Coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate thanks to many factors, mostly caused by humans. For instance, when we pollute the earth and our oceans by burning greenhouse gases, we cause climate change. This affects the coral as they can’t withstand the water raising by only a few degrees. This often causes coral bleaching, which kills these animals. Also, storms can destroy reefs, also often caused by humans affecting the environment.
Global Warming Affecting Coral Reefs are worth $375 billion each year. They earn this money by attracting tourists. People also make a profit from the fish species that live in the coral (Casper 182), so if all the coral die due to global warming, humans will be affected as well. Coral are marine plants, and marine environments are the most diverse habitats in the world. If the planet was to lose all the coral in the world, it would decrease the diversity of the ocean (Casper 184).
If we don 't stop polluting the Atlantic Ocean, the pollution will continue to worsen, which will cause negative effects on the ecosystem, the Americas and on the people. The Atlantic ocean is affected by pollution greatly. There are many sources of pollution including waste and pollutants. In fact, according to the World Wide Fund (WWF) “Over 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities”(Marine problems: Pollution ). This means that humans are the
Although recycling makes a difference, many container still end up in beaches and oceans. The drink containers cause death and injuries for many wildlife and marine creatures. Animals like whales and dolphins become victims of land litter, as 80% of majority of the plastics comes directly from land. Dr Jennifer Lavers, researched the impacts of plastics on marine life, claims that 85% of Australian marine birds are affected by plastics (Stop trashing Australia, 2012). Apart from animals getting tangled in debris, it is extremely harmful when there is run down fishing gear, as it results in ‘ghost fishing’.
Discussion: Marine Debris, also known as marine trash is man-made waste that is released into oceans and coastal waters due to human activities. Marine debris brings up many environmental problems to both humans and the marine ecosystem. According to Ocean Conservancy (2014), the common types of marine debris collected include cigarette butts, food wrappers, beverage bottles and cans, plastic bags, straws and glass bottles. Although these wastes seem to come from offshore activities, studies suggest only 20% of the pollution comes from ships or offshore platforms, the rest originates from land-based activities (Sheavly & Register, 2007). We will discuss the causation and effects of marine debris and propose solutions to mitigate marine litter
Japan is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean near the East Coast of China, Korea and Russia. Japan like many other countries face numerous problems, one of them being the contamination of their sea with wastes of all kinds. The contamination of their sea was the result of neighboring countries discarding waste which eventually reached the shores of japan affecting japan in many ways from the creatures living the in their shores to the health of their people and seeing as a lot of their food come from the sea including one-fifth of the global tuna catch thus this posed a great problem to japan. First of all, marine pollution is the contamination of water and is commonly caused by human activity such as oil spills or the disposal of plastic, which is often mistaken as food for marine animals, this effects the creatures living in the sea as well as the creatures dependent on the sea as a source of food or as a source of drinking water. Air pollution can also play as a factor such as to carry off dirt and harmful toxic pesticides.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre in the Pacific Ocean which has been collecting marine debris for many years, forming a trash vortex of astounding size in the middle of the ocean. The majority of the trash collected is plastic, or microplastics, due to their extremely resistant nature based on their chemical composition. They are bonded so tightly that it is incredibly difficult to break the plastics down, so instead, they remain in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for indefinite periods of time, damaging aquatic life and polluting the waters. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been portrayed to the public as a growing, urgent issue, which can be solved if we work together to remedy the problem. This general presentation is fair to the problem, as the trash vortex does pose a great threat to aquatic life, and its pollution of the sea is far from desirable.
Keeping the Ocean Free of Debris Pollution in the Persian gulf is negatively impacting marine life How much are we trashing our ocean? CNN, February 12th 2015. Arabian Gulf coral reefs dying a slow death. Gulf news, June 10th, 2014. Spill, Dolphin Deaths Spark Alarm At Persian Gulf Pollution.
Although it was initially assumed that the ocean has an abundant and limitless supply of food resources, the destructive impacts of fisheries have now come to light. It is becoming clear from decades of fishery activities that these practices are highly detrimental to the aquatic environment, be it freshwater or marine. Furthermore, fisheries are noticing declines in the abundance and variety of the fish and invertebrates that are harvested. This is not only due to overexploitation but also physical and ecological damage to the fishery environment (NOAA, 1998). In fact, fisheries or the commercial harvesting of fish and shellfish is by far the most destructive force in the oceans today.
Not enough people are aware of the dangerous effects that water pollution has towards the environment and what causes it. Water pollution has disastrous effects on the environment that endanger aquatic species. Shockingly, “over 1,000 seabirds and sea mammals die from water pollution each year” (11 Facts About Pollution). This means that, even though, environmental organizations have made strides to ensure clean water, aquatic life continues to die directly by water pollution from the human species. Throughout history, water pollution has been an ongoing occurrence and sea life is still not protected enough from it.