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Responding to the Grim Reality of Ocean Pollution

Aditya Thaker

Our oceans are pleading for help. Plastic in oceans is suffocating marine life. Coral reefs are bleaching into lifeless skeletons. Rising ocean temperatures are turning flourishing ecosystems into desolate wastelands. This is an issue we must address because the heartbeat of our planet -the ocean- is fading, and it’s time we listen. 


The State of our Oceans


According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, nearly 8 million metric tons of plastic enters our oceans every year. This oceanic waste significantly harms the marine ecosystem by disrupting food chains and altering the balance of species. This is caused by plastic ingestion, entanglement in plastic, and the consumption of microplastics. To save our oceans, we must reduce the utilization of single-use plastics such as straws and plastic bags, and begin using reusable alternatives like water bottles and shopping bags. Additionally, in our current lifestyle, it is quite difficult to fully commit to the non-plastic scheme, so if plastic is used, ensure it is recycled appropriately. This will keep plastic out of the oceans and reduce the need for more new plastic.





Our Marine Life


According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy organization, over 1 million marine animals, including mammals, fish, turtles, birds, sharks, etc, are killed each year due to plastic waste debris. Moreover, this issue is only further exacerbated by overfishing, which leads to a steep decline in the population of fish, consequently not leaving enough fish to reproduce, which as a result disrupts the whole aquatic food chain. Due to all this physical harm caused to marine life by oceanic waste, many habitats are being destroyed, ultimately leading to reduced populations for many species and a less diverse ecosystem. To save and support our marine life, good strategies include investing in marine sanctuaries, imposing stricter fishing regulations, and consuming sustainable seafood.


The Role of Pollution


According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, our oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050, and the ongoing disposal of plastic bottles, fishing nets, and chemical waste is going to help prove this prediction. The plastic that pollutes our oceans contaminates marine life and leaves many animals such as sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, sea otters, and dolphins on the brink of extinction. In order to restore these declining populations and bring back our thriving ecosystems, we can take simple steps. These steps include switching to reusable plastics, participating in community clean-ups, and supporting marine life awareness campaigns.





The current state of the oceanic health of our planet is quite alarming, but if the right steps are taken, the once flourishing state of our oceans will be restored.


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