Ocean Pollution Essay

Oceans, seas, and coastal areas are essential to the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustainable development. Two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans, seas, and coastal areas, and contain 97% of the planet’s water. The oceans contribute to poverty eradication, create sustainable livelihoods for the three billion and plus people depending on it, are crucial for global food security and human health, and are the primary regulator of the global climate. The Oceans contribute to human well-being because they provide us with water, oxygen, and many natural food sources. Although there are many groups of people who depend on oceans for sustainable livelihoods, they are the most vulnerable because they become so reliant on natural resources and are harming themselves without even knowing it.
Oceans are increasingly threatened, degraded or destroyed by human activities, as this causes the oceans to reduce their ability to provide crucial ecosystem services. Important threats that
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Oceans are threatened daily by both natural and manmade pollution, as the largest factor affecting them is plastic. Over the last decade, there has been more plastic produced compared to the last 100 years (“How Ocean Pollution Impacts Marine Life-and All of Us”). Around 100 millions tons of plastic is produced every year and 10 percent of that plastic ends up in the sea. Many sources are the cause of ocean litter including trash that washes off city streets, waste blown in from landfills, and containers that fall off ships during heavy storms. Many marine mammals mistake these for food (Greer, Abigail). Plastic kills fish, birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, destroys habitats, and affects animal mating rituals, which can result in devastating results, such as wiping out an entire species (“How Ocean Pollution Impacts Marine Life-and All of