Question

Sea Change
by Aryn Baker for TIME, adapted by TFK editors

1

Enric Sala is standing under a replica of a right whale at the natural history museum in Washington, D.C. It's the summer of 2023. Outside, wildfire smoke drifts down from Canada. But Sala is talking about whale poop. That poop is food for tiny ocean organisms called plankton, Sala says. As they take in sunlight, plankton absorb carbon dioxide. Then, the plankton sink to the seafloor, trapping the planet-warming gas. Fewer whales in the ocean means fewer plankton. That means more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which creates the heat-driven wildfires, like the ones causing the smoke outside.


Making the Case

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Some think focusing on whale poop's role in climate change is too simple. However, this perspective overlooks the interconnectedness of natural systems. Whales, plankton, and other marine organisms play a crucial role in the planet's carbon cycle. Ignoring these processes hinders climate control and harms animals and people. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 40 percent of the world's oceans are experiencing a heat wave. Rising ocean acidity is weakening habitats that nourish or shelter a quarter of all marine life. People are affected, too. Fish living in coral reefs provide food and income to a billion people worldwide.

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Sala's remedy is to identify the areas with the richest biodiversity1 and protect them. But people must help. In 2007, Sala started Pristine Seas with the National Geographic Society. They sent divers, submersibles, and cameras into the sea to make documentary films. The aim is to persuade governments to protect their coastlines. "We take presidents, ministers with us," Sala says. "They come out of the submarine saying, 'This was the most transformative experience of my life.'" After an expedition in 2022, Colombian president Iván Duque more than doubled the country's marine-protected areas.


A Simple Idea

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Sala has rallied governments worldwide to protect their coastlines and oceans. His Pristine Seas project has already secured 2.5 million square miles of coastline and ocean as marine-protected areas.

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Nature can bounce back, Sala says, but only by balancing ecosystems. "The only way to have more marine life is to set some places aside so it can thrive," he says. "It's as simple as this."

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Sala's message is positive, so why are some countries reluctant to protect their coastlines? Some have conflicting economic interests. Many countries rely heavily on fishing. They are hesitant to restrict fishing along the coastlines, especially if it means losing jobs and the money that fishing brings in. Finally, developing countries may lack the financial resources to implement robust coastline protection strategies.

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Sala counters these concerns with a message of hope. Protecting coastlines, he argues, boosts employment. Sala states that protected areas will increase fishing and tourism revenue for fishing nations. He also advocates for international collaboration and funding options to support developing countries in their efforts to protect their coastlines. Sala aims to overcome reluctance and inspire action by demonstrating the many benefits of coastline protection.


1. biodiversity: The variety of plants and animals living in an area


Aryn Baker, TFK, © by Cricket Media, Inc. Reproduced with permission.

1
What is the author's perspective on the role of marine organisms in the planet's carbon cycle?
A.
The author believes that their protection is necessary for climate control.
B.
The author thinks their impact is unimportant when compared to other environmental factors.
C.
The author argues that focusing on them takes away from important climate issues.
D.
The author is unsure about the extent of their influence.

Answer 1

A. The author believes that their protection is necessary for climate control. The passage states whales, plankton, and other marine life play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and that ignoring these processes hinders climate control.