Understanding the oceans is crucial to tackling the planet’s biggest environmental crises, from climate change to biodiversity loss. The oceans regulate global temperatures, absorb carbon dioxide, and produce over half of our oxygen—yet pollution, over-fishing, and acidification threaten their stability. By studying marine ecosystems, we can develop solutions for climate resilience, such as restoring coral reefs to protect coastlines, preserving fish populations for food security, and harnessing ocean-based carbon capture. Addressing plastic pollution, toxic runoff, and deep-sea mining through policy and innovation can help restore balance. Saving the oceans isn’t just about marine life—it’s about securing the future of the entire planet. So with that I have begun an underwater journey to try and understand what is the root of our issues.
In a recent article posted in EARTH.ORG, more than a dozen of the planets most pressing environmental challenges were identified. All of these issues were interconnected and each one were directly linked to our behaviours. But of course they were. After spending the last few years taking a deep dive (pardon the pun) into these challenges I have now launched a personal campaign to go out and not only immerse myself within the specific issues smothering the life out of the planet, but really try to gain a wider perspective on how we can influence positive change. But the journey has been and continues to be traumatic and no I do not believe I am being dramatic or an alarmist.
Last year (2024) was the hottest on record, with global average temperatures reaching 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels. This unprecedented heat is primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, which increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, trapping heat and the leading contributor to global warming. Ineffective environmental policies and lack of enforcement contribute significantly to environmental degradation. As a diver I have had the opportunity to explore off-shore reefs that are now over bleached, and shredded by deep sea and cruise ship anchoring and industrial development. I see what were once beautiful cenotes, underground rivers of fresh water crushed by infrastructure to support monorails for tourism. All of this at the heals of what is clearly corruption, lack of transparency, and inadequate regulatory frameworks all of which hinder efforts to address environmental issues effectively.
In the revealing documentary, Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, written and directed by Nic Stacey, we are shown how and where one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. A epidemic phenomenon that not only squanders resources like water and energy but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions when food waste decomposes in landfills. Human activities have accelerated species extinction rates, leading to a significant loss of biodiversity. This loss disrupts ecosystems and the essential services they provide, such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.
Despite global awareness, plastic pollution remains a critical issue. In a naturalist certification program I completed during my tender as a Marine Mammal Regulations Enforcement Liaison Officer for the RCMP Marine Unit, we learned that one of the biggest threats killing our marine life is the amount of microplastics inside and throughout the food chain. A problem far more significant than over fishing. A significant portion of produced plastic is not recycled and persists in the environment for centuries, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
The clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, and other purposes leads to habitat loss, reduced carbon sequestration, and contributes to climate change. Forests play a crucial role in absorbing CO₂ and supporting biodiversity. Air pollution, resulting from industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and other sources, poses severe health risks and contributes to environmental problems like acid rain and eutrophication. Water scarcity affects billions worldwide, exacerbated by pollution, overuse, and climate change. Ensuring access to clean water is vital for health, agriculture, and economic development. With more than 14 million tons of plastics making its way into the ocean every year it is no wonder that a floating island of crap can be seen from space (Source: IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).
And then there is Ocean Acidification. Increased CO₂ levels lead to ocean acidification, affecting marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons, and disrupting marine ecosystems. This further contributes and complicates matters when it comes to melting polar ice caps and sea level rises. Climate change is causing polar ice caps to melt, leading to sea level rise and increased flooding in coastal areas. This threatens communities, ecosystems, and economies.
And finally I have to address over-fishing and marine mammal hunting (yes ladies and gentlemen, despite so many species now entering the threatened or endangered list - we still hunt them). Without a doubt it over-fishing depletes fish populations, disrupts marine ecosystems, and threatens food security for communities that rely on fish as a primary protein source.
On a recent trip to Newfoundland we had a chance to explore a less known whale graveyard. Most divers visiting the old whaling town of Dildo are aware of the discarded whale remains off the jetty in front of the now defunct processing plant. But on this visit we had a chance to meet and chat with an old retired whaler who directed us to a site some '5 or 6 cables out t'wards the midst d'bay'. So we grabbed our scooters and off we went in search of this less known discard station. After 20 minutes or so of scootering along the frigid cold ocean floor - we found it.
Swimming in and around the remains of these beasts, dozens upon dozens of decaying skeletons, made your heart stop and your soul hurt. More than 18 fathoms down bones in this graveyard reflected the sunlight giving an eerie disheartening glow .
For decades whales were hunted in Newfoundland and Labrador and they were not selective. The trophy catches included the Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Southern and Greenland Right Whales and even the Humpback.
Whaling in Canada’s history was marked by ruthless exploitation, driven by demand for whale oil, meat, and baleen. Indigenous communities traditionally hunted whales sustainably, but with European colonization, industrial whaling escalated to brutal efficiency. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, whaling stations along Canada’s coasts slaughtered thousands of whales, pushing species like the North Atlantic right whale to near extinction. Hunters used explosive harpoons and factory ships to maximize kills, often leaving wounded whales to suffer. Despite Canada banning commercial whaling in 1972, the industry’s legacy remains in depleted populations and disrupted ecosystems, a stark reminder of human greed overpowering nature’s balance.
Human negligence in managing ocean resources has pushed marine ecosystems to the brink of collapse. Overfishing has decimated fish populations, bottom trawling has destroyed fragile seabeds, and pollution—ranging from plastic waste to toxic runoff—chokes marine life. Carbon emissions have led to ocean acidification and rising temperatures, causing mass coral bleaching and the death of entire ecosystems. Once-thriving reefs are now graveyards, and vast dead zones devoid of oxygen spread across the seas. Whales wash ashore with stomachs full of plastic, dolphins and turtles perish in abandoned fishing gear, and fish stocks dwindle, threatening food security. Beneath the waves, life is suffocating, and unless humanity acts swiftly, the oceans may never recover. So far this is what I have found on my journey. It has only begin but check back as I will continue to post more stories describing my discoveries and observations. So long and thanks for all the fish.
~Safe Diving
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