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Introduction
In recent years, the impact humans have had on the world, and specifically the world's oceans and marine life, have surfaced as one of the most continuously discussed topics in news feeds and other media outlets (Elliott, 2018). Specifically, current research and well-known stories have detailed the disastrous effects-direct and indirect-humans have had on the oceans (Ocean Priorities, 2009; Weiss & McFarling, 2006; Yong, 2019). The impact of human activity on marine life through unsustainable actions, recreational activities, pollution, and consumption patterns continues to lead to calls for attention and action of individuals worldwide. Many organizations, researchers, and individuals have sought to raise awareness of the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable actions in the hopes of counteracting the impacts of human-environment interactions by shaping how humans view, use, and manage the ocean environments (United Nations, 2019; United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs, 2014).
Today, the world's oceans show the results of many subtle and profound changes (Davidson, et al., 2012); for example, recent research shows that no area of the ocean remains completely unaffected by human influences (Halpern, et al., 2008). Further, investigation shows that approximately forty percent of our vast oceans are strongly affected by multiple human impacts (Halpern, et al., 2008). These include-but are certainly not limited to-pollutants (i.e., chemical contaminants, debris, and even sonar noise), by-catch, shipping, overharvesting, global warming, ocean acidification, and the altering of food webs (Halpern, et al., 2008; Schipper, et al., 2008). Negative impacts to natural environments and wildlife, such as these, continue to increase globally as the demand for space and resources continues to grow in order to accommodate the world's population.
Oceans overall continue to be affected by changes in temperatures, acidity levels, and even available nutrients; these impacts transition to the living things found within these waters. Specifically, marine mammals-key players in our ecosystems-have found themselves in the crosshairs of many of these changes (Schipper, et al., 2008). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently identifies one-fourth of marine mammals to be at risk of extinction (Davidson, et al., 2012), and estimates show that approximately three-fourths of marine mammals experience high levels of human impact within their geographic ranges; impacts from activities such as fishing, shipping, pollution, sea...