Effects of Deep Ocean Pollution

The United Nations has warned that the damage to the deep oceans is getting way out of control. According to reports found on commondreams news center , This damage is caused by litter, pollution and overfishing of the oceans. In a report indicating very little time left to save the oceans, the UN has said that human exploitation of the deep ocean waters was quickly passing a point beyond which there is no returning.

Every year 75 million tons of fish are fished out, 100 million sharks are killed for fins, 250,000 turtles get tangled in fishing equipment, and 310,000 seabirds, including 110,000 albatrosses, all get killed by illegal fishing.

Three billion pieces of litter entered the waters at the rate of eight million per day. There are already 47,000 discarded plastic pieces per square mile of the seas that float on the surface waters. A million seabirds get killed every year. The temperature of the water has risen. Alkalinity has fallen. This is the result of the change in climate. Coral reefs off Belize and Australia are dying and some newly discovered corals in the Atlantic Ocean have been already destroyed by trawling.

Achim Steiner is the executive director of UN's environment program said that the pace of change has outstripped conservation efforts.

Mining could soon start on the ocean floors for the 1st time in history. Canada-based Nautilus Minerals has plans to mine for copper and gold off the coast of Papua Guinea.

More than 91% of the earth's living organisms are to be found in the seas. Scientists are just now beginning to fathom their marine ecosystems. These are considered to be the cradle of life on the planet.

Mr. Steiner said that 65% of the marine biodiversity is vulnerable due to increasing risk. He called for rules, guidelines and actions to safeguard marine ecosystems.

The UN has advised countries to manage ocean waters along eco boundaries and not political boundaries. The UN says that more research is necessary to investigate 90% of the hitherto unexplored oceans. It also seeks greater protection for endangered species like marlin, cod and swordfish, which are now 90% lesser in numbers since the turn of the century.

Kristina Gjerde is a high seas adviser working with the International Union of Conservation's Marine Global program. She said that today's commercial activities at oceans are plunging ever deeper and expanding rapidly. She also said conservation efforts are being made more important due to climate change.