2017
suggested that the oceans could lose 1 to 7 percent of their oxygen by 2100, affecting species that live in the water
Source: Climate News Network
How does oil impact marine life?
Oil spills are harmful to marine birds and mammals as well as fish and shellfish.
Following an oil spill, there are specialists and veterinarians to deal with oiled wildlife. These experts are trained on how to clean oil from animals, rehabilitate them, and return them to the environment.
Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a bird’ s feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water, birds and mammals will die from hypothermia.
Many birds and animals also ingest oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them. Fish and shellfish may not be exposed immediately, but can come into contact with oil if it is mixed into the water column. When exposed to oil, adult fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Oil also adversely affects eggs and larval survival.
Source: NOAA
Oil spills: prevent, prepare, respond, restore
International experts have been shared experiences, new technologies and scientific advancements relating to oil spill response at the International Oil Spill Conference( IOSC) in Long Beach, United States( 15-18 May). The theme of the conference was
“ prevent, prepare, respond and restore”, which fully aligns with International Maritime Organization’ s regulatory work to prevent oil spills from occurring and also its work to support countries to be prepared to respond to such incidents. IMO`s capacity-building activities include training for oil pollution preparedness and response through simulation of oil spills.
Marine Debris
Marine debris is everyone’ s problem. It is a global problem affecting everything from the environment to the economy; from fishing and navigation to human health and safety; from the tiniest coral polyps to giant blue whales.
Marine debris comes in many forms, from a cigarette butt tossed on the beach to a 4,000-pound tangle of derelict fishing nets caught on a coral reef.
Since 2005, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, one of three divisions within the Office of Response and Restoration, serves as a centralized program within NOAA, coordinating, strengthening, and promoting marine debris activities within the agency and among its partners and the public.
Importance
Diver exploring an abandoned vessel( NOAA)
Marine debris has many detrimental impacts on ecosystems, such as habitat degradation, entanglement, ingestion, and transportation of non-native species. Debris can even affect human health and navigation safety.
Research is beginning to reveal the scope of the issue, and this knowledge, along with new technologies, can lead to more effective solutions to the problem. Efforts to reduce and prevent marine debris decrease not only the quantities but also the impacts of debris, and over time, create an overall change in the behaviors that lead to debris.
Through efforts in these areas as well as by working with partners across the U. S. and around the world, together everyone can make a difference in solving the problem of marine debris
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