Protecting the oceans is crucial to our survival because, as recognized by the United Nations (UN), they “drive the global systems that make the Earth a habitable place for humans”: they regulate climate, provide rainfall, produce oxygen, are the main source of protein for more than a third of the world’s population, and more than three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. In addition, they absorb more than 90% of excess heat from climate change and a quarter of human carbon dioxide emissions, so they are also essential for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing the planet’s climate.

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