Intro to Marine Life Conservation
The oceans are one of Earth’s greatest gifts to humans, beautiful and valuable ecosystems teeming with life that provide everything from fresh food to careers for the millions that would otherwise be out of work. These seas that we are so dependent on may seem perfectly healthy, but not everything is as it appears. The oceans are like a slowly wilting flower that has been beaten down over the years and is now shedding its last petals. If something is not done soon to fix the mess that humanity has made, then it will be too late to save some of the irreplaceable species that make lives easier each and every day. Marine life conservation is a method that is working to save some of those petals. This type of conservation works to save species of the ocean and the aquatic habitats in which they reside. This essay will cover the topics of what marine life conservation is, what will happen if action to save the ocean is not taken, and possible solutions to the problem of pollution in the seas. While the mistakes of the past will always affect the future, there is still time to create a better outcome, and it starts with being educated on the issue at hand.
As you can see, the oceans' current predicament is far from good. Pollution is constantly being pumped out into these large bodies of water, and every day thousands of animals die from it. Whether a turtle is strangled by the plastic rings that formerly joined together bottles of soda or inhales the sewage dumped into his home, it has the same effect. Marine life dies. Many people are already aware of this but do not like to think of the consequences of their actions. It is inconvenient for them, and, as a result, animals die. How many more seconds of your day would it take to cut up those plastic rings? What about finding a more eco-friendly solution to getting rid of waste? The answer: not very many. If you know for sure that this would safe lives, human or otherwise, why would you put it off?
There is a reason why marine life conservation is considered so important, and it is because of how essential oceans are to the existence of every creature on this planet. Oceans are a huge source of oxygen for organisms everywhere and are very helpful in the processes of both storing and capturing carbon dioxide (“Marine Species”). As if providing half of the oxygen that humans breathe is not enough, they go on to make available other essential and vital resources for existence such as nourishment, medicines, and support for the costal economies of the world (“Protecting Oceans and Coasts”). The Great Barrier Reef alone houses 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 different mollusks. Located off of the coast of Queensland, Australia, it extends over 1,240 miles off the coast, and is not actually a single reef at all, but a chain of almost 3,000. Some coastlines are protected for reasons like this, and such is the case with some of the more sensitive coastlines in California on which the California Coastal Act of 1976 restricts development and building (Kerrigan, 42). Others, however, are not and therefore are subject to pollution. This problem has become more and more pronounced, and it is a costly mistake to fix. The Natural Resources Defense Council has analyzed a survey that was taken by 95 Californian communities, finding that the total of their annual reported costs for preventing litter from becoming pollution was $428 million dollars per year (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). That is around half a billion dollars that California could be using for other worthy causes but will not be able to because people simply refuse not to litter. Oceans cover around 70% of our planet and without them, many organisms would have ceased to exist long ago (“Marine Species”). Each of these organisms plays an important part in the upkeep of Earth, and so it is essential to respect that and keep in mind that biodiversity matters (“Marine Biodiversity”). Once a species becomes extinct, there is not any way to bring it back.
Without the efforts of conservation, the ocean’s current predicament would already be much worse. Today, Earth’s oceans are a dumping site for many chemicals, trash, and other forms of pollution. Although sewage dumping reached its peak in 1980 with 18 million tons, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed (“Marine Biodiversity”). When sewage dredge is dumped into the ocean, it can have a toxic effect on marine life and seafood can become contaminated (Gore, 59). Many species of aquatic organisms are eating plastic pollution found in the ocean and then dying from choking, intestinal blockage, and starvation (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Anything from overfishing to abandoning waste in the oceans can result in health and economic impacts by killing off marine life and damaging ecosystems (“Marine Biodiversity”). When farms use pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals to help their crops grow, the leftovers flow into rivers close by which then, in turn, flow into the ocean (Kerrigan, 42). Global warming is yet another problem for marine life to face, and humans may have helped this process along. Global warming, or climate change, as it is more often called in the scientific community, eradicates coral reefs, causes species to go extinct, and, as a result, ice caps melt and ocean levels rise. Tropical storms also may be on the rise because of climate change, as a study by MIT is showing. According to the university, hurricanes have increased in their intensity by 50% since the 1970s, and scientists agree that the planet’s rising temperature is most likely the cause (Gore, 59). The oceans cannot continue to withstand all of the negative effects that pollution and climate change are causing, and neither can Earth. A solution to these ever-growing issues must be found quickly.
Although pollution and global warming have already taken an irreversible toll on marine life, there are still ways to solve these problems, or, at least, reduce the harmfulness of their results. Instead of dumping sludge from sewage treatment into the ocean, it can be used as a fertilizer for farming crops if it is not contaminated by oils, organic chemicals, and metals (“Marine Biodiversity”). Producers of plastic packaging could design packaging so that it is fully recyclable and causes less waste, or assisting in covering the cost of keeping their used products out of the oceans (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Anyone can make a plan to use less plastic in their household by reusing water bottles, or use containers to store food instead of plastic bags (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Education on the topic of conservation can also keep the next generation from making the same mistakes that have been made in the past. If one only looks hard enough, it is easy to see that there are many solutions to the problems the oceans face. The conservation of marine life is gaining attention in the scientific world as well as with the media, and for good reason. It is important that bodies of water are protected before it becomes too late to fix what has been done.
The oceans do so much for mankind that the human race could not otherwise live without them, such as providing food and livelihood for those who have no other way to get by (Kerrigan, 42). Marine life conservation is important because it works to save both aquatic species and their habitats, but without the help of the public, the work that organizations participating in this type of conservation can do will be minimal at best. This essay has covered the topics of the purpose of marine life conservation as well as what will happen without it and possible solutions to cutting down on pollution. The protection of the oceans is not a topic to take lightly and there is not any excuse for refusing to acknowledge that. Scientists have been talking about climate change, pollution, and the affect that these two issues have on oceanic species for years. This may be the last chance that anyone is given to do something about it.
-Lauren Textor, Journalist, on her environmental piece about marine life conservation
There is a reason why marine life conservation is considered so important, and it is because of how essential oceans are to the existence of every creature on this planet. Oceans are a huge source of oxygen for organisms everywhere and are very helpful in the processes of both storing and capturing carbon dioxide (“Marine Species”). As if providing half of the oxygen that humans breathe is not enough, they go on to make available other essential and vital resources for existence such as nourishment, medicines, and support for the costal economies of the world (“Protecting Oceans and Coasts”). The Great Barrier Reef alone houses 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 different mollusks. Located off of the coast of Queensland, Australia, it extends over 1,240 miles off the coast, and is not actually a single reef at all, but a chain of almost 3,000. Some coastlines are protected for reasons like this, and such is the case with some of the more sensitive coastlines in California on which the California Coastal Act of 1976 restricts development and building (Kerrigan, 42). Others, however, are not and therefore are subject to pollution. This problem has become more and more pronounced, and it is a costly mistake to fix. The Natural Resources Defense Council has analyzed a survey that was taken by 95 Californian communities, finding that the total of their annual reported costs for preventing litter from becoming pollution was $428 million dollars per year (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). That is around half a billion dollars that California could be using for other worthy causes but will not be able to because people simply refuse not to litter. Oceans cover around 70% of our planet and without them, many organisms would have ceased to exist long ago (“Marine Species”). Each of these organisms plays an important part in the upkeep of Earth, and so it is essential to respect that and keep in mind that biodiversity matters (“Marine Biodiversity”). Once a species becomes extinct, there is not any way to bring it back.
Without the efforts of conservation, the ocean’s current predicament would already be much worse. Today, Earth’s oceans are a dumping site for many chemicals, trash, and other forms of pollution. Although sewage dumping reached its peak in 1980 with 18 million tons, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed (“Marine Biodiversity”). When sewage dredge is dumped into the ocean, it can have a toxic effect on marine life and seafood can become contaminated (Gore, 59). Many species of aquatic organisms are eating plastic pollution found in the ocean and then dying from choking, intestinal blockage, and starvation (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Anything from overfishing to abandoning waste in the oceans can result in health and economic impacts by killing off marine life and damaging ecosystems (“Marine Biodiversity”). When farms use pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals to help their crops grow, the leftovers flow into rivers close by which then, in turn, flow into the ocean (Kerrigan, 42). Global warming is yet another problem for marine life to face, and humans may have helped this process along. Global warming, or climate change, as it is more often called in the scientific community, eradicates coral reefs, causes species to go extinct, and, as a result, ice caps melt and ocean levels rise. Tropical storms also may be on the rise because of climate change, as a study by MIT is showing. According to the university, hurricanes have increased in their intensity by 50% since the 1970s, and scientists agree that the planet’s rising temperature is most likely the cause (Gore, 59). The oceans cannot continue to withstand all of the negative effects that pollution and climate change are causing, and neither can Earth. A solution to these ever-growing issues must be found quickly.
Although pollution and global warming have already taken an irreversible toll on marine life, there are still ways to solve these problems, or, at least, reduce the harmfulness of their results. Instead of dumping sludge from sewage treatment into the ocean, it can be used as a fertilizer for farming crops if it is not contaminated by oils, organic chemicals, and metals (“Marine Biodiversity”). Producers of plastic packaging could design packaging so that it is fully recyclable and causes less waste, or assisting in covering the cost of keeping their used products out of the oceans (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Anyone can make a plan to use less plastic in their household by reusing water bottles, or use containers to store food instead of plastic bags (“Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans”). Education on the topic of conservation can also keep the next generation from making the same mistakes that have been made in the past. If one only looks hard enough, it is easy to see that there are many solutions to the problems the oceans face. The conservation of marine life is gaining attention in the scientific world as well as with the media, and for good reason. It is important that bodies of water are protected before it becomes too late to fix what has been done.
The oceans do so much for mankind that the human race could not otherwise live without them, such as providing food and livelihood for those who have no other way to get by (Kerrigan, 42). Marine life conservation is important because it works to save both aquatic species and their habitats, but without the help of the public, the work that organizations participating in this type of conservation can do will be minimal at best. This essay has covered the topics of the purpose of marine life conservation as well as what will happen without it and possible solutions to cutting down on pollution. The protection of the oceans is not a topic to take lightly and there is not any excuse for refusing to acknowledge that. Scientists have been talking about climate change, pollution, and the affect that these two issues have on oceanic species for years. This may be the last chance that anyone is given to do something about it.
-Lauren Textor, Journalist, on her environmental piece about marine life conservation