SSP032 SDGC

Exit Ticket Report #14: SDG14

SDG14 LIFE BELOW WATER

a. Determine at least 5 marine and coastal ecosystems in PH.
The Philippine coastal zone is typical of tropical coasts, with five major resource units occurring
along its shallow coastlines: 
1. coral reefs
2. mangrove ecosystems
3. beach systems
4. estuaries and lagoons
5. seagrass beds.
b. List down at least 5 problems found in our oceans especially regarding Life Below
Water.
1) Overfishing
Many marine scientists consider overfishing to be the worst impact humans are having on the
oceans. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that over 70% of the world’s fish
species have been entirely exploited or depleted. By capturing fish faster than they can
reproduce, we are harming entire ecosystems that interact with those species, from the food
they eat to the predators that eat them. These losses make the ecosystems more vulnerable to
other disturbances, such as pollution.
2) Irresponsible Fish Farming
Fish farming, or aquaculture, is the growing response to wild fish stocks rapidly depleting. While
it sounds like a good idea in theory, it unfortunately has many negative consequences due to
poorly managed operations. Nutrient and chemical pollution can occur easily in open-ocean
operations when fish feed, excrement, and medication is released into the environment. Farmed
fish accidentally released into wild populations can also have destructive effects, such as loss of
native stocks, disease transmission, and damaging changes in habitat. Unfortunately, the
biggest hindrance to overcoming the challenges of an industry that supplies nearly 50% of the
world’s fish food supply is that it currently remains relatively unregulated.
3) Ghost Fishing
Ghost fishing is an environmentally harmful issue caused when lost or discarded fishing gear
continues to catch fish and other marine life. Often times, the traps trigger a chain-reaction
problem when larger predators come to eat the smaller ones that have been ensnared, only to
get tangled in the mess themselves. The issue of ghost fishing is most common with passive
gear that has been abandoned, and also poses a serious threat to other ocean vessels. Stray
gear can be caught in the propeller of a boat, damaging or even disabling it.
4) Garbage
6 Garbage Patches in our oceans. This one is the most obvious. It’s astounding how much of
our trash finds its way into the ocean. Animals become easily entangled and trapped in our
garbage, and it can destroy delicate sea life like coral and sponges. In addition, sea turtles and
dolphins often mistake plastic bags for their favorite foods, jellyfish and squids, choking them or
clogging their digestive system. If that’s not bad enough, hopefully the bigger-than-Texas trash
vortex in the Pacific Ocean and its smaller cousin in the Atlantic will help serve as a wakeup
call.
5) Acidification
The ocean absorbs as much as one third of the CO2 emitted worldwide, which keeps us cooler
but makes the ocean surface much more acidic. This has the effect of limiting calcium
carbonate needed by coral, plankton, and other marine life that use it to build the skeletal
frames and shells that protect them. Oceanic acidity has increased by 25% since the industrial
revolution, and will eventually destroy much marine life if it increases at this rate.
Ocean acidification is no small issue. The basic science behind acidification is that the ocean
absorbs CO2 through natural processes, but at the rate at which we're pumping it into the
atmosphere through burning fossil fuels, the ocean's pH balance is dropping to the point where
life within the ocean is having trouble coping.

c. Answer this question: As a global citizen, how can you save the life below water?
As a global citizen, I can help save the life below water by doing the following simple
actions:

 Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption

 Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
 Use Fewer Plastic Products
 Help Take Care of the Beach
 Don't Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
 Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
 Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
 Influence Change in Your Community
 Travel the Ocean Responsibly
 Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life