Algae can be found wherever water is present: within soils, puddles, rivers, seas, hot springs, and even glaciers. They range from microscopic, single-celled organisms of diverse shapes to massive giants stretching up to 50 metres in length. Algae were among the earliest multicellular organisms on Earth. Today, over 100,000 species have been catalogued, and this number continues to climb as we explore their vast biodiversity.

The ecological significance of algae is monumental: they synthesize the organic matter that sustains the inhabitants of both the World Ocean and the land. Furthermore, through photosynthesis, algae produce between 50% and 80% of all oxygen released into our planet’s atmosphere.

Consider this: every second breath we take is a gift from the ocean!