Ocean Research Argumentative Essay

The ocean has captivated mankind since the beginning of time. The Challenger Expedition, the first modern oceanography expedition, only began in 1872(“History of Oceanography”). Why was it that we ignored ocean research for so long? We have only “dipped our toes in the water” (Cousteau 194) and many people are afraid of taking a dive. However, ocean exploration is most certainly worth the risks, as the benefits of ocean research far outweigh the risks. Just two benefits of ocean research include new medicines and a new source for renewable energy.
First and foremost, we should explore the ocean as it is chock full of organisms, many of which have great medicinal properties. The common horseshoe crab exemplifies this the best. It has a special blood that clots easily, and this is of great use to drug testers. Scientists can use it to find bacteria in vaccines. Previously, they had to use rabbits, which was slow, inefficient, and harmful to the rabbit. This test, called the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, is now used everywhere. In fact, all FDA-approved drugs must be tested with the LAL test first. (Khalid).
Had we not ventured into the ocean, we would have never discovered this valuable resource. This stands as a call to action for immediate ocean exploration.
Secondly, the ocean must be explored as it is the world’s greatest source of renewable energy.
Why haven’t we tapped into this valuable resource yet? Amitai Etzioni, a professor and advocate for ocean exploration, stated in his article Final Frontier vs. Fruitful Frontier: The Case for Increasing Ocean Exploration that,”BOEM [Bureau of Ocean Energy Management] further estimates that total worldwide power potential from currents is five terawatts—about a quarter of predicted global energy demand for 2020—and that “capturing just 1/1,000th of the available energy from the Gulf Stream…would supply Florida with 35% of its electrical needs.” The ocean also has untouched reserves of hydrocarbon fuels (Etzioni). These are both sources of energy that the world greatly needs right now. If ocean expeditions are funded, we can learn more about these valuable
sources.
In contrast, many people believe that ocean exploration is not worth the cost; we should focus on space exploration instead. However, the opposition may be unaware of the fact that there have been 32 spaceflight related deaths (“List of spaceflight related accidents”). This is a disturbingly high amount, considering we have only been going to space for the past 56 years. On the contrary, deep-ocean expeditions are mostly conducted with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) This carries absolutely no risks for humans at all. (Bardoe 208) This is evidence enough to say that ocean exploration is definitely worth the risk. In essence, the ocean is the real final frontier. Within its depths, the ocean carries the hopes of new medicines and renewable energy, like LAL tests and hydrocarbon fuel reserves.The ocean has captivated mankind since the beginning of time, and will certainly continue to do so in the future. As the French explorer Jacques Cousteau once said,”The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”