The year 2022 was one of contrasts for the planet’s oceans, marked by international cooperation to safeguard marine environments and new discoveries from the ocean’s depths. These steps forward occurred against a backdrop of persistent environmental pressures.
Global Policy and Commitments
A step in global ocean governance occurred at the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, which brought nations together to address pressing marine issues. The conference focused on generating science-based solutions to improve ocean health and served as a platform for governments and organizations to announce new voluntary commitments.
Building on this momentum, a resolution was adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2). Member states agreed to begin negotiations for an international, legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. This sets the stage for a comprehensive agreement addressing the full lifecycle of plastic, aiming to create a unified global framework to tackle this threat.
Landmark Discoveries
Exploration efforts in 2022 yielded several finds, including the lost shipwreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance. The vessel, which sank in 1915, was located preserved in the icy waters of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. This discovery solved a long-standing maritime mystery.
The year also expanded our understanding of the microbial world with the identification of the world’s largest known bacterium. Found in Caribbean mangrove swamps, Thiomargarita magnifica is a filamentous organism that can reach up to two centimeters in length, making it visible to the naked eye. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the maximum size of bacteria.
Further exploration revealed a seemingly pristine coral reef off the coast of Tahiti. Located at depths greater than most reefs, this rose-shaped formation stretches for nearly two miles. Its discovery in a healthy state provides a scientific baseline for understanding reef resilience as other coral ecosystems are threatened by climate change.
The Ocean’s Health Status
For the fourth consecutive year, 2022 set a new record for ocean heat content. The upper 2,000 meters of the ocean absorbed an unprecedented amount of heat, a direct consequence of accumulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This continued warming trend has profound implications for marine life and global weather patterns.
This warming had tangible effects on marine ecosystems. In 2022, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffered another mass bleaching event, the fourth in seven years. Widespread bleaching was confirmed across large sections of the reef, driven by marine heatwaves caused by rising ocean temperatures.