The ocean dominates our planet, covering over 70% of Earth and generating almost all its oxygen. They are critical for life on earth, regulating the climate and absorbing up to 50% of the carbon dioxide humans produce by burning fossil fuels. Despite their importance, only “8% of the world’s oceans are protected.” Ocean conservation is the best … Read more
Sea water isn’t pure like fresh water. It contains lots of tiny particles that, when agitated, create a soapy substance known as sea foam. This natural phenomenon occurs throughout the world, although the circumstances that cause it form vary from region to region. Sea foam is generally a sign of a healthy ocean but, in … Read more
Officially, there is only one global ocean that covers 71% of the planet and contains 97% of the world’s water. This global body of water is divided into either four or five distinct regions or ocean basins, depending on who you talk to. Historically, there have been just four oceans – the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, … Read more
Our oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and contain diverse ecosystems that sustain a diversity of other-worldly creatures and other life forms. At its deepest point, the ocean’s water pressure is so extreme it would theoretically dissolve bone, making it impossible for any vertebrates to survive. Few humans have ever seen the deepest part … Read more
There are around one billion sharks in our oceans, representing 400 to 500 different species. That might sound like a lot, but there used to be a lot more. According to some, “only 10% of the sharks remain on the ocean,” and we’re still hunting them. While decisions like those made at the Convention on … Read more
Sharks have been evolving for millions of years and, in that time, have perfected the art of predation. However, there are hundreds of different species of shark, each of which has its own hunting techniques and strategies. Some sharks, like the whale shark, eat tiny organisms known as plankton, which requires a very different hunting … Read more
Sharks have a different approach to reproduction than most fish species. Instead of releasing eggs and sperm into the water in an act of external fertilization, sharks go to great lengths to perform internal fertilization. This isn’t a particularly easy feat when you’re swimming in the sea, but sharks have developed effective ways of overcoming … Read more
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the balance of our marine ecosystems, but reports from the International Union for Conservation of Nature suggest that balance is in jeopardy. With over 300 species of sharks and rays threatened with extinction, the repercussions for our oceans could be devastating. Some shark species have already disappeared, like … Read more
The great white shark both frightens and fascinates. With its large jaws packed with around 300 razor-sharp teeth, it’s one of the world’s most formidable predators. It’s by no means the largest shark in the world, that title goes to the plankton-munching whale shark, but it is the largest predatory fish and, as such, has … Read more
The blue shark is one of the most beautiful and graceful species in our oceans. Sadly, their global population has declined dramatically over recent years, with the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finding that “the North Atlantic and North Pacific population is decreasing by more than 5% each year.” This highly migratory species is … Read more