The health of the world’s oceans is degrading as a result of human activities.  Furthermore, as the human population continues to grow and extend the range of its activities, as well as increase its demands for marine goods and services, the world’s oceans and coasts will be increasingly stressed.  Currently, the biggest threats to the health of the marine environment are:

• Habitat destruction and alteration
• Overfishing
• Pollution from sewage and chemicals
• Increasing eutrophication
• Changes to hydrology and sediment flow
• Global climate change

Source: GESAMP Report no. 70, 2001

The oceans are a vast resource whose usefulness to the global society is continuing to be realized. Thus, it is in the best interest of humanity that they are exploited in a manner that is protective and sustainable, in order to preserve their health and guarantee their continuing viability. However, the complexity of ocean ecosystems combined with the equally complex socio-economic conditions that dictate human behaviour make sustainable management and exploitation of marine resources and services a formidable challenge.  Meeting this challenge begins with the sciences.  Understanding the elements of the global oceans, their biological, chemical and physical processes and the linkages amongst and between them, is critical to understanding how anthropogenic activities affect and impact the oceans and coasts, and to developing effective management protocols to protect the oceans, coasts and their resources for future generations.  To this end, the IOC participates in research and programs whose objectives include understanding the ecology of the oceans and determining how anthropogenic activities impact the quality and health of the marine environment.