History

The ceaseless tides of change are greatly diminishing, if not destroying, the oceans that Rachel Carson knew a half century ago. Oceans are not distinct ecosystems, not separate from what we do on land or to the atmosphere. Oceans are seamlessly connected to estuarine and riparian waterways, and they to terrestrial run-off, aquifers and climate.

“Ocean river” as used by Homer and Rachel Carson recognizes the human folly in attempting to separate one from the other and calls for a more inclusive and holistic perspective. To attempt to draw boundaries between ecosystems is not the way of the salmon, the eel, otter or osprey. Instead, we must recognize the permeability of boundaries as Carson did. We should follow her lead to entertain the most complex of systems thinking to better understand the nature of oceans, shores, rivers and watersheds.

For ocean wildlife and us, to the extent that we eat of, swim in, stroll by, or breathe the air off it, the ocean is being assaulted by five forms of environmental degradation:

1. Resource extractions with related spills/disturbances including over-fishing, dredging, mining and oil drilling:
2. Nutrient run-off, eutrophication, and coral bleaching—the “sliming” of oceans;
3. Bioaccumulation in animals of pollutants, endocrine disruptors and toxins that include heavy metals—toxins that also add-up in us, though ours is not the only fertility at risk;
4. Invasive species disrupting and forever changing natural systems;
5. Climate change and greenhouse gas build-up causing sea water acidification, sea level rise, changes in ocean currents and pack ice.
   

Ocean river assaults interact and amplify stresses on natural systems in nefarious and destructive ways. Addressing one alone without a more complete understanding of the interconnectiveness of the others followed by actions on multiple fronts will fail to restore healthy oceans. Humanity’s sustainable subsistence of ocean protein, not to mention our appreciation of oceans, depends on systemic adaptive management and remediation of all five assaults at the same time.

The Ocean River Institute actively engages individuals, families and communities to address environmental assaults through the just principles of environmental subsidiarity and science skills of observation, recording, questioning and communicating.