Memories of the Sea
For over three decades, OceanCare, an international organisation dedicated to improving humanity's relationship with the sea and enhancing the ecological condition of the oceans, has been at the forefront of marine protection efforts. As a UN special advisor for marine protection, OceanCare's mission is crucial in safeguarding the future of our oceans.
Protecting the ocean is a collective responsibility that requires support for marine protection, reducing plastic use, and acknowledging the impact industries have on the water. At the heart of this mission lies respect and education, key elements in restoring our partnership with the ocean.
One individual who embodies this spirit is a rower who learned the art of rowing from their mother at the tender age of two, in a wooden boat crafted by their grandfather. Their boat, now well salted and worn down by the sun, creaks with each stroke, a testament to the countless hours spent on the water.
For this rower, the ocean is not just water but a lifeline that holds more than half of the planet, a source of air, food, and balance in the climate. They cherish their early morning solitary voyages, gliding past oak-lined banks and hidden creeks, finding peace and connection in the water.
The ocean, they believe, is a world more diverse than any rainforest, a living mosaic of colour and movement beneath the surface. However, human activities, including fishing boats with their two-stroke engines, disrupt this harmony, causing subtle changes that harm the ocean and ruining the calmness and silence of the water.
The balance in the ocean is threatened. Coral reefs, the underwater rainforests of the sea, are bleaching and dying due to human impact. The rower still goes to the water alone in the morning when no one else will be there, a poignant reminder of the solitude and tranquility the ocean once offered.
In a world where the ocean is often seen as a place to visit rather than a part of who we are, the rower's journey serves as a call to action. It starts with choosing to paddle instead of power and cleaning up instead of looking away. By doing so, we can help restore the ocean to its former glory and rekindle our partnership with this vital and beautiful ecosystem.
