Imagine [Music] a city alive with movement. There aren't any roads, any traffic lights. Yet everything flows in perfect harmony.The colors are electric, the structures intricate, and the life endless. Now just imagine just picture that city slowly crumbling to the ground silently invisibly beneath the surface of the sea. I am Rian Shambani.I'm a student, an open water certified diver and someone who loves the ocean with all my heart. The first time I saw a coral reef, I felt like I had stumbled onto a livin ...

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, July 26, ocean advocates gathered at Oceana’s 18th annual SeaChange Summer Party at Montage Laguna Beach, raising more than $1.7 million to support the organization’s campaigns to protect and restore the oceans off California and around the world. The event, hosted by award-winning actor and Oceana Board Member Sam Waterston and co-chaired by Oceana Board Member Elizabeth Wahler and Jeff Blasingame, honored acclaimed scientific documentari ...

Ocean Conservation & Bioacoustics - The ocean covers over 70% of the planet, connecting people, cultures, continents, past, present, and future [1][22] - Only about 5% of the ocean has been explored with precision, highlighting the vast unknown [4] - Sound is crucial for marine life for communication, navigation, defense, and survival [5][9][10] - Sound travels at approximately 1500 meters per second in the ocean, about five times faster than in the air [7] Marine Noise Pollution - Marine noise pollution is an increasing threat, primarily from cargo ships, oil platforms, and military sonars [11][12] - Excess noise can cause hearing damage, disorientation, communication interference, and stress in marine animals, leading to behavioral changes and mortality [15] - Mass strandings of cetacean species have been linked to high-intensity military sonars [16] Conservation Efforts & Impact - Somar, an organization founded in 2020, unites science, art, and education to connect people with the ocean [3] - Somar has reached approximately 5,000 people through its activities, creating a network of awareness [17] - Environmental sustainability requires conscious use of natural resources and reduced environmental impact [20] - The ocean produces most of the oxygen we breathe, stores carbon, regulates climate, and supports biodiversity [23]

Environmental Concerns - The talk emphasizes the importance of ocean conservation due to the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on marine life [1] - The speaker's personal diving experiences highlight the disruption and death of marine species caused by plastic [1] - The talk warns of the dire consequences for oceans if current destructive practices continue [1] Call to Action - The message urges immediate action to protect oceans, emphasizing their vital role in sustaining life [1] - The speaker questions why everyone should care about protecting oceans [1] Speaker Background - The speaker is a 13-year-old diver from Lebanon with a passion for ocean conservation [1] - The speaker has witnessed firsthand the negative effects of plastic pollution on marine animals [1]

Environmental Concerns & Importance of Coral Reefs - Oceans provide all life on Earth, nourish with food, produce oxygen, and offer leisure activities [1] - Coral reefs and coral gardens are vital ecosystems, serving as oases in the ocean [2] - Two-thirds of coral reside in deeper, colder waters, including along the European coast [3] - Coral gardens are as crucial as tropical reefs, providing shelter and nurseries for fish [4][5] Threats to Coral Gardens - Coral gardens face threats, including climate change, coral bleaching, and warming waters [6] - Unregulated or illegal fishing poses a significant threat due to the rich biodiversity attracting fishing vessels [6] - Fishing nets entangle and destroy corals, with bycatch often exceeding target fish [7][8] Conservation and Restoration Strategies - Awareness of coral garden existence is crucial for protection [9] - Protecting coral gardens allows for recovery and serves as nurseries for other corals [10] - Coral restoration is necessary when coral gardens are devastated [11] - Fragmenting healthy corals and transplanting them onto degraded reefs is one restoration method [14] - Coral seeding, involving lab-based fertilization and transplantation of baby corals, enhances diversity [19][20] - Combining fragmentation and coral seeding yields the best restoration results [20] Research and Development - Research is being conducted to apply coral seeding techniques to European coral species [21] - Studies focus on coral biology, spawning mechanisms, and optimal conditions for coral larvae [22][23][24] - Transplanting baby corals into nurseries allows for observation and comparison of growth rates [25] Call to Action - The ocean's condition can be overwhelming, but action is possible [26][27] - Collaboration between scientists and individuals with diverse abilities is essential to save coral gardens [27]

Environmental Sustainability & Ocean Conservation - The industry emphasizes the importance of switching to environmentally friendly fuels to reduce heavy pollution from shipping [1] - Protecting marine life is a priority [1] - Deep sea mining is viewed skeptically due to ecological concerns [1] - Protecting 30% of the oceans can allow for sustainable fishing in the remaining 70% [5] - The industry highlights the need to avoid actions that "rape and pillage" the environment [3] Economic & Business Considerations - Responsible business practices should be regulated by responsible leaders [7] - Protecting the environment is a good investment for businesses [12] - Tariffs are seen as inflationary and causing economic distress [11] - A transition to green energy is essential for lowering the cost of living and increasing the standard of living [17] - The cost of transitioning to green energy is comparable to annual spending on fossil fuels, suggesting a quick payback [19] Energy Transition & Resource Management - There's a need for more copper and lithium for the energy transition [13] - The company is approached by countries with large copper and lithium deposits to lead responsible mining initiatives [14] - Green hydrogen projects faced delays due to concerns about cost of living [16] - The company is investing in green steel production [17]