What are the three main sources of pollution in marine environments
Oil spills
Plastic pollution
Eutrophic dead zones
What was the consequence of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, 1989
Habitats destroyed
Deaths of animals
25 years later, less then half of the wildlife has returned
$3.8 billion in clean up costs
Why was the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, 1989 so bad
took two weeks to begin clean up efforts
Oil can still be found on half of the beaches
How can oil spills be managed
Contain spill - temporary barriers
Scoop up oil - with skimmers, dispersants, chemical emulsifiers, surfactants or absorbents
Burning
What percent of rubbish in the ocean is plastic
90%
Why are plastics such a big problem
Demand, availability, Affordability
Do not decompose, instead breaking down into smaller microplastics
How do plastics get into the oceans
Litter gets blown into the river, down drains or end up in landfill
What is the impact of mismanaged plastic waste
Landfills, dumps, fly tipping Plastics end up in oceans
What happens to the majority of the UKs waste
Transported to other countries to be disposed of in landfill
What is a Gyre, what is their role in the formation of garbage patches
Gyre - natural current rotations in the open ocean, area of high pressure, little wind
Wind and waves slow, trapping trash so that it settles in patches
Where is the Great pacific ocean garbage patch, around how big is it
Between Hawaii and California
Around the size of Texas
What are the issues for marine species with plastic and microplastics in the ocean
Choking, digestion, strangled,
Sea grass traps plastics
How can plastic pollution be managed
Globally - Global conventions and UNCLOS
Regionally - European and national rules
Locally - individual/community actions
What is UNCLOS statement on plastic pollution
Prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment form any source
How have the number of some plastics been reduced
Tax on single use plastic bags
Banning single use plastic straws, cutlery etc..
Why is education important in relation to plastic pollution
People living inland may not see the extent of the issue
Young people will help make change
Recycling
What are some individual actions that can be done to lessen plastic pollution
Reduce waste
Reuse
Recycle
What is Eutrophication
Body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous), causing the growth of algae on surface, oxygen depletion and death of marine species
What is the source of nutrients that cause eutrophication
Waste
Fertilisers
Explain how marine ecosystems are affected by eutrophication
Nutrients reach ecosystem, nutrients feed algae which grow and blocks sunlight, plants die without sunlight, algae dies, bacteria digests dead plants and uses up the remaining oxygen during aerobic digestion, creating CO2, and an ecological dead zone
Where is ocean eutrophication common
Nearby land and at chokepoints
What is the size of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone
over 6300 square miles
Where does the nutrients come from that feed algae in the Gulf of Mexico dead zone
Farmers fertilisers
How can impacts of eutrophication be reduced
Technology that removes nutrients from the water
Slow release fertilisers
