Save the Sea to See the Future
Oceans are among Earth’s most valuable natural resources, covering more
than 70% of our planet. The reason oceans are vital in providing life for us is
because they are home to one million species of marine animals. These species and the ocean itself are responsible for the air we consume by producing
over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbing 50 times more carbon dioxide
than our atmosphere. Unfortunately, due to the rapidly increasing levels of
pollution making its way into the ocean from human activities, many marine
species are being negatively impacted ecologicall species are being negatively impacted ecologically.
One of the largest factors affecting our oceans is plastic pollution. Currently,
there is approximately 5.25 trillion plastic pieces present in the ocean. These
pieces of plastic are one of the main causes of marine species declining. The
reason many fish, sea turtles, and large marine species, such as sharks, are
suffering due to the aftermath of plastic pollution is because they can easily
become entangled within fishing nets, plastic bags, or they ingest plastic
debris causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning. Over one million marine
animals are killed every year because of plastic pollution.
Another lethal impact plastic pollution has is the affect it has on coral reefs.
Plastic has a deadly alter on various coral reefs because it clings to the coral
which causes them to become ill leading to their death. Coral reefs depend
heavily on clean and clear water to survive but unfortunately, when plastic pollution contaminates the water, they smother these vital coral reefs and lower
the water quality. Approximately, over 50% of the world’s coral reefs have declined in the last thirty years. If this trend continues a downward slope, then it
is said that up to 90% of coral reefs may die within the next century.
The disappearance of these essential marine species and coral reefs from
our planet will lead to a massive irreversible domino effect. Crucial marine
species like sharks and larger species will disappear because their only food
sources are being destroyed from increasing amounts of plastics in the
oceans we depend on. Many conservation and restoration efforts have been
put in place to protect our important species but the rate of pollution invading
oceans is overpowering these endeavors. A couple ways humans can help
stop this deadly affect plastic pollution is having on our crucial marine species stop this deadly a
and coral reefs in your daily activities are reducing the use of single plastics
and participating in local beach cleanups or just simply collecting trash on the
spot to recycle it. Together we can do better and bring about better and more
efficient efforts towards saving our oceans.
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