Oceans under increasing pressure from three factors: "Struggling for breath"

Oceans are under "ever-increasing pressure" from human activities, a new United Nations report warns. The "World Ocean Assessment," compiled by 600 scientists from 86 countries, identifies overfishing, pollution, and climate change as the three main stressors.

These factors are interconnected and worsen each other. For instance, overfishing stresses marine life already struggling with warming waters. Climate change contributes to oxygen depletion, causing the ocean to "literally struggle for breath," according to Jan Mees of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).

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The UN report names 3 major stress factors: overfishing, pollution in its many facets, and climate change.

The report, the third of its kind and covering 2021-2025, underscores the critical role oceans play. They are responsible for roughly half the oxygen humans breathe and absorb 90% of excess heat from the greenhouse effect, along with about 30% of human-caused CO2 emissions. However, this absorption leads to ocean acidification and warmer waters, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.

While the findings are alarming, Mees notes some positive developments, such as the new Ocean Treaty. The report also emphasizes the vast, largely undiscovered life within the oceans and the need to address the primary stressors to protect marine ecosystems.

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Climate change causes oxygen depletion, causing the ocean to literally struggle for breath.