Human beings may have to search deeper for mineral requirements, says Oceanographer

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 7 (EMN): The ever-increasing human population is exerting tremendous pressure on natural resources, while minerals on land are getting exhausted at an alarming rate.

On the other hand, oceans are a giant pool holding a variety of minerals such as copper, gold, cobalt, etc., according to Dr. Rosaline Punyü, the first Naga to hold a Doctorate of Philosophy in Marine Science.

Maintaining that the vast majority of minerals in the oceans are yet to be mined, Punyü said humans may rely on deep sea mining for their mineral requirements soon.

Eastern Mirror reached out to Dr. Rosaline Punyü to understand the role of oceans, on the occasion of World Oceans Day observed on June 8 every year. The theme for 2022 is ‘Revitalisation: collective action for the ocean’.

‘Of the many significant roles that oceans play to sustain our survival, climate regulation is one,’ Punyü said, citing the arrival of monsoons in Nagaland every year with remarkable regularity owing to the contributions of the oceans, “without which it is impossible to even imagine the monsoons”.

“Such regular monsoons ensure good agricultural produce in our fields and farms, and therefore, we ought to thank the oceans for the food on our plates,” she said.

From producing oxygen to regulating the climate, oceans are also considered as a giant sink of carbon-dioxide, she said, adding that those mammoth water bodies play pivotal roles in cooling the Earth’s temperature while mitigating the harmful effects of global warming.

She also maintained that the role of oceans in human lives does not end there as they are dependent on marine resources even in pharmaceuticals.

“We are well aware that our Earth is not free from diseases, many of which are deadly. A lot of medicines that we use today come from the oceans,” she informed.

Such marine-based drugs, she said, are being used as anti-malarial, analgesic, antiviral, neuroprotective, anticancer, among many others.

“Today, a number of marine-derived drugs are going through clinical and pre-clinical trials for the treatment of many illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer,” she informed.

“This has been possible because the diversity of marine organisms from which these drugs are produced is humongous, to say the least. That being said, about 90% of these marine organisms are yet to be documented which is estimated to be more than two million species,” she added.

She affirmed that with its overwhelmingly vast composition of living organisms and resources, oceans hold the key to the discovery of new drugs, many of which may prove to be superior to the ones which exist today.

Punyü said that about 70% of Earth is occupied by oceans, leaving only 30% of the area to human beings other creations.

She lamented the relevance of oceans being ignored or undermined despite the fact that the survival of human beings on Earth is dependent on natural resources such as the oceans.

“Oceans produce half of the entire oxygen on earth! Therefore, every time we breathe in, we owe it to the oceans. The role of oceans in our lives begins from here, from the very breath that we just took,” she said.

“The dependence of human on oceanic resources for medicines, food and livelihood is manifold,” she reiterated, adding that the United Nations has estimated that around 40 million people will be dependent on ocean-based industries for their livelihoods by 2030.

She also advocated the need to rise along with the rest of the world to protect and revitalise the oceans. 

“Our Creator has designed nature in such a way, wherein every creature harmoniously exists with the other. Very loosely, this can be termed as ecological balance in nature,” she said, adding that human beings, which constitute just about 0.01% of all living beings on Earth, have destroyed natural resources to an unimaginable extent through their irresponsible actions.

“This is threatening our own existence today. Our actions affect our oceans even if we consider ourselves to be sitting far away from them. Our daily carbon emissions and our reckless waste disposals are choking up the oceans,” she cautioned.

She called upon the Naga community to respond by minimising the use of non-biodegradable products such as plastics and pesticides.

“Let us try to avoid the use of products such as toothpastes and face cleansers which specifically contain microbeads/microplastics,” Punyü appealed.

These products end up in the ocean, create pollution and cause serious hazards to marine biodiversity, she apprised, adding that reducing carbon emissions from automobiles and other sources can bring relief to the air and oceans.

Advocating the need to conserve the forests and protect wildlife, she said simple actions that can reduce the burden humans impose on the oceans, should be implemented.

“Let us choose the eco-friendly ways in our lifestyles because, what we use on the land ends up in the oceans and what we do on the land affects our oceans. A healthy ocean will ensure a healthy you and me,” she concluded.