When I stand next to the ocean, her magic once again influences me. I feel the deep mystical pull of my spirit toward the water’s edge, which has always been present in my life.
I’m grateful for the countless gifts the ocean bestows upon us—the beauty that inspires us, the recreation that revitalizes us, and the abundance that sustains us. For too long, we believed the ocean was too big to fail, that we could take without limit and give back our waste without consequence. But now we understand our profound responsibility.
I’m thankful for the ocean’s remarkable capacity to regulate our climate, generate the oxygen we breathe, and support the intricate web of life that makes our planet habitable. This gratitude compels me to take action, craft ideas, and generate solutions in support of the sea.
My life’s work has been devoted to steering humanity’s relationship with the ocean toward a brighter future through diverse, carefully chosen strategies. I invite you to join me in this effort to ensure healthy seas not just for ourselves but also for generations to come. For if the ocean is not healthy, neither are we.
– Mark J. Spalding, President, The Ocean Foundation