The ocean holds clues to past civilisations and cultures, provides a rich resource for new medicines and treatments, but more importantly, is home to millions of undiscovered species. Ocean scientists around the world have been seeking to unlock its secrets, but only just over 20% of the ocean floor is mapped. What lives, feeds and breeds down there in the icy depths remains a huge mystery.

Large-scale extraction of ocean species like cod, herring, tuna, swordfish and halibut, has brought the collapse of these wild populations by about 90% in just the last few decades.

But, a new wave of understanding about why the ocean matters is bringing a glimmer of hope.

On today’s Climate Connections, Dr Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue & National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence - who has dedicated her life to explore, study and protect the oceans - shares first-hand insights on her dives into the deep blue and why exploration is an important step in educating the masses.

She also dives into what she’s hoping to achieve when she leads Ocean Geographic’s BIG ACE Expedition to ground-zero of the climate crisis: the Arctic, in line with her 90th birthday next year (2025).

Special thanks to Ocean Geographic.

Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar
Photo credits: Michael Aw / Ocean Geographic
Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

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