MARINE Causes

POLLUTION
TOPICS TO BE COVERED

What is Marine Pollution?

Why is it Important?

Sources of Marine Pollution

WHAT IS MARINE POLLUTION?
The introduction by man directly, or indirectly, of substances
or energy to the marine environment resulting in deleterious
effect such as; hazards to human health, hindrance to
maritime activities, impairment of the quality of seawater
for various uses and reduction of amenities.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT?
Oceans cover 71% of the Earths surface.

At any time more than 97% of water is present in the oceans.

They are vital to our food security, commerce and

transportation

50% of the oxygen demand is met by oceans.

Human activity has caused significant harm.

The habitats of marine mammals and fish have been degraded severely.

Great pacific Garbage patch.

Organochloric pollutants, pesticides, and a range of toxic pollutants

accumulate within fishes later moving up the food chain.
SOURCES OF MARINE
POLLUTION
Main inputs of pollution
Direct discharge of waste into sea.
Runoff into the water due to rain
Ship pollution
Atmospheric pollution
Deep sea mining
DIRECT DISCHARGE
Pollutants enter rivers and the sea directly from urban
sewage and industrial waste discharge.
Some minerals discharged in the course of the mining, such
as copper can cause problems. They interfere with the life
history of coral polyps
SURFACE RUNOFF
Runoff from farming, as well as urban runoff from the
construction of roads, buildings, ports , channels, and
harbours, can carry soil and particles laden with carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus.

This nutrient rich water can cause fleshy algae and

phytoplankton to thrive in coastal areas, known as algal
blooms, which can create dead zones.
SHIP POLLUTION
Oil spills have devastating effects. While being toxic to
marine life, components in crude oil, do not break down
easily and can stay in the marine environment for years
disturbing the aquatic life.
Many times vessels intentionally discharge illegal wastes
despite foreign and domestic regulation prohibiting such
actions
Ships also create noise pollution that disturbs wildlife.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Wind blows dust and debris, including plastic bags, are
blown seaward.
Since 1970, dust outbreaks have worsened due to period of
drought in Africa
Climate change is raising ocean temperatures and raising
levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These rising
levels of carbon dioxide are acidifying the oceans.
DEEP SEA MINING
Deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral
deposits from the deep sea – the area of the ocean below
200 m.
The scraping of the floor can alter or destroy deep sea
habitats.
Deep sea mining might stir up fine sediments on the
seafloor consisting of silt, clay and the remains of the
microorganisms, creating plumes of suspended particles
Species such as whales can be affected by noise, vibrations
and light pollution caused by mining equipment.