Biosciences Research Seminar - Ocean Optimism: Is there really hope for the oceans?

Public awareness of our oceans and the threats they face has probably never been as high as it is today. Blue Planet 2 kept us spellbound by bringing the wonders of the deep into people’s homes like never before, but then brought us back down to Earth by highlighting the dangers of overfishing, plastic pollution and climate change. Seaspiracy has now told us we will run out of fish by mid-century, while others warn that will only happen if ocean warming doesn’t cook them, or ocean acidification doesn’t dissolve them, first. While these threats are real, if sometimes exaggerated, there seems to be much less focus on how to tackle them. In this talk, I will present success stories from both my own research and experiences about how scientists, conservationists and coastal communities are slowly turning the tide. The ocean belongs to all of us, so we all have a role to play in helping to ensure it has a sustainable future.