Pollution Is Destroying The Ocean

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Gia Dinero Period 8-9 Mrs. Garza 4-4-2024 Humans are destroying the earth. Nearly every human on earth has contributed to pollution in some sort of way, without even knowing. Thousands of pounds of plastic and trash are tossed into the ocean every day. Causing everything in and around the ocean to suffer. There are many causes of ocean pollution, but overall the majority of them are due to humans and their impact. Which is why more people should try and help reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean, or going in. Pollution is killing the ocean and its animals, everyday. According to Samantha Raphelson “8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year from land.” (9). Since there is so much plastic in the ocean, marine animals are …show more content…

The amount of plastic in the ocean is incredibly dangerous to the marine animals that inhabit it. For example, “Every minute [there] is the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic going into the ocean,” Samantha Raphelson (9). So when animals consume this plastic it messes up their insides and makes them sick, or kills them. For example “An autopsy found nearly 17 pounds of plastic inside the whale's belly,” Samantha Raphelson (2). Ocean pollution has caused many problems for everyone, and is the result of years of disposing trash and plastic into the ocean. Ocean pollution is causing coral reefs to be wrecked and killed, which is causing the animals that depend on them to suffer. The animals that depend on these coral reefs are affected by this as well. As an example “When ocean waters get too warm because of climate change, coral polyps push out their algae. Algae gives corals their vibrant colors as well as nutrients. Corals can feed themselves, too, snatching shrimp and plankton with their tentacles. Without algae, corals turn white and begin to starve.” Lela Nargi …show more content…

In return, the algae make food for the polyps through photosynthesis.” Lela Nargi (2). Coral reefs are very important to the ocean and its animals. So when they start starving and becoming weaker, it affects everything that depends on it. Plastic pollution is killing the ocean environment and its animals. Things need to change to save the environment. It is clear that something needs to be done to fix these problems, and many people have come up with incredible ideas and solutions. One solution is “Prime Minister Theresa May has called for legislation banning straws and other single-use plastics.” Samantha Raphelson (13). This solution stops the problem in its course, by preventing people from using plastic in general. But still, more help is needed for this cause. To save coral reefs “They have planted 140,000 coral fragments in the past 10 years.” Lela Nargi (9). By inserting coral into the ocean, scientists are attempting to replace the coral that has been lost. Which overall helps save many species. Businesses can also help,“They show businesses how to build reef-friendly landscaping like rain gardens. These catch water during storms and filter out waste before it reaches the ocean.” Lela Nargi

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