The marine environment is that forgotten world

The marine environment, that forgotten world

Among all ecosystems, the marine environment is considered one of the important factors for the balance of the planet, and it is the most food-producing environment. Because it contains countless organisms, and we know that they – seas and oceans – cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, which makes them one of the reasons for supporting life systems in all their forms.

This importance imposes on people in all countries of the world to strive to preserve it in various ways, especially after the great challenges this marine environment has faced in recent years, such as plastic pollution, climate change, and overfishing. Therefore, in this article, Earth Guards are trying to identify the dimensions of the problem of marine environment pollution, while proposing some solutions to address it. Learn about this by reading the following.

Environmental Pollution

Our terrestrial and marine environment faces many problems. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are facing a historical crisis, and it seems that many of these problems are getting worse day by day. That is why it has become necessary to confront all these problems.

These environmental problems are often represented by hazardous waste produced by factories, such as plastic waste, heavy metals, and other industrial toxins. There are also problems with the use of fossil fuels, which are an obstacle to our ecosystems.

As for the problems of the marine environment, science tells us that marine organisms have needed millions of years to evolve, and this has made them able to adapt to many changes in their marine environment. However, since man entered his industrial age, these organisms have faced severe and extremely dangerous changes, changes that have had a negative impact on their development and survival.

Among these problems is the rising temperatures, which could push some marine organisms to migrate, but others may not be able to migrate. Then the dynamics of the oceans will change, a change that will result in the extinction of these organisms that are unable to migrate.

There is another pollution problem in the marine environment, which is global warming that results from rising levels of carbon dioxide. Because the increasing concentration of this gas in the atmosphere leads to an increase in surface temperatures of the oceans, and also leads to their acidification (the higher the concentration of carbon dioxide, the lower the percentage of hydrogen in seawater, and then organisms such as corals and crustaceans are harmed). Warming and acidification in the oceans do not occur at the same rates everywhere, as there are large differences depending on the rates of temperatures varying in width and depth.

One of the major threats to the marine environment – coral in particular – is the risk ofbleaching resulting from rising sea surface temperatures. The meaning of bleaching is that coral reefs are exposed to pressures resulting from high temperatures, and then the symbiotic algae that live in their tissues move away from them. The reefs turn completely white. There are types of coral that can recover sometimes, and at other times this phenomenon leads to their death.

Global warming, acidification and bleaching are not the only problems causing deterioration in the marine environment. There is plastic pollution, as estimates indicate that about 20 million tons of plastic waste infiltrate ecosystems every year.

To understand the dimensions of plastic pollution and the extent of its impact on the marine environment, we must know that the uses of plastic differ from one place to another, and the methods of managing its waste also differ. This makes us say: Most of the harm caused by the use of plastic comes from developing countries, where its use is increasing, and at the same time there are no appropriate management systems for this waste. This represents a challenge when dealing with this increase in consumption.

The question here: How does this type of pollution affect the marine environment? To answer, we say: Plastic waste accumulates in countries that cannot manage this waste sustainably. Then, for example, they are washed away by storms and heavy rains on their way to the sea, and plastic emissions can then multiply as waste slides to the bottom of waterways, rivers and seas. Therefore, coastal cities in some developing countries are areas of high-risk plastic pollution.

Science for a clean marine environment

We are facing two parallel paths; Adaptation and mitigation. Adaptation includes scientific study and research to enhance the marine environment’s ability to withstand the effects of climate change. However, adaptation alone is not sufficient. A serious global response is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. This response must include working to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, reduce deforestation, and increase the ability of natural systems to absorb carbon. Here are the most prominent scientific solutions to enhance the marine environment.

Underwater Waste Bin

You can believe that one of the institutions has worked on manufacturing a smart waste basket, as “Seabin” collects waste through a floating basket, which is a basket that can be installed in ports, yacht clubs, and in any coastal place. It works to collect plastic waste, monitor its effects, and combat it in a responsible manner.

Coral Nurseries

Biotechnology can help protect coral reefs by growing corals in the laboratory before transplanting them into seas and oceans. Scientists can generate tiny coral fragments taken from natural coral colonies, then keep these tiny fragments in “coral nurseries” until they are ready to be transplanted into degraded coral reefs.

TheEarth Guards believes that mankind has many promising technologies ahead of it, and what we have presented here is an example that confirms the role of technology in reducing the degradation of the marine environment. Science ensures its sustainability for future generations, especially since we face serious environmental challenges today, which makes innovation a necessity, not a luxury.