 The Sea, Our Giant Rubbish Dump
(Watch our 'Keep the oceans clean.' PSA)
The Oceans, which cover 70% of Earth’s surface, are our life support system without which there would be no life. More than one billion people worldwide depend on fish as their main source of animal protein; and four out of every five of our breaths rely on the oxygen a healthy ocean produces. In addition, the oceans absorb carbon dioxide, they control our weather and climate and stabilize temperatures, they provide the fresh water we drink, and they have sustained many incredible animals and plants for millions of years. Yet we treat it like a rubbish dump.
Major causes of marine pollution
Pipelines: In South Africa alone there are over 60 licensed pipelines that discharge 656 million tons per day of domestic, industrial and mixed effluent into the sea.
Storm water: Runoff from urban and industrial areas containing heavy metals, oil, toxins and disease causing organisms is discharged over beaches and rocks into the sea.
Polluted rivers: Many rivers are seriously polluted, carrying pesticides, fertilizer, faecal bacteria and industrial effluent into the sea.
Dumping: At sea, oil, sewerage, toxic waste, fish bait packaging, old fishing nets and garbage is thrown overboard.
Poor waste management: In many parts of South Africa poor waste management and lack of environmental responsibility has resulted in litter being dropped onto streets and into the drains, finding its way into streams and rivers and into the sea.
Oil spills: An oil spill is a release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into ocean or coastal waters due to human activity. Because oil floats on top of water, most birds and marine mammals affected by an oil spill die unless there is human intervention.
Devastating oil spills
Along with death by ingestion and suffocation, oil reduces the insulation abilities of animals and leads to body temperature fluctuations, hypothermia and death.On April 20 2010, BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and commencing months of oil leaking unrestrained into the ocean. This oil spill has obtained the dubious distinction of being the worst oil spill in US history, surpassing the damage done by the Exxon Valdez tanker in 1989. It is estimated that over 1 billion litres of oil were released into the Gulf with devastating results.
In 2000 in Cape Town, the tanker the MV Treasure sunk off Robben Island oiling tens of thousands of endangered African penguins. Whilst many died, over 19 000 penguins were successfully rehabilitated and released.
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest pollutants in our oceans. There are over 20 different types of plastic which come from crude oil, a non-renewable resource, and all are non-biodegradable, which means they accumulate in the oceans. Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller particles contaminating our oceans. It enters the food chain at every level, from filter feeders like mussels and sea anemones to birds, fish, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks. Plastic pollution is very harmful to marine life: some pieces like plastic shopping bags are swallowed whole by turtles and dolphins, while plastic strapping and old discarded plastic fishing ropes get wrapped around the necks of animals such as sharks, turtles or seals. As the animal grows it cuts into their flesh causing them to die a very slow and excruciating death. The image of the seal at the top had a box wrapping growing into its flesh. This poor animal was in such pain and after removing the strapping it had to put down.
Disturbing Facts about Marine Pollution
• Whilst many people believe marine debris originates from the sea, research has found the opposite. Over 70 % of marine debris is caused by shoreline and recreational activities.
• On the list of the top ten types of marine debris found during the annual International Coastal cleanups held in 108 countries, about 20 million kg of debris was retrieved from oceans, rivers and waterways. Cigarette filters make up 20% of the items, Plastic bags 11%, food containers, caps & lids, and plastic bottles 9% and disposable plastic cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons 5%. All signs of a throw away society.
• 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually. Half of this will be used just once and thrown away. Up to 4.7 million tonnes of plastic lands up in our ocean each year, an average of 120,000 tonnes each day.
• It is believed that plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean now outweighs plankton, and that in this ocean alone 100, 000 marine animals die from either eating or getting tangled in plastic debris. In addition, 1 million seabirds are killed from ingesting plastic pieces every year.
• Effluent and toxic runoff causes algal blooms, like red tides, which affects filter feeders and can cause oxygen deficiencies in the oceans, resulting in mass walkouts of rock lobsters and leading to economic and social hardship.
• Health risks caused by the accumulation of plastic particles in the oceans has been associated with cancer, diabetes, altered immune systems and genital defects.
The Solutions
• Sustainable solutions: Identifying where marine debris originates from is the key to tackling plastic pollution. The combined efforts and actions of environmental NGO’s, the public, scientists, educators, and industry and government officials are needed to address these problems.
• Effective waste management: Many communities do not have proper refuse removals, street cleansing or recycling facilities, which would divert solid waste away from the streets and drains.
• Education: Providing relevant knowledge to learners is critical and successful educational interventions should be geared towards taking responsible action by reducing and managing our waste.
• A culture of care: Marine pollution is an issue that affects us all and a culture of care and responsibility needs to spread so that future generations inherit healthy oceans. Participating in regular cleanups helps to foster a culture of community participation.
What you can do to help
1. Organize a beach or river cleanup where you live, or volunteer your time to help AfriOceans when we next do a cleanup.
2. Cut down on the amount of plastic disposable items that you use in your home, school and business.
3. Encourage others not to litter in your community.
4. Contact your local authority to encourage better waste management and establishment of recycling centres.
5. Set an example by reducing, reusing and recycling all your household waste.
6. Become a conscious consumer: Only use cosmetics and face washes, which do not contain polyethylene, a type of microplastic, which lands up back in the oceans.
What we are doing at AfriOceans to help
Marine pollution is another serious concern that threatens our oceans and therefore it needs to be addressed as a matter of priority and in an integrated sustainable way. New ways of dealing with effluent and waste are available and efforts must be made to reduce our dependency on plastic and move to eco -friendly alternatives. All sectors of the community, from big business to local authorities, agriculture and the general public have a role to play in looking after our oceans.
AfriOceans will not accept this situation as ‘business as usual’ and in our quest for healthy oceans and sustainability, we have launched our exciting new ocean awareness campaign, ‘Keep the oceans clean.’ Through this campaign, we aim to turn the tide on plastic and ocean pollution, by proactively linking to our innovative environmental education programmes, the AfriOceans Warriors who are actively involved in numerous beach cleanups. We believe that providing relevant knowledge is key to success and educational interventions should be geared towards taking responsible action by reducing and managing our waste. We need to ensure that as many caring people understand the growing problems the oceans face. We can all make a difference.
References:
Our Coast for Life – Edited by Karey Evett
Reversing the Assault on Our Seas - Conservation International's Ocean Health Council Co-Chairs, Dr. Gregory Stone and William Wrigley, Jr., with support by Dr. Sylvia Earle:
Plastic Ocean - http://www.plasticoceans.net/
Trash Travels – International Coastal Cleanup 2010 Report – by the Ocean Conservancy
Teachers Handbook on Sharks –Written by Lesley Rochat of AfriOceans Conservation Alliance
www.wikepedia.org/wiki/oil_spill
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/oilspill/oilspill.htm
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