In May 2019, the UK Parliament declared a climate emergency, becoming the first national parliament to do this. This comes after decades of industrial pollution being released into the atmosphere and oceans.
With an increasingly unpredictable climate as a result of pollution, the frequency of natural disasters is only going to increase if no action is taken. By being more aware of the consequences of ocean pollution, we can make everyday changes and campaign for change on a national and international scale.
Let’s take a deeper look at ocean pollution and how it affects marine species.
What is ocean pollution?
Ocean pollution includes contaminants that harm the ocean and its inhabitants. This could include things like litter, chemicals, animal or human waste.
All these things can affect the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, especially when done on a large enough scale.
How is ocean pollution caused?
Ocean pollution is a widespread issue that has many causes.
80% of the pollution put into the ocean is plastic, making up 8 million tonnes per year. This is estimated to cause up to 100 million deaths of marine animals per year. The vast majority of this pollution is industrial pollution due to lax environmental laws.
Chemical spills and poor landfill management can also lead to ocean pollution that damages marine ecosystems.
Types of ocean pollution and its impact on marine life
All pollution is damaging to marine ecosystems, but the impact differs depending on the type of pollution. Here are the main types of ocean pollution and how they affect sea life.
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is the most common form of pollution in the ocean. It damages marine ecosystems in a number of ways. Animals can become entangled in plastics, which might affect their ability to eat, move, or mate. Smaller particles may also be ingested and cause damage to marine animals.
Microplastics also affect development and mating, impacting the food chain and potentially causing species endangerment.
Chemical and toxin pollution
Chemical and toxin pollution has a huge impact on marine life. Some chemicals do not break down, so when they are absorbed by animals at the bottom of the food chain, they pass on to the next animals and so on.
This could kill wildlife, destroy habitats, or cause mutations in DNA that may be passed down through generations.
Chemicals in the ocean can cause mass decay of plants, leading to lower levels of oxygen. This is referred to as a ‘dead zone’ as marine animals unable to survive the conditions will either die from the low oxygen levels or leave the area, resulting in zones that are devoid of life.
Oil pollution
Oil spills are less widespread than other forms of pollution, but they’re absolutely devastating to ecosystems when they happen.
The largest marine oil spill in history, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, caused by the explosion of an oil rig located in the Gulf of Mexico, resulted in the deaths of thousands of marine animals, including sea birds, fish, and mammals. As a result, in the Barataria Bay area, dolphin numbers dropped by up to 50%.
Oil pollution affects marine life in two ways. It can cause physical harm to an animal. This is known as fouling, for example, coating a sea bird’s wings so it cannot fly. The toxic chemicals in oil can also cause issues internally, such as heart damage, stunted growth, immune system effects, and even death in extreme cases.
Nutrient pollution
Nutrient pollution happens when the level of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous are too high. These nutrients can cause algae blooms in bodies of water, which block light and steals oxygen.
Nutrient pollution is usually a result of agricultural pollution because these nutrients are used as fertilisers. They make their way into the ocean via rivers and streams feeding into the ocean.
Noise pollution
Marine animals, like a lot of wildlife, are sensitive to noise. Sound is used to navigate, communicate, and listen for predators to help them stay protected. Heavy noise pollution from things like shipping or oil/gas drilling can cause high stress levels for these animals, which affects behaviours like mating and feeding.
Light pollution
Light pollution is when excess light enters an environment, usually from artificial sources like ships and coastal buildings.
Like humans, marine animals rely on light for cycles like sleeping, eating, mating, and migrating. When light pollution levels are high, there are significant impacts on the entire food chain.
How can we prevent ocean pollution?
To prevent ocean pollution, we must all be more responsible with things like recycling and littering. Keeping up to date and being aware of policies being put forward by local and national governments can also help on a wider scale.
You can get involved by joining local organisations and charities that run litter-picking events to ensure that plastic doesn’t enter the ocean from the beach.
For more information on conservation and how Blue Planet Aquarium contributes to conservation efforts, take a look at our conservation page.
Ocean pollution is an increasingly troublesome issue that we are all responsible for. Our aquarists are incredibly knowledgeable about marine ecosystems and how ocean pollution affects them, so be sure to ask them about this on your next visit to Blue Planet Aquarium, book tickets now!