The Ocean Takes Care of Us, Let’s Return the Favor …

THE MANY THREATS TO THE OCEAN
Unfortunately, our ocean faces unprecedented threats from pollution, trash in our oceans, declining fisheries and multiple impacts from climate change.

Ocean Threat #1 Climate Change
Climate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Warmer air and water temperatures result in loss of sea ice, sea level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather – all of which will cause harmful changes to fish and wildlife populations as well as our quality of life.

Ocean Threat #2 Marine Debris
Marine debris is litter that kills marine mammals, can leach toxic pollutants, endangers human health, and hurts business and tourism by trashing our beaches and coastlines. It is estimated that 60-80 percent of all marine debris in California originates from land-based sources.

Ocean Threat #3 Water Pollution
The largest source of contaminants in California’s ocean comes from polluted runoff from our streets, parking lots, and golf courses. When it rains or you wash your car, the water picks up motor oil, trash, lawn or agriculture fertilizers and pesticides from the ground and sweeps them into the storm drain, eventually going into our creeks, rivers, and ocean. These pollutants — endanger marine life, human health and can lead to costly beach closures.

Ocean Threat #4 Marine Life Decline
Development, unsustainable fishing and littering are examples of human activities that threaten populations of marine life each day. Scientists report that 90 percent of the world’s large fish, such as tuna and swordfish, have been removed from the ocean through overfishing. California’s iconic salmon and steelhead populations are being threatened by dams, water diversions, habitat loss, water quality, and changing ocean conditions.