyle changes you can make to help protect our oceans! Every action adds up, no matter where you are - and you too can go from Zero to Ocean Hero today!

 

 

What we're doing

We work in partnership with communities, businesses and governments to restore ocean health for the benefit of people and nature.

Working with communities

People are at the heart of our ocean conservation work. We have decades of experience working with communities from the Arctic to the islands of the Pacific, and every seascape in between. We support community-led efforts to protect critical marine resources, promote sustainable fishing practices, collect fisheries data and share practical management strategies.

Investing in a sustainable “blue economy”

WWF challenges governments, businesses and development institutions to end damaging activities and subsidies, and invest instead in a sustainable “blue” economy. One of our top priorities is making fisheries sustainable – keeping healthy populations of fish in the sea, and minimizing impacts on habitats and other species.

Protecting the ocean’s natural treasures

We support initiatives to secure and restore critical coastal environments like coral reefs and mangroves, as well as protect wildlife like sharks and rays, which play an important role in marine ecosystems. And we’re part of a massive global effort to end plastic pollution, a threat to people and wildlife – focusing on key industries and major cities.

The WWF Oceans Team

Our experts from around the world work with partners and communities to deliver conservation solutions for a healthy ocean. Leading the team – called the WWF Ocean Practice – is Pepe Clarke, a seasoned environmental advocate who has worked from the local to global level for more than two decades to drive positive change for nature and people.

Pepe Clarke, Oceans Practice Team Leader

Our Global Goal

Our goal is to ensure the world’s most important fisheries and ocean ecosystems are productive and resilient, and to improve livelihoods and biodiversity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OCEAN WORK

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