Oil Spills & Fertilizers are a Huge Danger
Marine pollution causes direct and indirect harm to sea turtles around the world. Toxic chemicals and pollutants entering the marine environment can kill a wide range of aquatic plants and animals, negatively impacting sea turtle habitats and food sources. Furthermore, there is ongoing research investigating the potential correlation between marine pollution and the occurrence of fibropapilloma (FP) disease, a debilitating and something lethal threat to sea turtles.
Fertilizer runoff from farms and lawns is a signficant marine pollulant, depositing an excess amount of nutrients in aquatic environments and causing eutrophication. Eutrophication is an explosion of algal blooms that can deplete the water’s oxygen and suffocate marine life. Eutrophication has created enormous dead zones in many parts of the world, including the Gulf of Mexico. Sewage disposal and septic tanks can also contribute to eutrophication.
Taking a Closer Look
Get Informed and Spread the Word
Dumping of most chemical waste was outlawed by the London Dumping Convention in 1972, and an amended treaty in 1996 further restricted what could be dumped in the ocean. Even when humans aren’t directly dumping waste into the oceans though, toxic chemicals are still making their way to the sea. A 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.
Education is also important to solving marine pollution. The public can get involved in this issue by geting informed about local waste disposal to ensure that untreated waste water isn’t introduced to natural waterways and oceans.
