Helena Joyce
Ocean pollution is a critical environmental issue that poses a grave threat to the health and well-being of our planet. Oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface and are integral to the health of our ecosystem, including human life. Marine pollution is primarily caused by human activities, with 80% of marine debris originating from land-based sources, including littering, poor waste management, runoff from farms and construction sites, and storm water discharge. The remaining 20% comes from ocean-based sources such as ships, oil spills, and discarded fishing gear. This pollution takes the form of chemicals, trash, fossil fuels, noise, and carbon emissions, all of which have detrimental effects on marine life and ecosystems, as well as human health and economies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine debris | Plastic debris, derelict fishing gear, abandoned vessels, dirt, top soil, silt, oil spills, chemical spills, carbon emissions, noise, etc. |
| Marine debris sources | Land-based sources (80%) – urban runoff, litter, trash, construction, ports, marinas, commercial and industrial facilities, landfills, storm winds, poor waste management, etc. Ocean-based sources (20%) – overboard discharges from ships, discarded fishing gear, etc. |
| Plastic debris sources | Single-use plastics, plastic bags, styrofoam containers, disposable and single-use plastic, shopping bags, shipping packaging, plastic bottles, drinking straws, yogurt containers, etc. |
| Impact of plastic debris | Marine life – ingestion, entanglement, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning, behavioural changes, cancer, infertility, death, etc. Human life – negative health outcomes, economic structures, etc. |
| Other consequences | Reduced oxygen levels in the ocean, damage to marine habitats, interference with navigation safety, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Marine debris and plastic pollution
Land-based Sources
Most marine debris (80%) originates from land-based sources, including litter, trash, and debris from construction, ports, marinas, commercial and industrial facilities, and garbage containers, trucks, and landfills. Nonpoint source pollution, such as runoff from roads, farms, and other land-based activities, is a significant contributor to ocean pollution. Atmospheric pollution, caused by littering and the wind carrying objects to the ocean, is also a factor. Single-use plastics, such as plastic bags and styrofoam containers, are a major component of land-based marine debris, taking hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Ocean-based Sources
Ocean-based sources account for about 20% of marine debris. This includes overboard discharges from ships, crude oil spills, and discarded fishing gear. Oil spills have devastating effects on marine life, ensnaring and suffocating animals and damaging their health and reproductive abilities. Discarded fishing gear, such as nets and lines, can continue to capture and kill wildlife, damage habitats, and interfere with navigation safety.
Impact on Marine Life
Addressing Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution
Addressing marine debris and plastic pollution requires a combination of improved waste management practices, anti-litter campaigns, and a reduction in the use of single-use plastics and disposable products. By raising awareness, implementing mitigation strategies, and fostering ecosystem resilience, we can work towards reducing the impact of marine debris and plastic pollution on our oceans and the diverse species that depend on them.
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Oil spills
The effects of oil spills can vary depending on the size and location of the spill. Large spills in open waters with minimal bird life may have less impact on seabirds compared to smaller spills in critical habitats with high bird concentrations. Additionally, the season in which a spill occurs is crucial. Spills that happen during breeding or migration seasons tend to have a more significant impact on bird populations.
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Atmospheric pollution
Nonpoint source pollution is the accumulation of pollution from small sources that cannot be easily identified. It includes pollution from individual cars, boats, farms, and construction sites. This type of pollution typically becomes ocean pollution via runoff, when rain or snow moves pollutants from the ground into the ocean. For example, after a rainstorm, water can flow off roads into the ocean, carrying oil left on the streets by cars. Atmospheric deposition can also occur when wind transfers dirt and other debris from nonpoint sources, depositing these pollutants on the ocean's surface.
Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels contributes to both air and ocean pollution. Oceans absorb a significant portion of man-made carbon emissions, leading to acidification and changes in the pH levels of surface waters. This problem is rapidly worsening, with oceans acidifying at a rate faster than in the last 300 million years. As a result, marine ecosystems and coastal economies are being negatively impacted.
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Nonpoint source pollution
- Farms and agricultural lands, which can contribute excess fertilisers, herbicides, and insecticides.
- Urban areas, which can produce oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from vehicles and industrial activities.
- Construction sites, which can generate sediment and other debris.
- Timber harvest areas, which can cause soil erosion and contribute organic debris and chemicals.
- Livestock ranches, which can introduce bacteria and nutrients from manure and wastewater.
- Residential areas, which can be a source of herbicides, insecticides, and fertilisers, as well as household chemicals and waste.
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Ocean mining and drilling
Deep-sea ocean mining, in particular, has been singled out as a polluting activity that disrupts ecosystems at the lowest levels of the ocean. The process of drilling for valuable resources such as cobalt, zinc, silver, gold, and copper creates harmful sulfide deposits in the deep ocean, posing a severe threat to the delicate balance of marine life.
Canada has taken a notable stance against ocean drilling and mining by implementing protective measures in its marine areas. The country has prohibited activities such as drilling, mining, dumping, and bottom trawling in designated marine protected areas along its coast. The Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, located off the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a prime example of these efforts, safeguarding an "extraordinary range" of marine species and habitats, including vulnerable seafloor corals.
The ban in Canada demonstrates a commitment to balancing environmental protection, sustainability, and economic progress. This approach recognizes the importance of preserving unique ocean ecosystems while ensuring the thriving of coastal communities that depend on them.
It is worth noting that ships and oil spills are also major contributors to ocean pollution. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, for instance, released approximately 134 million gallons of oil into the ocean, causing long-lasting damage to marine life and the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Ocean pollution, also called marine pollution, is a mixture of both chemical contamination and trash.
Ocean pollution comes from both land and ocean-based sources. Land-based sources account for 80% of ocean pollution and include trash and debris from urban runoff, littering, poor waste management practices, storm winds, and extreme natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes. Ocean-based sources, such as discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear, account for the remaining 20%.
Marine debris injures and kills marine animals through ingestion, entanglement, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning, and the disruption of habitats. Oil spills, for instance, will ensnare and suffocate marine animals by permeating their gills. Marine animals also mistake plastic debris for food, which can lead to fatalities or the transfer of pollutants up the human food chain.
Ocean pollution has negative health outcomes for humans and can interfere with navigation safety. It also damages economic structures worldwide, including coastal economies that depend on marine ecosystems.
