We come together today, united by our deep connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety.
For many of us, it is a place where some of our happiest memories are made, where we've explored the wonders of the natural world, and we have all relied on its great abundance for our food and livelihoods.
And yet, all too often, it can feel distant and disconnected from our everyday lives, allowing us to forget just how vital it really is.
The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on Earth.
They generate half of the world's oxygen, regulate our climate, and provide food for more than three billion people.
And today, they need our help.
Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution, and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems, and on the people and communities who depend most upon them.
What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes.
We all stand to be impacted, and we are all responsible for change, both negative and positive.
But there remains time to turn this tide.
