The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution

What would happen if all of the marine life on Earth today were to go extinct? Would the loss affect humans at all? The answer to these questions, is yes, because the ocean provides 50% of our oxygen. Without saltwater animals, there would not be any underwater plants to provide this oxygen. Because humans are slowly destroying marine life, which is essential to all life on Earth, it is necessary to rescue, rehabilitate, and release marine animals. One of the main causes of death and injuries of sea organisms is pollution. Ocean pollution is when people deposit litter such as plastic, oil, and industrial or agricultural waste into the ocean. “there are over 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in each square mile of ocean off of the Northeast coast of the United States. The plastic contributes to the death of millions of seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year” (McDermott). This is just one of the many ways humans are destroying marine life. According to CEF, “many ships lose thousands of crates each year due to storms, emergencies, and accidents” (“Causes and Effects of Ocean Pollution”). These crates usually contain harmful …show more content…
Farmers have to spray their crops with pesticides and fertilizer in order to harvest their plants in the correct condition. When it rains, the runoff of the soil goes into the water through the water cycle and contaminates the water. “Industrial and agricultural wastes include various poisonous chemicals that are considered hazardous for marine life. Chemicals from pesticides can accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, leading to failure in their reproductive system” (“Causes and Effects of Ocean Pollution”). If the animals cannot reproduce properly, they will not be able to keep up with or counteract the death rate that the pollution causes. It is possible that this will eventually lead to endangerment or even extinction for some