Life Below Water Lab

The world’s oceans form the bedrock of global communities and ecosystems. However, a combination of climate change, pollution and resource overexploitation have brought these vital habitats to a crisis point.

Learn how your innovations can protect the health of marine ecosystems by joining the Life Below Water Lab, part of Prepr’s Sustainable Innovation Lab series.

Banner: Life Below Water Lab.
UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water.

UN Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water

This UNESCO goal aims for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems, especially targeting unregulated fishing and mitigating ocean acidification. It also calls for economic policies which encourage sustainable use of marine resources, as well as scientific research towards the protection of ocean ecosystems.

Key facts about our oceans

Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living space on the planet by volume.

Molluscs, corals and skeletal organisms face a high risk of weakening due to high levels of ocean acidity, caused by major shifts in the carbon chemistry of the water.

Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5% of global GDP.

Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions.

Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.

Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their primary source of protein.

Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people.

Open Ocean sites show current levels of acidity have increased by 26% since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Without concerted efforts, coastal eutrophication is expected to increase in 20% of large marine ecosystems by 2050.

16% of all major marine ecosystems are placed in “high” or “highest” risk categories for coastal eutrophication.

The proportion of world marine fish sticks within sustainable levels has declined from 90% in 1974 to 68.8% in 2013.

70% of European Union members have introduced regulations, poliices and laws aimed to help small fisheries and stop the spread of unsustainable, overfishing practices.

By joining the Life Below Water Lab, you can:

Icon: world growth.

Build solutions for the real world using our expert tools and resources

Icon: idea growth.

Connect and share your innovations with like-minded experts and entrepreneurs using Prepr’s virtual Lab network

Icon: globe.

Go from problem to pitch deck in 90 days or less using Prepr’s P.I.E.® Framework

Icon: growth mindset.

Build a portfolio project or CSR initiative that stands out and makes a real-world impact

Ready to build for a better future?

Get recognized for solving real-world problems. Join the Life Below Water Lab today.