For years, western conservation work has thought the best way to save our seas was to remove people from the equation. This can make sense, as humans have had a profoundly negative impact on our seas and in some cases removing the cause of the problem is enough to generate a solution. 

But the oceans are now struggling to sustain themselves and we have pushed ecosystems too far for them to recover on their own. We need to acknowledge that we have been part of the problem, but that we can also be part of the solution. 

Time is fast running out. Can we turn our godlike ability to destroy, into an ability to create and restore our oceans? 

For more information, visit unsw.to/AaronEger.

This talk was a part of Fresh Blood, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.