Protect the oceans and marine life
Published:Tuesday | June 3, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and appreciation for environmental sustainability. From conservation initiatives to climate-conscious policies, society has made significant strides in preserving the delicate balance between human development and nature.
Yet, much of this attention remains focused on terrestrial concerns the land beneath our feet. But what about the oceans that make up more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface and even more critically, what about the ecosystems hidden beneath those waters, thriving on the ocean floor?
Growing up in Jamaica at around 1970, I visited a small coastal town between St Mary and Portland (Buff Bay area), where I enjoyed a simple meal of bun and cheese with a ginger beer, near a bridge at the point where the ocean met an outflow stream of what I believe is the Buff Bay River. That day, I observed starfish and vibrantly coloured fish within reach, their beauty forever imprinted in my mind.
I returned to the same location in the early 1980s and found oil residue, grime, and free-floating pollutants. The water that once teemed with life had become a graveyard, its surface shimmering with contamination.
Regulatory guidelines have helped understand the gravity of marine preservation, especially in areas where infrastructure interacts with oceanic ecosystems. The increased shipping activity and the speed of these large vessels offer a unique opportunity for the transportation and ultimately the transfer of aquatic life.
The ocean floor, often overlooked, is home to coral reefs, seagrass beds, and countless marine organisms that contribute to biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection. However, industrial activities, pollution, and unchecked development threaten these fragile environments.
Working along the ocean floor offers a unique perspective, filled with both marvels and lessons. A crucial component of such efforts is the strategic relocation of marine life, including corals and underwater plants, ensuring their survival amid development projects. Conservation isn’t just about preventing damage it’s about proactive intervention, minimising disruption while maintaining balance.
Additionally, ocean erosion poses a significant threat, exposing infrastructure to damage and accelerating habitat degradation. By reinforcing protective measures, hardening coastal infrastructure, and implementing sustainable marine engineering techniques, we can mitigate risks while safeguarding these critical environments.
What happens on land has far reaching effects on aquatic systems. Runoff from industrial activities, improper waste disposal, and unchecked pollutants seep into wetlands, rivers, and eventually the ocean, disrupting ecosystems on a massive scale. The challenge is not just to protect the surface environment but to extend our environmental consciousness deep into the waters and beyond.
Each action taken today influences the health of future generations. The oceans deserve the same protection and advocacy as forests and landscapes, for within them lies an ecosystem that sustains life far beyond what meets the eye.
PATRICK BROWN
Pembroke Pines, Florida