Human actions have a big effect on ocean life and how well ecosystems function. Here are some important ways we influence the sea:
Pollution: Trash in the ocean, especially plastics and chemicals, harms marine habitats. Every year, around 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean. This can hurt sea animals that eat the plastic or get caught in it.
Overfishing: Catching too many fish is a serious problem. About 34% of fish populations are being caught faster than they can recover. Some fish, like Atlantic cod, have seen their numbers drop by 90% since the 1970s.
Habitat Destruction: Building along coastlines and using methods like bottom trawling damages important habitats. Around 50% of coral reefs are harmed, which hurts the variety of life in the ocean and the financial benefits we get from them, estimated at $375 billion each year.
Climate Change: The ocean is getting warmer, which puts a lot of stress on marine life. By the year 2100, ocean temperatures could increase by 3-4°C. This rise can lead to coral bleaching, potentially killing off 70-90% of corals.
Invasive Species: When humans move species from one place to another, it can create problems for local ecosystems. The cost of dealing with invasive species in oceans is expected to be over $100 billion each year worldwide.
These actions by humans hurt the variety of life in the ocean and upset the balance of marine ecosystems.
Human actions have a big effect on ocean life and how well ecosystems function. Here are some important ways we influence the sea:
Pollution: Trash in the ocean, especially plastics and chemicals, harms marine habitats. Every year, around 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean. This can hurt sea animals that eat the plastic or get caught in it.
Overfishing: Catching too many fish is a serious problem. About 34% of fish populations are being caught faster than they can recover. Some fish, like Atlantic cod, have seen their numbers drop by 90% since the 1970s.
Habitat Destruction: Building along coastlines and using methods like bottom trawling damages important habitats. Around 50% of coral reefs are harmed, which hurts the variety of life in the ocean and the financial benefits we get from them, estimated at $375 billion each year.
Climate Change: The ocean is getting warmer, which puts a lot of stress on marine life. By the year 2100, ocean temperatures could increase by 3-4°C. This rise can lead to coral bleaching, potentially killing off 70-90% of corals.
Invasive Species: When humans move species from one place to another, it can create problems for local ecosystems. The cost of dealing with invasive species in oceans is expected to be over $100 billion each year worldwide.
These actions by humans hurt the variety of life in the ocean and upset the balance of marine ecosystems.