Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microbes. Abiotic factors include the amount of sunlight, amount of oxygen and nutrients dissolved in the water, proximity to land, depth, and temperature.
Humans mine the ocean for minerals such as salt, sand, gravel, and some manganese, copper, nickel, iron, and cobalt which can be found in the deep sea and is also drilled for crude oil.
Fisheries may overfish some populations and lead them near extinction or some fish practices also damage the environment. Harmful chemicals can easily flow into rivers or into the ocean. Oil spills can coat beaches, smother ocean plant life, and kill a variety of birds, fish, and sea mammals.
Fishing Practices
Bottom trawling and cyanide fishing both kill more than just fish. Cyanide fishing involves spraying or dumping cyanide onto reefs to stun and capture live fish. This also kills coral polyps and degrades the reef habitat. But bottom trawling destroys far more ocean habitat than any other fishing practice. Large weighted nets are dragged across the ocean floor destroying enormous amounts of fragile seafloor habitats.
Ocean habitat restoration would probably be the best as that is where most of the damage is being delt. Many projects are now seeking to restore marine habitats, such as mangroves and seagrass.
The easiest way for everyday humans to protect ocean life is to stop using single-use plastics. Many countries have already taken steps to ban items like straws, drink stirrers, and cotton buds.
We should look after the Ocean and therefore our planet, not just because it keeps us alive, but because it is our inherent duty to do so.
1. Where do microplastics come from?
2. What advancements are being made in recycling plastics?
3. Will coral reefs survive the recent global bleaching events?
