Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of natural systems. Sylvia Earle More Quotes by Sylvia Earle More Quotes From Sylvia Earle We have been far too aggressive about extracting ocean wildlife, not appreciating that there are limits and even points of no return. Sylvia Earle appreciateoceanlimits Rather than be afraid of evolution and try to stifle inquiry, people should revel in the joys of knowing and find a serenity and a joy in being a part the rest of life on Earth. Not apart from it, but a part of it. Sylvia Earle rest-of-lifeknowingpeople Since the middle of the 20th century, more has been learnt about the ocean than during all preceding human history; at the same time, more has been lost. Sylvia Earle centuryoceanlost The living ocean drives planetary chemistry, governs climate and weather, and otherwise provides the cornerstone of the life-support system for all creatures on our planet, from deep-sea starfish to desert sagebrush. That's why the ocean matters. If the sea is sick, we'll feel it. If it dies, we die. Our future and the state of the oceans are one. Sylvia Earle support-systemsoceansea Like a shipwreck or a jetty, almost anything that forms a structure in the ocean, whether it is natural or artificial over time, collects life. Sylvia Earle jettyoceannatural When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed. Sylvia Earle wildlifeplanetstwo Our job is to keep what is working intact and not destroy what we have got. Sylvia Earle jobs The value of sharks' lives is now widely understood to be more important than their value as products. And when you have sharks in an area, it's a sign of good health. They're top predators, which means they feed on old, sick, and slower fish, keeping an entire population healthy. Sylvia Earle healthysickmean Ten percent of the big fish still remain. There are still some blue whales. There are still some krill in Antarctica. There are a few oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Half the coral reefs are still in pretty good shape, a jeweled belt around the middle of the planet. There's still time, but not a lot, to turn things around. Sylvia Earle oysterslakesblue Humans have always wondered the big questions, "Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I going?" It's part of human nature. It's perhaps the underpinnings of religion. Sylvia Earle human-naturebigshumans That attitude of arrogance, that attitude of "It's all about me. It's all about what I can get out of life now" - well, I'm personally driven by wanting to get out of my life the best I can achieve as a gift for those who come after me. Sylvia Earle achievearroganceattitude There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in the sea before it's too late. Sylvia Earle sharksopportunitysweet Earth as an ecosystem stands out in the all of the universe. There's no place that we know about that can support life as we know it, not even our sister planet, Mars, where we might set up housekeeping someday, but at great effort and trouble we have to recreate the things we take for granted here. Sylvia Earle ecosystemseffortsupport The concept of 'peak oil' has penetrated the hearts and minds of people concerned about energy for the future. 'Peak fish' occurred around the end of the 1980s. Sylvia Earle oilheartpeople I actually love diving at night; you see a lot of fish then that you don't see in the daytime. Sylvia Earle fishesdivingnight We have the power to abstain from destructive behavior. Sylvia Earle destructive-behaviordestructivebehavior I've had the joy of spending thousands of hours under the sea. I wish I could take people along to see what I see, and to know what I know. Sylvia Earle seajoypeople The ocean seemed like a sea of Eden. But now we are facing paradise lost. Sylvia Earle oceanedensea I'm not against extracting a modest amount of wildlife out of the ocean for human consumption, but I am really concerned about the large-scale industrial fishing that engages in destructive practices like trawling and longlining. Sylvia Earle oceanfishingpractice You should know what is taken out of the ecosystem in order to give you a moment's sustenance. Sylvia Earle ecosystemstakenorder
