Introducing Vitamin Sea – a new series exploring the connection between our connection to the ocean and marine conservation.

Our health is inextricably linked to that of the ocean. Half of the oxygen we breathe comes from tiny plankton in the sea, and our behavior on land, no matter how far from shore we live, affects our waters in many ways – from plastic waste and sewage pollution to the fish we eat.

That’s why Vitamin Sea – a new series from The Conversation – is an exciting collaboration between our Environment Editor (Editor Anna Turns) and our Health Editor (Commissioning Editor Katie Edwards).

Anna Turns, Senior Environmental Editor

Seven years ago, my daughter and I campaigned to get businesses in our home town on the south coast of Devon to stop using single-use plastic.

Over two years, we organised beach cleans and school assemblies, convinced 60 restaurants, hotels and shops to switch to reusable items, took part in live TV interviews and led a two-day, 35km paddleboard expedition to collect rubbish from every creek in the Salcombe Estuary.

I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have bothered to go this far if we didn’t already feel a strong connection to this beautiful tidal estuary and a strong desire to protect it from rubbish and pollution. But having grown up in inland Bedfordshire, I wonder where that comes from.

The science of blue health – the concept that being near, on or in water is good for our physical and mental health – is relatively well established. Water includes everything from decorative fountains in city centres to rivers, lakes, lochs and streams, and all of it eventually flows into the sea.

This Vitamin Sea series now looks at new research that shows how our interactions with the sea can influence how marine habitats are protected – and that our relationship with the sea is reciprocal, no matter where we live.

Katie Edwards, Editor, Health

I grew up in Mexborough in South Yorkshire, a post-industrial northern town where poverty and deprivation are rife. Trips to the beaches of Skegness, Scarborough and Blackpool were part of the annual holiday experience – the sea and its creatures seemed a long way away from everyday life.

So what does Blue Health mean for those living inland? How can people living in urban areas, who often face pressing social issues in their communities, contribute to ocean health? How can those of us living miles from the coast build a relationship with the ocean and enjoy its benefits?

From the sunscreen we apply in the height of summer, to the wetsuits we wear when swimming, to the products we pour down the drain and the food we eat, our experts explain how our choices and actions can positively or negatively impact the marine environment.

Researchers explain the social science behind the healing power of surf therapy and how they measure the benefits of Blue Health. And scientists shed light on why participating in a beach cleanup is actually restorative for mental health.

Let’s dive in.

Swimming, sailing or simply building sandcastles, the sea has a positive effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection contributes to marine conservation, scientists are now investigating the power of blue light for health.

This article is part of the Vitamin Sea series, which explores how the ocean can be improved through our interactions with it.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.