The world’s oceans have absorbed 93% of human-induced warming since the 1970s. This has contributed to more than 80% of sea level rise between 1993 and 2010 and led to an increase in the uptake of carbon dioxide, resulting in a subsequent increase in ocean acidity. The pH of the ocean’s surface is believed to have decreased by 0.1 pH units since the beginning of the industrial age, while overall ocean acidity has increased by 30% in 50 years.

Over a million species are currently at risk of extinction due to climate change. Although extinction is a natural occurrence, species are currently being lost at an alarming rate. Climate change is accelerating the current mass extinction, and it alone will be responsible for the disappearance of almost 8% of current species. The previous five mass extinctions were mainly caused by meteorites and volcanic eruptions, however, the sixth and current extinction has been caused by humans.

The footprint left by the fishing industry is staggering. More than 55 percent of the ocean surface is covered by industrial fishing. That's more than four times the area covered by agriculture. Industrial fishing has been responsible for harmful environmental impacts. Overfishing is depleting our marine life, many animals like dolphins and sea turtles are products of bycatch, and the massive vessels used require large amounts of CO2-producing fuel.

Throughout history, marine species have experienced fewer extinctions than land-based species. However, marine species are currently disappearing at twice the rate of land-dwelling species. About 50% of coral reefs around the world have died and almost 33% of reef-forming corals are threatened by extinction. 72 marine animal species are critically endangered, and more than one-third of marine mammals are threatened by extinction. The most endangered marine mammal is the vaquita, with less than 30 remaining in the wild. The hawksbill turtle is also critically endangered. The species is heavily dependent on coral reefs for food and is negatively impacted by poor reef health. The smalltooth sawfish was the first marine fish to receive federal protection as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2003. Among the most endangered species we also have sea otters, many types of whales (blue, fin, sei and beluga whales) as well as many species of dolphins. In fact, the Society of Marine Mammalogy recognizes 41 distinct dolphin species, nine of which are considered endangered by either the IUCN, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or both, and this is mainly due to human activity, whether it be indirect conflict from fishing net bycatch or vessel strikes.

Rising sea temperatures can have negative effects on the development and growth of marine organisms. Increasing ocean temperature could alter oceanic currents, impacting the migration and reproduction of some marine species, and causing coral bleaching. When oceanic currents change, they impact the migratory patterns of marine species, as well as the reproduction of species such as reef-building coral and reef fish which rely on these currents to disperse larvae. Sea levels are rising at alarming rates and pose threats to invaluable marine ecosystems. Sea-level rise is accelerating at a rate of one-eighth of an inch per year. This poses a threat to coral reef, mangrove and seagrass ecosystems.

The kelp forests are marine environments that provide food and shelter for species at all levels of the food web. They are actually one of the most productive ocean ecosystems on Earth, supporting a greater diversity of plants and animals than almost any other marine habitat. Giant kelp and bull kelp also play an important role in protecting coastal areas by mitigating the effects of climate change and improving water quality. The role of kelp forests is indispensable to the marine ecosystem as they:

• Absorb carbon dioxide
• Shelter sea life
• Protect the shoreline
• Support coastal economies
• Fuel the food web

Approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution enters the ocean each day. 4 – 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, enough to cover every foot of coastline on the planet. This amount is expected to triple in the next 20 years.

Deep sea mining is a major source of contamination in the ocean. The pollutants increase toxicity within the region and can also interfere with the life cycles of various marine organisms. The release of chemical nutrients from sewage reduces oxygen levels, leading to the decay of plant life and a decline in seawater quality as well.

Increase recycling – at present, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally. Reducing use of single use plastics and increasing use of reusable products is the first step towards cleaning our oceans from plastic.

1. Make safe, sustainable seafood choices – high demand, loss of habitat and unsustainable fishing practices have depleted global fish populations. By eliminating fishing subsidies and more strategically regulating fishing on a global scale, it's possible to sustain current levels of fishing without depleting resources.
2. Reduce use of plastic products as these may end up in the ocean and contribute to habitat destruction and entangle marine species. Instead, use reusable products (e.g. water bottles and non-disposable containers)
3. Do not interfere with ocean wildlife, remove rocks and coral, or purchase items which support the exploitation of marine life (e.g. shark products and souvenirs made of coral reefs)
4. Don't keep exotic fish as pets and avoid stocking aquariums with wild-caught saltwater fish. These fish, if released into the ocean, may introduce harmful non-native species into the ecosystem.

As oceans warm, the world’s kelp forests begin to disappear. In fact, these undersea forests that sequester carbon, support fisheries, and protect shorelines are dying at alarming rates. Under the listing of the Federal Government, the giant kelp are considered an endangered ecological community. Today, more than 95 percent of eastern Tasmania’s kelp forests are gone. With the water still warming rapidly and the long-spine urchin spreading southward in the favorable conditions, researchers see little hope of saving the vanishing ecosystem. “Our giant kelp forests are now a tiny fraction of their former glory,” says Craig Johnson, a researcher at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

Satellite imagery shows that the area covered by kelp forests off the coast of Northern California has dropped by more than 95%, with just a few small, isolated patches of the bull kelp remaining. The decline was not gradual but rather an abrupt collapse of the kelp forest ecosystem in the aftermath of unusual ocean warming along the U.S. West Coast starting in 2014, part of a series of events that combined to decimate the kelp forests.

Ocean acidification reduces the amount of carbon in the sea, which can lead to dire consequences for numerous marine species. It decreases the availability of carbonate ions, which are required by marine organisms to make skeletons, shells and other calcareous structures. Ocean acidification threatens the relationship between predator and prey species, and could cause marine food webs to collapse. It hinders the ability of larval fish to detect ecologically important cues and leads to a subsequent increase in mortality rate. It also hinders the ability of predators to detect chemical cues produced by prey.

Plastic pollution can be found all across the globe – even in remote areas such as Midway Atoll. Half of the world's sea turtles and nearly every seabird have consumed plastic in their lifetimes.