‘‘How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly ocean’’
-Arthur C. Clarke-
The ocean, full of saltwater covers approximately 71% of the surface of the planet Earth. It is one of the greatest legacies to mankind, with extraordinary biodiversity.
Although we cannot drink this salty water, why do we still need it?
There is a reason why marine life conservation is considered so important. Let me tell you why :). Scientists have discovered that 50-80% of the oxygen supply on earth comes from the ocean. There are more than millions of planktons, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. They do a great service to the environment.
Health benefits from seawater
•Sea water can strengthen the immune system
By bathing or swimming in the sea, it helps to increase your red blood cells and white blood cells which can fight against harmful viruses and bacteria.
•Sea water can clean your body well
Seawater contains sodium chloride (NaCl) which is good at killing germs. It also helps to prevent acne problems in your skin.
•Sea water reduces anxiety
The ocean water includes magnesium. So, seawater helps to calm you down.
Marine pollution
Marine pollution happens because of adverse chemicals, poisonous elements, plastic particles, or breeds of invasive organisms in the ocean. Researchers have found that more than 80% of pollution occurs by land. There’s a tendency to release waste collected in factories into rivers and sewer systems. Most of the time, rivers are the main source that brings garbage to the ocean. When it comes to Asia, countries like India and Sri Lanka are somewhat careless in disposing garbage properly. Hence, around the world, about 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the sea every year. These contain harmful substances that affect the human body as well as the animal body. So, would it be better if we let them go to the sea?
We all know that a ship called ‘’Express Pearl’’ had an accidental fire on the 20th of May 2021 in our maritime boundary. That ship carried 1486 containers including 25 tons of nitric acid. All of them sank in the deep sea. Since then, a large number of sea creatures have died and been dumped into the beach. Ocean has life, even if we can’t see, it breathes. It’s like a well-grown garden with lots of flowers and blossoms. But what the human being does is, put all the garbage into the garden; step on nice flowers, and destroy the beauty. People must be aware that humankind belongs to nature; not that nature belongs to humankind.
Consequences of our carelessness
A lot of sea turtles, dolphins, and fish species died of poisoning after that ship sank. That was the tragedy we saw with our own eyes. What about that unseen tragedy in the seabed? As mentioned above, there are plankton and chlorophyll algae that can produce oxygen. If we keep ignoring the activities that we do against marine life, the oxygen capacity of our earth won’t be sufficient for the survival of any life. The life of coral reefs is also vanishing because of the increase of dumped plastic particles and chemicals and the acidification of the ocean. It affects some fish species too because they breed inside corals.
If this pollution process continues for another 20 years, the next generation will see the sea creatures only through their textbooks.
Prevention is better than cure
People think that someone else will protect nature instead of us. We all should stop thinking like that. Be that someone and take the first step. For a few years, we see people cleaning the beach as CSR projects. It’s good to take part in such projects like that without handing over the whole responsibility to the government. But we can protect our marine life before the ocean gets polluted.
If we can force the factories and people to dispose of non-perishable waste in a sustainable manner, we can minimize the impact on the ocean. To limit the effect of plastic, we can use non-disposable containers to store food, a reusable water bottle for daily use, and carry our own reusable bag when we go shopping. Plastic ruins the natural habitats of marine animals, as well as their lives. Apart from that, when we go to the beach to relax along with our friends, we should always make sure to clean up the area before we leave. Because if we leave anything behind, it would be a death trap to an innocent marine life. We should try our best to keep plastics in recycle bins, without letting them end up in the ocean. Keep the beach clean and fulfill your responsibility.
We might be the last hope for our marine life. So, come forward and be a part of marine conservation.
Written by: Rtr. K. D. Chamodi Kaveesha
Edited by: Rtr. Loshini Gnanasambanthan
Health benefits from seawater: https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-health-benefits-of-sea-water
RACALBS