ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS- EXPLOITATION OF OCEANS

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS- EXPLOITATION OF OCEANS

It is estimated that only 13% of the world's oceans is untouched by humans presently (though even this space is likely to be filled in the near future). Increased navigation, fishing, ocean mining at the backdrop of growing energy demand as well as global trade are the major reasons which are resulting in "marine pollution".

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:

• Change in oceanic composition: due to added industrial, urban and agricultural toxic wastes which threaten the marine biodiversity.
• Increase in oceanic temperature: resulting in reduced dissolved oxygen content => mass killing of marine species
• Species invasion; the alien species outcompetes the native ones and disturbs the species equilibrium.
• Coral bleaching and loss of phytoplankton
• Eutrophication due to algal bloom which further restricts the penetration of sunlight => adversely affecting the organisms
• Bioaccumulation and biomagnification; disturb the food chain of marine life and also the prey birds dependent upon marine species.

In addition to these the belief that the ocean has the infinite capacity to dilute everything has created havoc. Almost everything (plastic, garbage, solid waste, nuclear waste) finds its last destination in oceans. All this is trapped in the oceanic gyres and result in the creation of "dead zones" which have quadrupled since the 1950s.

This needs to be changed and measures like; regulated extraction, strict national marine litter policies, creation of marine hotspots to enhance preparedness, voluntary initiatives involving school children and civil society must be taken in order to protect oceans - the building block of life on earth.