Bronte Wells
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a grave threat to the animals that inhabit the ocean. Every year, billions of pounds of trash and pollutants enter the ocean, including chemicals, plastics, microplastics, and radioactive substances, endangering marine life and damaging habitats. Plastic waste, in particular, is a significant concern, as it can be ingested by marine animals or entangle them, leading to starvation, injury, and death. Seabirds, turtles, seals, and whales are among the most affected by plastic pollution, with some species facing extinction. Marine debris also originates from derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels, which can continue to capture and harm wildlife. Chemical pollution, such as toxic synthetic chemicals and nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff, affects marine mammals' ability to navigate, communicate, and detect danger, impacting their immune and reproductive systems. Understanding the impact of ocean pollution on animal health is crucial for developing effective strategies to protect marine wildlife and ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine debris | Plastic, derelict fishing gear, abandoned vessels, microplastics |
| Marine species impacted | Seabirds, turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, clams, oysters, fish |
| Human impact | Poor waste management, storm winds, littering, industrial spills, runoff from landfills and farms |
| Animal impact | Ingesting plastic, entanglement, starvation, physical injuries, chemical harm, ecological collapse, death |
| Plastic waste volume | 11 million metric tons of plastic per year |
| Plastic waste impact | Leaking pollutants and toxins, endocrine disruption, gene damage, reduced swimming and feeding ability |
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Plastic ingestion
Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. They often mistake plastic for prey, such as jellyfish or sponges, and show a preference for clear, sheet plastic. This can lead to intestinal blockages, choking, and internal injuries. It can also affect their buoyancy, making it difficult for them to dive and feed, and increasing their vulnerability to predators.
Whales are also at risk of plastic ingestion, with balloons found lodged in their digestive tracts. Abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, can also be ingested by whales and other marine mammals, leading to fatal abdominal inflammation.
The impact of plastic ingestion is not limited to larger marine animals. Hundreds of fish species, including those consumed by humans, have been found with traces of microplastics in their bodies. This contributes to the spread of toxins up the food chain, affecting marine predators and humans alike.
The pervasiveness of plastic pollution in the ocean is a global crisis. Plastic waste can be found in all ecosystems, from the deepest ocean trenches to uninhabited islands. It is estimated that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals every year, and its impact on wildlife is both direct and deadly.
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Chemical contamination
Marine pollution is a pressing issue, threatening the survival of many species and the health of marine ecosystems. Chemical contamination, in particular, has severe ecological, health, and economic impacts.
The excess nutrients promote the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to marine life and harmful to humans. These algal blooms, also known as red tides or harmful algal blooms (HABs), can produce toxins that affect the nervous system of marine organisms, including marine mammals and birds. Ingestion of contaminated prey or exposure to algal toxins can lead to paralysis, respiratory distress, and even death in marine animals. Furthermore, algal blooms can have negative economic repercussions, impacting local fishing and tourism industries.
Another significant concern in chemical contamination is the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which do not break down easily and tend to accumulate in the fatty tissues of marine organisms. One such example is polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were historically used in machinery coolants, electrical goods, flame retardants, paints, and building sealants. Despite being banned globally decades ago, PCBs continue to persist in the environment and can be found in high concentrations in certain marine species, such as dolphins, porpoises, and whales. PCBs can affect the immune system, increasing susceptibility to secondary diseases, and they can also interfere with reproduction, impacting the survival of future generations.
In addition to PCBs, other toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals, contribute to chemical contamination in the ocean. These pollutants can originate from crude oil spills, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff. As a result, marine animals like seals, polar bears, and large fish can exhibit contamination levels in their bodies that are significantly higher than those in the surrounding water. This contamination can have far-reaching consequences, as humans who consume seafood may be exposed to harmful chemicals, facing potential health risks such as paralytic and neurotoxic poisoning.
To address the issue of chemical contamination in the ocean, it is crucial to implement measures that reduce the use of harmful chemicals, improve waste management practices, and promote sustainable alternatives. By understanding the sources and impacts of chemical contamination, we can work towards mitigating its effects on marine ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them, including humans.
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Noise pollution
Marine mammals and other aquatic animals have evolved to use underwater sound as a primary means of communication and assessing their environment. Sound plays an essential role in critical activities for marine species, like breeding, foraging, maintaining social structure, and avoiding predators. For example, cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) send and receive complex sounds to communicate with each other, navigate the water, find food, and more. Fish and invertebrates also use sound for these basic life functions.
Ocean noise is especially problematic for animals that rely on echolocation, like dolphins and toothed whales. Loud ocean noise like naval anti-warfare sonar can directly injure whales and dolphins. If the animals panic and try to escape the sonar noise too quickly, they can become stranded or suffer from decompression sickness by surfacing too quickly. In some cases, very loud sounds can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss, behavioural and physiological changes, injury, and even death.
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Entanglement
Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles, often get entangled in fishing gear and other marine debris as they swim or while on the beach. This entanglement can cause them to drown or starve, or lead to physical trauma and
Fishing gear, both lost or abandoned, and other types of ropes and lines, as well as trash, including plastic bags, are common causes of entanglement. Even plastic packing loops from six-pack beverage carriers can tighten and cut into the flesh of animals as they grow, creating 'lethal necklaces' that lead to strangulation. This problem is particularly severe for smaller marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins, and smaller whales, which may drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy gear.
The impact of entanglement on marine animals is not limited to physical harm. Entangled animals may also be unable to avoid vessels, increasing the risk of vessel strikes. Furthermore, entanglement can cause loss of limbs and restrict the growth of marine creatures, such as the case of a blue-striped grunt fish in the Caribbean Sea whose growth was hindered by a plastic band.
The problem of entanglement is not isolated to a specific region but is widespread throughout the oceans. A Mediterranean study found that almost half of the examined loggerhead sea turtles had consumed some type of plastic, with one turtle ingesting 67 pieces. In U.S. waters, over 260 loggerhead sea turtles were found to be suffering from plastic ingestion or entanglement, with over half of the cases being recent hatchlings.
The issue of entanglement is not limited to sea turtles, but also affects other marine creatures. For example, a study observed trash in songbird nests around the St. Jones Reserve in Delaware, and a seahorse near Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, was seen with a plastic cotton swab wrapped around its tail.
To address entanglement, organizations like NOAA Fisheries work with partners to prevent entanglements and rescue entangled animals. They also collaborate with entanglement response and stranding network partners to safely free marine animals from life-threatening entanglements and gather information to reduce the frequency and effects of entanglements.
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Oil spills
Light oils, such as gasoline and diesel, pose two significant hazards. Firstly, they are highly flammable and may ignite or explode. Secondly, they are toxic and can kill animals or plants upon contact. They also pose risks to humans, causing skin and eye irritation and health issues for those who breathe their fumes or come into direct contact with them.
Medium and heavy oils can have varying degrees of toxicity and persistence in the environment. Heavy oils, such as bunker oils used to fuel ships, may remain in the environment for months or even years if not properly removed. While they are less acutely toxic than lighter oils, they can smother small species of fish or invertebrates and coat the feathers and fur of birds and mammals. This coating disrupts their ability to maintain body temperature, leading to hypothermia and potentially death. Additionally, during cleanup operations, untrained individuals attempting to capture or assist oiled wildlife may inadvertently cause further harm.
The impact of oil spills extends beyond the immediate ecological harm. Oil can persist in the environment for extended periods, contaminating habitats and food sources, and leading to long-term health effects, such as tumors, in various organisms. The cleanup and recovery process is crucial for minimizing the overall impact on ecological communities and promoting their recovery.
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Frequently asked questions
Ocean pollution has a detrimental impact on marine wildlife. Animals may ingest plastic, which can lead to slow and painful starvation. They may also get entangled in plastic, resulting in injuries and the loss of limbs. Marine debris can also contain toxic chemicals, which can build up in the bodies of animals and cause health issues such as reduced swimming and feeding ability, abnormal behaviour, and gene damage.
All marine animals are at risk of the harmful effects of ocean pollution. Some of the most affected groups include seabirds, turtles, seals, and whales. Sea turtles, for example, often mistake plastic for prey, and whales may accidentally swallow balloons.
Ocean pollution comes from a variety of sources, mainly human activities along coastlines and inland. This includes littering, poor waste management, runoff from farms and industries, and spills of oil, chemicals, or plastic pellets. These pollutants enter the ocean and harm marine life, either directly through ingestion or entanglement, or indirectly through the contamination of their habitats and food sources.
