Approximately 71 % of the Earth's surface is covered in water and is the least explored environment on our planet. We live on a blue planet, a planet dominated and uniquely defined by its oceans. Scientists estimate that 230,000 marine life forms of all types are currently known but the total could be up to 10 times that number. It is an enigmatic realm which has eluded civilisation since the beginning of documented time. It truly is an alien environment but it also sustains us. From regulating our climate, generating oxygen, absorbing CO2 to providing food and stimulating the global economy, the world's oceans are an integral part of our existence on this planet.
Now with the burgeoning world population hungry, the sea is under extreme stress. Fish stocks have dwindled so far down that there seems no recovery in sight.
This threatens the livelihoods of millions and is heralding the collapse of the food chain both oceanic and terrestrial. Eutrophication (oxygen removal from water) and acidification of the world's oceans is accelerating as we pump more into it and dump more carbon into the atmosphere.
We have waged war on the oceans from all sides, no element is safe from the ravages of humanity’s need for consumption and apathy to waste. In this episode we discover what is at the root of the problem and how and why the oceans are so important to us.
In this episode we talk to an artisanal fisherman about his struggle to save his sustainable fishing livelihood, against that of multinational greed. Gregg Oelofse of The City of Cape Town and Patrick Dowling of WESSA take us through the future of the city and how sea-levels are rising due to global warming and the impact this will have on communities, both in the Western Cape and globally. We discover the status of marine wild life with a visit to SANCCOB and find out what we can do practically to save our local sea-birds. Next we travel Gansbaai to investigate shark cage diving and the debate about whether it is a destructive or beneficial activity. Four passionate voices, Khanyiswa, Dale, Louis and Muna, lend us their knowledge and expertise by illustrating how we can not only conserve the oceans but benefit from them as well.
Watch Change on Wednesday 23 June at 19:30 or catch the repeat on Sunday 20:00 on Cape Town TV.
Also see full episodes on vimeo at http://vimeo.com/user3970968
visit www.changetv.co.za to catch videos, interact and to find out more.
