MARINE POLLUTION Types, Causes, Effects and

Prevention
MARINE POLLUTION:
INTRODUCTION
Marine pollution is the introduction of substances or energy from
humans into the marine environment resulting in such deleterious
effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health,
hindrance to marine activities including fishing, impairment of
quality for use of seawater, and reduction of amenities.

Covering more than 70 percent of our planet, oceans are among

the earth’s most valuable natural resources.
TYPES OF MARINE
POLLUTION
Some of the types of Marine Pollution are as follows:
•Ocean Acidification: The oceans act as a natural carbon sink, absorbing
atmospheric carbon dioxide. As the levels of carbon dioxide are increasing,
the oceans are becoming more acidic. This change in the pH of the ocean
water can have disastrous consequences on marine life.
•Eutrophication: Eutrophication is an increase of chemical nutrients,
typically compounds containing Nitrogen and Phosphorous. The change can
lead to an excessive growth of plants and their subsequent decay. The
dissolved oxygen concentration in the water also decreases due to
eutrophication which induces the death of marine fauna.
TYPES OF MARINE
POLLUTION
•Plastic Debris: Marine debris is mainly discarded human rubbish which floats
on, or is suspended in the ocean. 80% of marine debris is plastic. All this plastic
waste can pose a serious threat to the survival of marine fauna who can die by
ingestion, entanglement, and suffocation.
•Toxins: There are several other toxins called persistent toxins that do not
readily disintegrate in the ocean waters. When such toxins enter the body of
marine animals, they accumulate in their tissues by a process called
bioaccumulation. The toxins pass through the food chain and start
biomagnifying at each higher level in the food chain.
•Noise: Human activities often introduce unnecessary noise in the marine
ecosystem which is detrimental to life in the area.
CAUSES OF MARINE
POLLUTION
The main causes of Marine Pollution are as follows:
•Discharge of untreated plastic waste and sewage
•Oil spills
•Excess of nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorous which lead to eutrophication
•Introduction of heavy metals
•Persistent organic pollutants
•Fertilizer runoffs from farms and lawns
•Deep sea mining
Causes of Marine Pollution

Industrial Wastewater
Litter 5%
5%
Offshore Oil Sewage
10% 30%

Air Pollutants
20%
Marine Transportation
10%

Farm Runoff
20%
EFFECTS OF MARINE
POLLUTION
Marine contamination changes the physical, chemical, and biological
characteristics of the oceans and coastal zones, and potentially threatens
marine organism, ecosystems, and biodiversity and affects the quality and
productivity of marine ecosystems. 
•Destruction and deterioration of aquatic life.
•Decline in volume of dissolved oxygen.
•Increase in the toxicity of water due to presence of heavy metals.
•High concentration of pollutants decreases the penetration of light which
results in a decline in the rate of photosynthesis.
CONTROL OF MARINE
POLLUTION
•Toxic pollutants from industries and sewage treatment plants should not be
discharged in coastal waters.
•Runoff from non-point sources should be prevented to reach coastal areas.
•Sewer overflows should be prevented by having separate sewer and rain water pipes.
•Dumping of toxic, hazardous wastes and sewage sludge should be banned.
•Developmental activities on coastal areas should be minimized.
•Oil and grease from service stations should be processed for reuse.
•Oil ballast should not be dumped into sea.
•Ecologically sensitive coastal areas should be protected by not allowing drilling.
PREVENTION OF MARINE
POLLUTION
Protecting our marine environment is vital for the wellbeing of the sea, the marine life
it supports and us. All of us can take the following measures to make a difference.
•Stop using Single Use Plastics.
•Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
•Reduce our garbage and recycle.
•Participate in a beach or a river clean up.
•Avoid using products containing microbeads.
•Support Bans enacted by our government.
•Spread the word.