Our Oceans – Every Drop Counts

 

When we refer to our planet Earth, we mostly consider the landmass where we live.

However, the fact is 71% of the Earth is water, and out of this 97% of the Earth’s water is in its oceans.

Mostly, we refer to oceans as a medium of transport from the ages of Columbus and Vasco da Gama to modern export & shipping routes, or merely a source of saltwater, like Samuel Taylor Coleridge says in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner:” Water, Water, everywhere… nor any drop to drink”.

So, have we asked ourselves, apart from this saltwater and transportation route, what important roles do our oceans play in our lives?

Well, Oceans are one of the main reasons we can breathe.

70% of the Earth’s oxygen is generated by phytoplankton present in the Oceans.

Apart from that, the Oceans are the ones that determine the climate of the Earth.

Yes, from heatwaves to the cool breezes we enjoy, from the heavy rains to the chilling winter, all is balanced by the oceans.

It clearly explains that if we want life on Earth, we need oceans.

Humans tend to generate waste and sewage wherever they live without considering the need to dispose of it in a holistic manner.

It is estimated that 95,000 cubic meters of sewage from toilets and 5,420,000 cubic meters of sewage from sinks, galleys, and showers are released into the oceans each day through cruise ships only, and the sewage discharge from households is 60 times the same amount.

The raw sewage that has been discharged into Oceans not only disturbs their ecosystem but also poses a significant threat of disease to the marine flora and fauna, as well as humans, especially those living in coastal areas and those who rely on marine populations for their livelihood.

Sewage is one of the main culprits in the deterioration of oceans, but the Pablo Escobar of pollution here is the industrial wastewater, the most dangerous and notorious factor.

Every year, billions of gallons of industrial wastewater from the petroleum, plastic, pharmaceutical, pesticide, and other prominent sectors are being discharged into the oceans.

Some of them also include radioactive hazardous elements.

A large amount of this untreated wastewater contains excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus.

This leads to eutrophication, causing algal blooms, which severely deplete dissolved oxygen levels in ocean waters.

The waste generated harms the phytoplankton population, thereby leading to reduced oxygen availability, which may someday lead to the extinction of entire civilizations.

These factors, along with oil spills and petroleum waste, also play a major role in creating marine dead zones.

As the oil film floats on the surface, it blocks sunlight and simultaneously hinders the exchange of gases, leading to the deaths of marine life.

A 2023 report by National Geographic found that more than 415 dead zones exist worldwide.

One of the largest dead zones in the world lies in the Gulf of Oman, part of the Arabian Sea, covering an area larger than Scotland and still growing.

The release of large amounts of plastic waste into the sea is another issue with major side effects.

These plastics further break down into microplastics, which are consumed by fish and other aquatic creatures and ultimately enter the human food chain, causing complications for us humans as well.

Many of the hazardous elements, along with plastic, are very impactful in destroying food chains, killing and mobilization aquatic creatures, thus destroying natural functioning and ultimately leading to billions of deaths.

Not only aquatic creatures but also the creatures that depend on them directly or indirectly, such as penguins, flamingos, and many species of seagulls, are severely affected.

Imagine going to your favorite beach destinations and what you see: beaches filled with plastic waste and the dead bodies of fish and birds, or going scuba diving and being unable to see the beautiful world under the water, just the plastic debris.

Well, we humans will be at fault because we prioritize our greed for money over the environment itself, which provides us with everything from oxygen and food to the sand used in the construction of our homes.

Everything is important for our survival.

There are numerous laws and authorities established to regulate the discharge of untreated wastewater into our oceans.

There are many organizations and NGOs working day and night to bring back the good old days of happiness for the oceans, but nothing will happen until and unless every individual realizes the necessity to save Oceans and abide by them and the best way to implement wastewater treatment individually as much as we can through efficient methods.

If we can limit our own needs and leave our selfish nature behind, the fish will be able to swim freely into their own world, cool breezes will come to soothe us, and no dolphins or Penguins will suffer from suffocation, and no seabirds will have to leave their home.

It is up to us to protect our oceans and, in turn, protect our future.