The ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and is crucial not only for environmental health but also for the health of humans. However, human actions have significantly damaged the health of the world’s oceans. The issues it currently faces include marine pollution, ocean acidification, overfishing, and rises in sea level.
One of the alarming consequences of ocean pollution is the direct impact it has on human health. A latest research highlights that around the world, swimming in polluted seas is linked with over 250 million cases of respiratory illness and gastroenteritis every year.
A series of recommendations by researchers to help reverse the ongoing damage to ocean health include:
- Preventing mercury pollution by stopping the combustion of coal and controlling the use of mercury in gold mining
- Considering a global ban on single-use plastics
- Improving waste management to enable more recycling of plastics
- Reducing the release of pollutants into coastal waters and rivers from intensive agriculture and sewerage facilities
- Creating Marine Protected Areas to reduce the trawling of fragile fish stocks and the knock-on damage to marine ecosystems
- Improving the monitoring of ocean pollution
- Ensuring all countries have marine pollution control programs
People can also make everyday choices that make a difference. These include:
- Reducing plastic consumption and reusing and recycling more
- Cleaning up local streets to avoid plastic washing into stormwater drains and out to the ocean
- Reducing ocean acidification by taking public transport and avoiding eating meat, both of which lower a person’s carbon footprint
“The key thing to realize about ocean pollution is that, like all forms of pollution, it can be prevented using laws, policies, technology, and enforcement actions that target the most important pollution sources.”
Many countries have used these tools and have successfully cleaned fouled harbors, rejuvenated estuaries, and restored coral reefs. The results have been increased tourism, restored fisheries, improved human health, and economic growth. These benefits will last for centuries.
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