17 major threats to the marine biome - DeepOceanFacts.com (2023)

The marine biome is the largest habitat on Earth. It covers 75% of the Earth. The marine biome consists of the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, Southern, and Arctic oceans. Within the marine biome there are marine algae that distribute oxygen to the entire world and are also responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide from the air.

In addition, there are thousands of marine animals and plants that maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem. But in recent years, the marine biome is facing many threats and dangers for various reasons. So here are 17 threats to the marine biome that people should be aware of.

Also read:

• Endangered Species on the Great Barrier Reef
• shark facts
• Threats to ocean ecosystems

1. Increase in seawater temperature

Global warming is basically defined as the increase in temperature inside the earth due to pollutants such as carbon dioxide or CFCs. The way global warming affects the marine biome is by gradually increasing its temperature over the years. (Read:Threats to marine life)

The increase in seawater temperature is a serious threat, since marine animals and plants are very sensitive to small changes in temperature. The continued rise in temperature will eventually kill off many creatures that live in the sea.

2. Marine creatures sold as souvenirs

Sometimes we come across people trying to sell items in coastal areas. On closer inspection, these objects are actually parts of sea creatures like shells or corals. They are made into necklaces or other types of jewelry. (Also read:types of dolphins)

A more serious case is when the vulnerable parts of sea creatures are also sold as souvenirs. They may include shark teeth or seal skin. These objects are illegal and clearly threaten wildlife. They are hunted as souvenirs for money.

3. Toxic Industrial Waste

While there are rules and regulations that industries must follow to preserve the environment, some get away with it. Some industries still dump their toxic industrial waste into nearby areas or rivers. This toxic waste flows together with the river water directly into the sea. When that happens, the seawater will suffer severe contamination that will endanger all the animals and plants in the marine biome.

See more information:

• Solutions to end overfishing
• Ways to reduce overfishing

4. Ship noise overload

The machinery used in the operation of ships can be very loud and noisy. There are hundreds of ships passing through the sea every day and this undoubtedly comes at a high cost to all that lives within the marine biome. (Read:types of oceanic birds)

Unfortunately, those most affected by this ship overload noise are marine animals. It can reportedly cause stress, change swimming pattern, or even bleeding.

5. Shark finning

Shark finning is the practice of removing the fins of sharks that are still alive. Once the fins are removed, the sharks are thrown into the water. Without fins, sharks cannot swim and will eventually die. Shark finning is popular because it can earn you a lot of money. It is especially popular for making soups in China. Each year, finning kills 100 million sharks. (See More Information:endangered species in the ocean biome)

6. Capture sea creatures

Marine mammals are constantly taken from their natural habitat for captivity. These mammals include dolphins, seals, or whales. They are placed in smaller areas and teach tricks for entertainment. (Also read:Prevention of marine pollution)

People will pay a lot of money to see them. However, this often results in the premature death of sea creatures. It shortens their lives because they are stressed and pressured within a small environment. This practice in captivity definitely threatens the population of your species.

7. Dolphin hunting

Dolphin hunting is considered a cultural event in Japan. During this event, more than thousands of dolphins or whales are killed for their meat. Apart from that, they also bring a large sum of money for the fishermen. Although there are participant quotas, this act of hunting is inhumane. In addition, it also reduces the population of dolphins and whales. (See More Information:Types of sea lions)

8. Trawler

Boat trawling is a common method of fishing. In trawling, large nets are cast into the water. They usually end up at the bottom of the ocean. This poses a huge threat to the marine biome as there may be many illegal marine creatures caught in the nets. (Know more:Major ocean basins)

Marine animals that should not be caught will also die along with the target fish. Furthermore, this act of crawling crawls across the ocean floor, destroying everything in its path.

9. Habitat destruction

Habitat destruction within the marine biome is caused by multiple natural events, but mainly by human actions. Pollution, pollution, ships are some of the culprits for habitat destruction. The fact is that only an extremely small percentage of the ocean is protected. Others are open to damage. If the number of habitat destruction continues to increase, sea creatures will lose their homes. They will no longer have shelter and may face death.

Also read:

• Non-ocean only types
• Ocean habitat types
• Effects of the destruction of coral reefs

10. Dredging

Dredging is an act of removing sediment or sand from the ocean floor. The reason for this is to create paths so that ships can easily pass through. Dredging can be a good thing because it can also remove toxic materials and pollutants from the seabed. (Read:Types of sea snakes)

However, this comes at a cost. Dredging will cause a change in the mineral composition of ocean water. When this happens, some marine animals or plants may have a hard time adapting and die.

11. Plastic

Plastic is a useful material, but it can be the worst pollutant for the marine biome. Most plastics will take decades to degrade. Since they also end up in the ocean, they pose a serious threat to marine animals. These animals will think that plastic is their food. But eating plastic will not give them good nutrients for their bodies. In turn, their health and general condition will continue to degrade until they die. (See More Information:Types of small sea fish)

12. The weather gets worse

The weather is something we have no control over. Unfortunately it seems to be getting worse every year due to human activities. Marine mammals like seals are vulnerable to this. For example, fur seals that live in the Arctic are losing their habitat. This is because the ice is melting and they cannot find a place to raise their young. This greatly hinders your chance to prosper. (Also read:types of ocean bacteria)

13. Acidic seawater

Seawater acts as an absorbent of harmful gases in the air, such as carbon dioxide. But humans release excessive amounts of pollutants into the air. This means that seawater also absorbs a lot. (See More Information:Endangered animals in coral reefs)

This results in an increase in the acid level in the water. Acidic water is not a good condition for marine animals, as it limits some growth. The more acidic the seawater, the more marine organisms will die.

14. Sound disturbance by human activities

Human activities generate a lot of noise. This can come from ships or from drilling for oil in the middle of the ocean. Noise disturbance disrupts the way marine animals live their lives. Most of them depend on sound to see their food or simply to migrate from one place to another. This mainly applies to dolphins and whales. When there is other noise entering your environment, it will cause a lot of confusion.

Know more:

• Threats to ocean organisms
• plants not coral reef
• Endangered Species on the Great Barrier Reef

15. Accidental strikes with boats

Small or large passing ships can accidentally hit marine mammals as they travel through ocean water. Most often these mammals are dolphins. The more boats in the water, the higher the chance that the dolphins will get hit. If there are many dolphins attacked annually, this can cause a decline in the dolphin population. (Also read:Facts about water snails)

16. Oil Spill

Time and time again, oil spills occur in the ocean. The oil spill can be small or large. Ships can leave traces of oil as they pass through the oceans. But large oil spills can also occur due to accidents. Cleaning oil from the ocean is no easy task. (See More Information:Human impacts on the Great Barrier Reef)

It requires time and many resources. However, if it takes too long to clean up, sea creatures risk being poisoned. Some may even die immediately when they come in contact with the oil.

17. Agricultural fertilizers and pesticides

Agriculture uses a large amount of chemicals for its crops. Fertilizers help them grow better and healthier. Pesticides, for their part, help to ward off pests or diseases that try to attack crops. Both fertilizers and pesticides greatly affect the positive growth of crops. (See More Information:types of abalone)

But they also affect ocean water. Residues of these chemicals can end up in the marine biome. They do not have the same effect on animals and plants as they do on crops. They keep crops alive but can kill marine organisms.

Also read:

• Types of ocean storms
• Types of jellyfish in the Atlantic Ocean
• Threatened Tuna Species
• Effects of La Niña

If these threats continue to damage the marine biome, we will one day have to face the consequences of no longer having a functioning and balanced ecosystem. It can lead many species to extinction and we can suffer it too. But if we start working to reduce these threats, we can allow the marine biome to recover.