This video discusses the critical issue of ocean pollution and the importance of raising $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from the ocean. It highlights the shocking discovery of plastic waste even in the deepest parts of the ocean and the harmful effects of this pollution on marine life. The campaign led by #TeamSeas aims to clean up the ocean, which will have immediate and long-term positive impacts on the ecosystem. The summary also emphasizes the significance of the ocean for oxygen production, climate regulation, and biodiversity. It concludes with seven practical ways for individuals to help protect the ocean and encourages donations to the #TeamSeas campaign, which removes 1 pound of plastic for every dollar donated.
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1. Explorer Victor Vescovo descended 35,853 feet underwater in the Marianas Trench, setting a new record for manned descents.
2. During his exploration, Vescovo discovered three new species of deep-sea life and found plastic pollution, including a plastic bag, at the ocean's deepest point.
3. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest garbage patch, covering 1.6 million square kilometers and containing an estimated 80,000 tonnes of plastic.
4. Plastic pollution harms marine life, with 100,000 marine animals dying each year from entanglement or ingestion of plastic.
5. Plastics can enter the human food chain when seafood consumers ingest chemicals from contaminated marine animals.
6. There are approximately 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, including microplastic fibers formed from the breakdown of larger plastic pieces.
7. Removing 30 million pounds of plastic and trash from the ocean, as part of the #TeamSeas campaign, has both immediate and long-term positive effects on the ocean's ecosystem.
8. The ocean produces over half of the world's oxygen through phytoplankton, absorbs carbon dioxide, and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate.
9. The ocean is a habitat for a vast variety of marine life, with approximately 18,000 known species of fish and many more undiscovered marine organisms.
10. The ocean is a major source of protein for over a billion people, with fish accounting for a significant portion of global animal protein consumption.
11. The ocean has therapeutic properties and has yielded anti-viral drugs and cancer-fighting agents from marine organisms.
12. Being near the ocean can have positive effects on mental and physical health.
13. There are several ways to care for the ocean, including educating oneself, supporting local efforts and policies, reducing pollution, and volunteering.
14. Donating to the #TeamSeas campaign can contribute to cleaning the ocean, with all donations split equally between Ocean Conservancy and The Ocean Cleanup.
15. Every dollar donated to #TeamSeas will remove 1 pound of plastic, and the campaign aims to achieve a 90% reduction of floating ocean plastic by 2040.