The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
~ Robert Swan
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| Photo Credit : www.facebook.com/dotjay/ |
Did you know that the global fish production exceeds that of cattle, sheep, poultry or eggs ?
The sea provides the biggest source of wild or domestic protein in the world. Each year some 70 to 75 million tons of fish are caught in the ocean. Of this amount around 29 million tons is for human consumption.
Oceans absorb between 30% and 50% of the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuel. Carbon dioxide is transported downwards by plankton.
If the sea is this useful to life, then why do we repay nature this way?
It has become a norm in some parts of Africa where feces, solid wastes, domestic wastewater and industrial wastes are openly and directly disposed into the sea.
Over 60% of the world's coral reefs are threatened as a result of pollution, sedimentation
Most of the debris in the ocean does not decompose and remain in the ocean for years. It uses oxygen as it degrades. As a result of this, oxygen levels go down. When oxygen levels go down, the chances of survival of marine animals like whales, turtles, sharks, dolphins, penguins for long time also goes down.
Animals can become trapped by plastic or mistake it for food, slowly killing
them over a long period of time. Animals who are most often the victims of plastic debris
include turtles, dolphins, fish, sharks, crabs, sea birds, and crocodiles.
The Consequences On Human Life
Swimming at beaches with pollution in
the water or in the sand can make you fall ill.
Children, the elderly and people with
weakened immune systems are the most likely populations to develop illnesses or
infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while
swimming.
The most common illness associated with
swimming in water polluted by sewage is gastroenteritis. It occurs in a variety
of forms that can have one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting,
stomach-ache, diarrhoea, headache or fever. Other minor illnesses associated
with swimming include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted
water, swimmers may occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.
The consumption of seafood from contaminated sources
could also be harmful to human health.
Animals from impacted food chain are then
eaten by humans which affects their health as toxins from these contaminated
animals gets deposited in the tissues of people and can lead to cancer, birth
defects or long term health problems.
We also suffer if we look unconcerned . We all have a part to play. Share to Save the Sea , Share to Save Nature , Share to Save Humanity.
Sources of this article includes:
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