Essay On Marine Pollution

Over the past several decades, there has been an observable increase in the amount of marine debris that has been accumulating in the world’s oceans. This debris has both marine and terrestrial sources that are both distant and local to accumulation sites. The consequences of the marine debris have numerous and varied effects upon the habitats and ecosystems in which it enters. The issues associated with such pollution are entanglement, ingestion and smothering, as well as the phenomena of “hitch-hiking,” “hanger-on” and the introduction of “alien” species into distant ecosystems. Other issues are those that have direct impacts on human industries such as hazards to shipping, fisheries and coastal recreational activities. Most of debris consists of non-biodegradable plastics and synthetic materials that can remain in marine systems indefinitely. This type of debris is known to attract biota due to it free-floating ability. This buoyancy is ultimately responsible for the distribution of potentially dangerous invasive species into high-risk coastal habitats. Within the review, Gregory addresses the primary issues associated with this marine pollution and the potential widespread unseen, and often overlooked effects that this type of debris has marine systems.

Gregory acknowledges the importance of noting that the issue of marine debris is not one that comes and goes, but rather is a chronic issue that will require international efforts in order to manage and prevent. Recent data suggest that quantities of marine debris has been increasing in recent decades and the calculated eight million items that entered the oceans every day in 1982 is now far below what the predicted number is today.

One of the most observable issues associat...

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...tats can be further disturbed especially with repeated use. Small public interest groups are faced with the challenges of time consuming handpicking, as well as the possible exposure to hazardous materials. Cleaning up debris within the open oceans is also a challenge as the use of widespread barriers that are frequently used in harbors and bays is nearly impossible to implement in deeper open waters. Therefore, the issue of marine debris is one that will require numerous discussions and the institution of action plans at the both the local and international levels. New clean-up approaches need to be devised as well possibly modifications to the manufacturing of common debris components, such the possible design of biodegradable plastics with reduced disintegration times that could together greatly reduce the negative impacts of marine debris in the world’s oceans.