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A LIFE‑SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP:
Ocean & Humans
PART 2 (of 5)
Food Security, Health and Well-Being
Oct 19, 2025
THE ESSENCE
There is more than meets the eye when talking about food security as a benefit provided by the ocean. What immediately comes to mind for most of us is the variety and abundance of seafood. But, that’s only one aspect of food security and health benefits bestowed on us by the ocean. In fact, the ocean plays an important role in the production of land-based foods. Surprising? Read on …
The ocean is one of the several ecosystems of the Earth … it is not a segregated entity, but its workings and effects are directly consequential to the land, to our food supply, and to us, humans. In fact, the ocean covers about 71% of the surface of the Earth. And so, its role in our everyday life is enormous, and is intrinsically linked to our health and overall well-being (even for those who live far away from the ocean).
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THE DETAILS
At its most basic role, the ocean generates oxygen*, essential in sustaining its own marine ecosystem, which then provides about 20% of our food supply. Besides that, the various marine species in the ocean are a source for medicine, biotechnology, and even fertilizers for land‑based agriculture … and, we haven’t even mentioned the role the ocean plays in mental‑ and societal well‑being.
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THE ROLES THE OCEAN PLAYS IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND HEALTH
  • ESSENTIAL FOOD AND PROTEIN SOURCE … increasingly so
    • Protein from seafood is a significant source of high‑quality nutrients
    • Many types of fish also contribute significantly to micronutrient demands (omega-3, vitamins A, B, D, minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron, etc.)
      • Currently, nearly one‑third of the world population suffer from micronutrient deficiency
    • The ocean produces about 17% of the world’s per capita consumption of animal protein
    • On a caloric basis, the ocean contributes about 2% to the world’s food supply
    • Coral Reefs: The underwater food factory
      • A spawning ground for some of the world’s most sought‑after fish species
      • Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, but sustain 25% of marine life
      • Coral reefs directly support more than 500 million people globally
    • Seafood’s other benefits:
      • Lower greenhouse gas footprint (because they don’t need to be produced on land, or in facilities)
      • Their production requires less feed than land‑based animal food sources
      • Marine aquaculture is not hampered by land‑ and water availability constraints
    • For nearly 40% of the world’s population, the ocean is an essential source of food
    • Demand for protein‑based seafood is rapidly increasing ⟶ More than 90% of global fish stocks are fished at or above sustainable levels; and, fishing going wider and deeper in the ocean ⟹ Implementing sustainable fishing practices is essential
    • Current land‑based food production occupies ∼40% of the Earth’s land
      • Livestock takes up ∼80% of that land
    • Current world population: 8 billion. Projected world population by 2050: nearly 10 billion ⟹ Demand for food increases ⟹ Expanding land‑based food production proportionately with population growth is impossible ⟹ Critical: to become less reliant on cattle/ chickens/ pork, and expand our ocean-sourced food supply
    • Increasing ocean‑sourced protein (fish) will help:
      • Alleviate price shocks in livestock meat (due to increased demand)
      • Reduce the environmental impact of land‑based agriculture (by reducing demand for, and production of, livestock)
    • Two major causes of ocean pollution (and acidification):
      • Plastic waste and carbon‑dioxide that’s generated by burning fossil fuels
      • Changes the ocean chemistry ⟹ Affects our food supply that comes from the ocean ⟹ Food insecurity can affect whole countries ⟹ Becomes national security issue ⟹ May lead to conflicts (nationally, and even with regional countries)
    • To maintain healthy oceans and to ensure long‑term food security, it’s CRITICAL to: protect marine ecosystems, reduce pollution, implement sustainable fishing practices
  • POWERS THE WATER CYCLE AND FRESH WATER SUPPLY
    • The ocean plays a crucial role in the global water cycle by creating fresh water through evaporation and precipitation
    • Access to fresh water is essential for human life for:
      • Drinking
      • Sanitation
      • Irrigation
  • SOURCE FOR MEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
    • Marine‑derived medicine was already used 5000 years ago in China
    • The first US FDA‑approved marine‑derived medicine was developed in the 1960s
    • To date, 23 marine‑derived medicines have been approved, and 33 are in clinical trial
    • Marine‑derived medicines treat inflammation, immune system disorders, infectious diseases, skin pathologies, and other ailments
    • Seaweed is particularly a rich source for various land-used purposes (e.g. medicines, fertilizers, suppliment for livestock, bioplastics, etc.)
    • ‘Bioplastics’ are made from seaweed to replace certain plastics that are made from fossil fuels (and therefore generate greenhouse gases, and pollute the air and the ocean)
      • Bioplastics are biodegradable
      • Can be molded into health devices (e.g. inhalers, packaging for medicine or food)
  • ENHANCES PHYSICAL & AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIETAL WELL‑BEING
    Human Health = A state of complete physical, mental, and social well‑being—not merely the absence of disease (World Health Organization, 1946)

    Well‑Being = A positive state experienced by individuals and societies (World Health Organization, 2021)
    • The use of ‘Blue spaces’ and ‘Blue prescriptions’ are becoming more prevalent
    • Blue spaces = Ocean and coastal spaces
      • Visiting them increases physical activity, reducing non‑communicable diseases (e.g. cardiovascular, diabetes, etc.)
      • Serve as a buffer against negative life events and tendencies (e.g. depression, anxiety, etc.) + Has positive impact on mental health
      • Reduce costs of treating physical‑ and mental illnesses that would otherwise occur in the absence of visiting blue spaces
    • Blue prescription = Doctors prescribe time spent in natural and coastal spaces instead of relying on pharmaceutical medications
    • Human health benefits of visiting ‘blue spaces’ are most pronounced if the ocean itself is healthy ⟹ Humans must take care of the ocean, and act against polluting it
  • REGULATES THE CLIMATE FOR LAND‑BASED AGRICULTURE
    • Generates oxygen: Essential for sustaining its own marine ecosystem, which then serves human needs (e.g. food supply, water cycle, etc.)
    • Houses and sustains phytoplankton: Microscopic organisms that consume carbon‑dioxide by removing it from the air ⟹ Regulates the air quality humans breath ⟹ Regulates the quality of soil that can be used for agriculture to produce food for humans
    • Plays a role in the global water cycle through evaporation and precipitation ⟹ Affects the temperatures ⟹ Affects soil quality used for agriculture
    • Absorbs atmospheric heat ⟹ Stabilizes the climate ⟹ Enables humans and civilizations to live and thrive
    • The combined effects of these roles significantly contribute to soil health and climate quality that are essential in agriculture ⟵ which is essential to sustaining human life
  • SOURCE OF FERTILIZERS FOR LAND‑BASED AGRICULTURE
    • Seaweed (rich in minerals and nutrients)
      • Can be a bio‑fertilizer and bio‑stimulant for plants and soil structure
      • Decomposes faster than other types of organic manure
      • Improves root health, crop yields, and water retention
      • Provides for non‑chemical agriculture (i.e. without using fossil fuel‑based fertilizers, supplements, and other agents), mitigating harmful effects on soil, food, water, and air
      • Stimulates crop growth
      • Can be used as feed supplements for ruminant livestock (e.g. cows) ⟹ Strengthens the livestock’s immune system ⟶ Reduces methane emissions (Ruminant‑produced methane accounts for ∼15% of global human‑induced greenhouse gas emission)
    • Fish discards
      • Discards from the fish industry processed into fertilizer, providing essential minerals for plants and soil fertility
    • Using marine‑based organisms (instead of fossil fuel‑based) reduces the demand on land‑ and water resources, and the use of harmful chemicals
      • ⟶ next
      • ⟵ back
      • ⟹ consequently
      • ⟸ as said before
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WHAT CAN
YOU
DO ABOUT IT?
REDUCE OCEAN POLLUTION BY:

Reducing Your Plastic Footprint and Carbon‑Dioxide‑Intensive Activities
From a consumer standpoint, the use (and disposal) of plastic products (such as water bottles, plastic containers, plastic in fashion, etc,) contribute enormous amount to ocean pollution and acidification, especially due to the fact that plastic never degenerates. All pieces of plastic ever produced is still with us, and will be with us (just in smaller pieces than when it was produced).
And, never forget the carbon‑dioxide emissions that’s generated mainly—on a personal basis—by driving cars, and taking flights.
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