Conserving Marine Life for Future Generations

BY: HARSHA MANGLA

It is critical that we save marine life. The importance of conserving aquatic life is far beyond losing marine species. By ignoring the crisis occurring in the oceans, we are being held responsible for ravaging the heart of our planet. Marine life is our primary source of oxygen! Unfortunately, the amount of toxic chemicals in oceans increases in colossal quantities daily, resulting in increased hazard for life below water. In addition to oxygen, there are many scientists and oceanographers who learn so much from underwater creatures. Marine life also provides food for people. Seventeen percent of our food consists of marine animals! Regrettably, over one hundred million aquatic creatures die every year, and this population only consists of deaths due to plastic in oceans! Based on the current pace of sea creatures being eradicated, it’s far-fetched to expect this sustainability by 2050. The livelihood of marine life is exacerbated daily, and this is no situation to close one’s eyes to. We must take action and put our best foot forward to settle this grave problem.

Currently, over 3.5 billion people are reliant on the ocean as their primary source of food. That’s almost half of the world’s population! According to the National Geographic, this population could increase to seven billion within the next twenty years, due to growth in population.This is just the amount of seafood consumed by humans. Over one fourth of the world’s fish are fed to animals every year. Our oceans most likely won’t be able to support this much growth, and before we know it, another species would become extinct. A scientific study from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has noted that since 2015, fifteen marine species have already become extinct.

Consumption of seafood isn’t entirely the reason why marine life is becoming endangered. Every year, the world as a whole produces two-hundred sixty tonnes of plastic. Ten percent of this total is polluted in our oceans, affecting marine life. This means that eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped in the oceans every year! That’s nearly eighteen billion pounds — equal to fifty — seven thousand blue whales! Unfortunately, this is not all. Oil spills keep occurring every now and then, but the one in 2010 created a prodigious effect. The largest marine oil spill of all time leaked over 134 million gallons of oil and was capped three months later. Over ten million marine creatures died within that one incident

The eradication of marine species could affect the ecosystem more than just by dwindling food sources. Additionally, many varieties of fish provide oils and flesh which are researched to cure medical conditions; such conditions that had no cure simply ten years ago! Various marine plants have also been analyzed to have such capability, including the samphire and the sea holly. These plants treat liver and kidney diseases, such as urine infection, celiac disease, or cirrhosis. Merely fifty years ago, if a person were to be diagnosed with one of the following illnesses, the chances of the individual surviving would’ve been possible. Now that we are aware of the cure, why burn our bridges with nature ? The resolution is in our hands — isn’t it our responsibility to protect ?

Our oceans provide us with the most basic necessity of life — air! According to scientific analysis, the ocean produces over 50% of the world’s oxygen and absorbs exactly 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. How exactly, you may wonder? Plants (whether in water or not) intake carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through their phytoplankton, which they exhale. The world is 50% bodies of water, meaning that the aquatic ecosystem is no joke — affecting it would enable many pathways of trouble for us. The water that the marine life resides in is the same water we drink daily. Protecting natural reservoirs would be beneficial for us in several ways.

Although solving this major issue may be difficult, it is not impossible. If communities as a collective team are driven to solve this problem, we can certainly make progress. With the support of government officials, a lot of improvement can be made. Manufacturing industries and transportation companies should be given mandatory financial penalties for causing damages. Oil spills occur due to pipes not being capped correctly, and this oversight causes an atrocious impact on the environment. Another major cause of marine destruction is onshore drilling. Expanded onshore drilling poses the risk of oil spills, harming habitats that are critical to plants and animals. Another danger of onshore drilling includes toxic pollution. This stumbling block is hazardous both for life in water and on land. Toxic pollution is dangerous for all organisms’ health, and can lead to severe destruction. Let’s allow our future selves to make our present decisions, and not vice-versa. Will we die of thirst or drink a cup of disloyalty? If we are not hungry to solve this crisis, we will never resolve it.

In closing, the marine ecosystem is indispensable. Conserving it is fundamental, and we must take action before it’s too late. As an individual we can only do so much, but if everyone puts their best efforts forward as a collective team, improvement will certainly be made. Performing simple tasks daily could create a step function and fly-wheel impact. Use reusable water bottle and containers to store food and drinks instead of plastic ones. Reduce your energy usage (such as electricity and petroleum). Avoid purchasing products that harm the ocean throughout the manufacturing process. Most importantly, spread the message. Bring this situation to people’s attention, make them understand its damages, and encourage all citizens to take action from there. Waiting for others to invent a machine or system that will instantly solve this crisis is not the solution: the problem may exacerbate even more till that comes to reality. You’re never too young or old to make an impact, and your determination will be the gift for a brighter future to the next generation. Let’s strive in this quest, and we’ll collectively reach our mission.