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​Perhaps a more fitting name for our planet would be "The Blue world". It makes sense, after all, since water covers over 70% of the Earth's surface, with the vast majority of this being contained ​ in seemingly bottomless oceans, which accommodate a staggering 97% of all water on the planet. It is easy to omit the importance of our five great oceans; as a land dwelling species, many of us seldom experience the wonders of the ocean, our gaze failing to dive below the crashing waves of the surface and see the bigger picture. Yet despite this, the ocean is one of the most important planetary ecosystems, and with good reason. Over half of the vital oxygen we breathe comes from the oceans, as a result of phytoplankton photosynthesis. These microscopic organisms simultaneously enable the ocean to act as the world's largest carbon sink, absorbing between 25-40% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and 90%  of the excess heat generated by these emissions. In addition, the ocean absorbs far more solar radiation than the land, and redistributes this through global ocean currents, contributing to the maintenance of moderate temperatures across regions of the Earth. It is therefore obvious that maintaining the health of our oceans will act as a critical counterweight to the effects of global warming and climate change, as well as preserving the plethora of flora and fauna species which call the ocean home. 

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Yet our oceans are under threat. Warming water, over-fishing, and pollution are possibly the biggest three challenges facing the oceans, each with far reaching and unprecedented consequences.

 

In some ways, the ocean has become a victim of its own success. Its remarkable ability to absorb vast quantities of human-produced carbon dioxide emissions has led to the rapid acidification of its waters. This occurs when CO2 dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid, lowering the pH of the ocean, and resulting in the bleaching of coral reefs, as well as creating an inhospitable environment for fish and other marine life.

 

Furthermore, over-fishing has led to around 35% of all global fish stocks being classed as "over-fished" - meaning they have been exploited beyond sustainable levels. This is primarily the work of large-scale trawler fishing boats, particularly "bottom trawlers", which exploit fish stocks on an industrial scale. The collapse of the Atlantic cod population, in the northwest Atlantic in 1992 was a prime example of this, and should have served as a reality check for the global fish market; however, Atlantic cod populations still remain well below sustainable levels. Not only does this threaten numerous species with extinction, it also leads to economic hardship among small-scale subsistence fishermen, who rely on fishing to make a living - with reduced fish stocks, countless jobs are lost, and many local fishermen are left vulnerable to poverty. Small-scale fishing, whilst not ideal, is far more sustainable than industrial fishing, as it leads to a smaller catch, and often utilises more selective gear, therefore having a reduced impact on fish stocks.

 

What's often forgotten about industrial fishing is the heartbreaking volume of by-catch. This is the unwanted fish or marine animals which become trapped in commercial fishing nets, during the fishing for another species. Tragically, species such as dolphins, sharks, turtles, seabirds, as well as other species of fish, are all cast back into the ocean, already dead. This is the harrowing truth of the cost of industrial fishing, clearly illustrated by the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, which advocates for the termination of fish consumption. 

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Finally, ocean pollution, though more specifically, plastic pollution. It is difficult to measure, though estimates suggest that around 80% of all marine litter was plastic, or contained plastic. There are other dangerous and toxic pollutants of course, such as oil, chemicals, and heavy metals, though plastic is by far the most common. Plastic pollution is one of the more well-known challenges facing the ocean, though the scale of the problem is often tough to grasp. The vast quantity of waste that has arrived in our oceans, as a result of littering and poor waste management, has led to the formation of five major ocean garbage patches; the most infamous of these being the North Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". These patches form as a result of human-generated waste being swept into the ocean, and accumulating into extensive "islands" of waste, due to ocean currents and wind patterns. The majority of this waste consists of plastic, which is buoyant and degrades very slowly, meaning it can remain in the ocean for years to come. The patches vary in size and density, though each contains an unimaginable volume of plastic, which has catastrophic consequences for marine life. For perspective, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an estimated area of 1.6 million square kilometres - more than twice the size of France! It is estimated to contain at least 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, and have a mass of around 100,000 tonnes. This is an unprecedented environmental catastrophe that requires our urgent attention if anything is to be done to combat this problem. 

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Fortunately, all is not lost. It is easy to become demoralised by the facts, and the great extent of the problem (believe us!). However, it is critical that we hold a deep understanding of the truth; no more hiding the numbers, or green-washing. We can only attempt to tackle the issue if we understand what we are up against. There are a plethora of vital organisations carrying out cleanup operations in the ocean and along the coasts of our planet, making bold strides in the battle to remove plastic and other pollutants from the ocean. That's where Till the Coast is Clear comes in. 

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Till the Coast is Clear is a fantastic Community Interest Company (CIC) and social enterprise, based in South Devon. Founded in 2018 by Gary Jolliffe, it aims to combat the issue of plastic and ocean pollution. Their mission is to inspire positive change and promote sustainable and regenerative practices towards a circular economic approach to the future. They clear up plastic pollution from less accessible shorelines using a special recyclable boat and a fleet of kayaks made from recycled fishing nets. Their work is vital in keeping our oceans clean of man-made pollutants, and preventing damage to marine ecosystems and wildlife.​

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Our Save our Seas range attempts to raise awareness of the challenges facing the ocean, and how we can collectively work towards combating these issues. This range is designed to encompass the beauty of our oceans and life within, with all products made from entirely recycled or organic materials, encouraging a more circular economy. 100% of our profits from the sales of our Save our Seas clothing range directly supports Till the Coast is Clear, helping to fund the removal of pollution from our oceans. You can be sure that when purchasing our clothing, you're helping to fund real environmental progress, and looking stylish whilst doing so!

 

Find our Save our Seas clothing range below:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​