Over 70% of our planet is covered in oceans, more than 80% of the world’s population lives within 50 miles of the coast, and fish products are a primary source of animal protein for approximately 40% of the world. We rely extensively on oceans, but this relationship is not always a healthy one. Our reliance often leads to conflicts between people and ocean resources including overfishing, loss of ocean biodiversity, marine pollution and coastal and marine habitat degradation. Focuses on the health and well-being of the world’s oceans and the people who depend on them. Examines not simply the oceans’ ecosystems, but the social, economic, political, cultural and institutional forces that shape our interactions with them. Evaluates how and why people interact with oceans and marine resources today, with an eye to understanding how it shapes the oceans of tomorrow.

• Understand the human activities that are impacting the world’s oceans and ocean-dependent communities and the various social, economic, political, and cultural factors that drive human-ocean interactions.
• Identify and describe the major international and U.S. ocean conservation and management policies and governance systems.
• Define and discuss current and emerging challenges in ocean conservation related to fisheries, aquaculture, climate change, ocean acidification, and pollution.
• Identify and discuss current and emerging solutions to ocean conservation challenges including technological innovations, community-based and Indigenous management systems for fisheries and aquaculture, integrated land-sea management to reduce pollution inputs, and shifting perspectives to understand and appreciate the intrinsic value of the oceans.
• Understand our personal connection to and impacts on the oceans through our consumption of ocean products, contributors to climate change and pollution, and our direct interactions with the ocean.
• Develop and evaluate proposals for new strategies and initiatives to mitigate human stressors to marine ecosystems.

This course appears on your transcript identically to how it appears on the transcript of an enrolled ASU student who has taken the course on one of ASU’s campuses. Course attendance dates will be listed on your transcript. An on-demand course will appear on your transcript in the session you complete the course.

This course satisfies 3 credit hours toward the SUST: Sustainability General Studies requirement for Arizona State University. It is strongly encouraged that you consult with your institution of choice to determine how these credits will be applied to their degree requirements prior to transferring your credit.

To be successful in this course, we recommend English language fluency and computer literacy. We also encourage you to make sure your laptop or desktop computer meets the technical requirements.