Proposing A Solution: Consisting Of Valuable And Beautiful Ecosystems

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Proposing a Solution
Oceans are one of the most prestigious gifts humans receive from creation, consisting of valuable and beautiful ecosystems. They are a source of several benefits such as fresh food as well as various careers for millions of people. Although the oceans seem to be at peace and perfectly healthy, everything is not as well as it appears. The world population is growing at a shocking rate and is accompanied by the tremendous production of waste materials from homes as well as industries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)). More of this waste is being dumped into oceans, causing serious problems to marine ecosystems. Major sources of ocean pollution include nonpoint pollutants such as insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These pollutants come from residential areas and farms. On the other hand, some nonpoint pollutants originate from energy production industries and they include oil and grease.
Raw Sewage disposal from ships and other sources forms a significant part of waste dumped into the ocean (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)). Sewage has high concentration nitrogen, a chemical that promotes the process of eutrophication and algal blooms, leading to the increased competition for oxygen between living organisms and algal bloom. Human-created waste has plagued marine life for a long time. The increased use of plastic products has created a serious disposal problem since plastic is non-biodegradable and takes several years before it completely decomposes. According to United Nations Regional Information Center, approximately 12 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture about 102 billion plastic papers in the United States. Also, an estimated 2.4 tons of plastic bottles and cans are disposed every year across the world (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)). This paper focuses on the effects of the pollution on ocean’s marine life and how to solve the problem.
Ocean pollution is a cause of concern as it has had the negative impact on the marine ecosystems. For instance, oil pollution has the drastic effect on various organisms living in the oceans. Oil is less dense than water, and once it spills or is disposed into the ocean as the end product of various port activities, it floats on water (Christofersen and Cummins). When the birds that hunt for fish fly across the waters full of oil on the surface, their wings are encased in oil, making them unable to move and eventually die. Moreover, oil on the surface of the water clogs the nostrils of thousands of birds suffocating them to death. Several water birds such as ducks, pelicans, and gulls have died as a result of oil pollution in most of the United States waters (Christofersen and Cummins). Animals and plants living underneath the water are also in danger of suffocating since the penetration of oxygen into water is highly obstructed by the layers of oil. Oxygen is essential for the survival of life both on land and in water, and once its concentration goes below the average level, various living organisms such fish and plants die due to inadequate oxygen.
Toxins in the industrial wastes have also killed a considerable number of living organisms in the oceans. One of the species under the danger of toxic pollution are Orca whales also referred to as killer whales (Christofersen and Cummins). These animals are now declared endangered, specifically because they are under threats of toxins spilled into the oceans from various industries. For example, an Orca whale was found washed up dead on the shores of the United States border in the recent past. After conduction of an autopsy, the chemical polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) was found to have caused its death. PCB is a chemical product resulting from different chlorinated products used in industries. There are only 80 killer whales left and discarded waste with toxic chemicals such as PCB will further endanger their existence. Their death could lead to the ecological imbalance, which can either directly or indirectly affect humans (Christofersen and Cummins). As a result, they should be protected by all means possible to avoid becoming extinct.
Plastic bag pollution in the oceans is another big concern because of the significant role it plays in affecting the marine life. Plastic pollution occurs as a result of humans discarding garbage into oceans or prevailing winds and surface currents moving them from the shores into the advanced parts of the ocean (Christofersen and Cummins). This type of pollution is a massive problem considering the number of plastic products manufactured every year. For instance, about one billion plastic bags are currently produced per year. What complicates the matter even further is the number of years they take to degrade. Several scientific studies indicate that plastic bags take up to a thousand years to decompose completely (Christofersen and Cummins). As such, a paper in the land may take several years to disappear and could find its way into the oceans. The presence of plastic bags and other products is not altogether harmless, and some severe consequences have been witnessed in the past (Eriksen et al.). For instance, if plastic papers find their way into water bodies, some hunting animals may mistake them for food, and when they swallow them, they end up choking to death or blocking their digestive system, causing a slow and painful death. Paper bags on the surface of the ocean also interfere with the circulation of oxygen as well as fishing and transportation activities ...