- Voices of the Ocean
The art of not drifting apart: life lessons from sea otters
I took pride in my stubbornness as a young child. My family can attest to this.
For many years I used to make a point of objecting whenever museums or art exhibitions were suggested as “fun” family activities.
Wandering around such places for hours on end did not exactly line up with my vision of crafting mud pies in the garden to serve to my siblings.
My exception to this rule was the Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Waterfront’s Pier 59 is home to habitats with names like Life on the Edge, Crashing Waves, and Window on Washington Waters, showcasing the vast diversity of life in the Ocean.
To this day this aquarium remains an established part of the itinerary whenever I’m in Seattle.
Two current aquarium inhabitants are particularly special to me. Mishka and Sekiu are sea otters who I could watch for hours as they effortlessly glide through the water and playfully twist and turn and bump into each other.
I have a soft spot for this species because it was a sea otter poster that first persuaded me to break my previously steadfast no “fun” family activities rule and step foot in the aquarium.
“We hold hands in our sleep, so we never drift apart”.
These were the words written on that poster. I learnt that this phrase describes the way some sea otters have been observed to hold each other’s paws while resting in a group (called a ‘raft’).
Since that first aquarium visit, I have gone on to pursue a degree in biology. My days are now filled with learning about the pressing challenges of global biodiversity loss and climate change, alongside uplifting stories of conservation success and awesome cutting-edge research.
One of my friends asked me recently if I had to choose one takeaway from my degree to share with others, what would it be? Given the breadth of the field of biology I took some time to think about it.
“We hold hands in our sleep, so we never drift apart”
I read these words again, this time printed on a Seattle Aquarium magnet, and now have an answer for her.
As a species, humans have picked up a habit of drifting apart from nature.
Societies across the world have grown, developed, and flourished. But societal complexity has historically come at the cost of increased disconnect from the wild.
Take a moment to consider where the food that you consume comes from. The journey the coffee beans took to give you that morning brew. The origin of the materials in the clothes that you wear.
Nature provides these resources that fuel our lives.
Yet for many products, disconnect from nature is a goal. After all, meat encased in neat plastic packaging is more comfortable to consume than the reminder of its origin in nature.
Humans benefit from the natural biological, chemical, and physical processes, such as nutrient cycles and food webs, that occur within ecosystems. Examples of these benefits, known as ‘ecosystem services’, include resource provision, crop pollination, clean water, and climate regulation.
Recognising ecosystem services is crucial because harm inflicted upon nature diminishes its ability to provide these essential services.
It can be easy to forget that humans are a species too. Our scientific name is Homo sapiens. Humans are an inherent part of nature, and yet we often detach ourselves from it. It’s as if when we walk out of that aquarium we are no longer connected to the Ocean.
This could not be further from the truth.
All our actions, big and small, impact the planet. As is characteristic of human nature, we have the potential for good, bad, and everything in between. For instance, while overconsumption puts pressure on ecosystems and the services that they provide, conservation programs act to preserve and protect the environment.
It is up to us – as imperfect human beings – to try our best, maximise our positive impacts and minimise the negatives.
So, how can we avoid drifting apart from nature?
- Reconnect with nature by spending more time outside
- Be a conscious and mindful consumer
- Actively educate yourself about the Ocean and the environment
- Engage with conservation initiatives
The connection between people and planet must be acknowledged. We cannot afford to drift apart from the natural world.
Thank you for raising your voice for the Ocean, Katie!
Connect with Katie Curtis-Smith via LinkedIn or her Instagram page. Learn about how to submit your own Wavemaker Story here.
