20 Threats to Marine Ecosystems - Solutions - DeepOceanFacts.com (2023)

An ocean is a place for all marine biodiversity and also for ocean ecosystems. Year after year, there are many human activities and the threats they cause increase. So what are the top 20 threats to ocean ecosystems? Here, we present to you the 20 threats to ocean ecosystems. Well we have to start here, below are the top 20 threats to ocean ecosystems:

1.Overfishing in the ocean

Fishermen are one of the livelihoods that until now continue to be in demand. However, some of them when catching their fish do things that even destroy marine ecosystems, such as using trawlers or fishing from boats with large nets that lead to overfishing. Overfishing will have an impact on humans and marine ecosystems. What will happen? If humans overfish certain species, the fish will be threatened with extinction.

Furthermore, by overfishing, we automatically damage the ecosystem in the sea, destroying the physical environment of marine life and distorting the entire food chain in the oceans. If the food chain is damaged, the consequences will flutter up and down for all living organisms in the food chain in the sea.

2.ocean acidification

Ocean acidification is caused by Co2, which is soluble in seawater. Ocean acidification is often expressed in pH, which is a measure of acidity, and a pH below 7 is considered acidic. Some researchers suggest that the mean sea level has dropped by about 0.1 units. This means that ocean acidification is increasing by approximately 25% and this will change 10 times faster than in the last 55 million years. Ocean acidification is expected to occur more rapidly in temperate or tropical regions.

As with some corals in California, some corals are corrosive. The impact of ocean acidification is different in species, some algae can use CO2 to increase photosynthesis and their growth rate. However, other species such as mollusks, corals and some varieties of plankton will be in danger of extinction. In the case of coral reefs, for example, this causes changes in their growth, development and survival in response to ocean acidification.

3. Ozone depletion

Ozone is the colorless gas present in the atmospheric stratosphere, where ozone plays a role in protecting us from ultraviolet light, harmful sunlight. This radiation can cause various environmental problems, including global warming and health problems for all living organisms, including marine ecosystems. The main causes of ozone depletion are low temperatures, increases in chlorine radar, bromine gas, production and emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). One of the worst adverse effects on marine ecosystems is plankton.

Where plankton play an important role in the food chain and ocean carbon cycles. Several studies have shown that ozone depletion is more likely to change the composition of living organisms at sea level, rather than reduce their overall mass. In addition to plankton, various young fish, shrimp, and crabs are also threatened due to ozone depletion.

They will die before reaching reproductive age. There will be less food available for adult fish and other higher marine life and could lead to a loss of 45% of primary production at sea. If ozone depletion continues, humans will not be able to consume fish as their production is declining and the fish will become extinct.

4. Trawling and Dredging

Human activities such as trawling and dredging have direct and indirect effects on ocean ecosystems. Activities that drive ocean ecosystems are depleting the population of some species in the ocean and some fish, causing habitat loss and destruction of the seafloor. In addition to indirect effects, there are possible changes in the flow of materials and energy through ecosystems and the balance between food chains in the oceans.

On the other hand, indirect effects can be affected by predators, competing prey of the target species, and the general structure of the deep-sea community.

5. Pollution from cruise ships

Cruises that transport millions of passengers from one point to another. On-board facilities such as swimming pools, cinemas, restaurants, shops, laundries and everything else. All activities on board generate hundreds of tons of waste of all kinds.

Some of them seep into the seas and oceans piled up by these ships. The direct effects of pollution from cruise ships are detrimental to ocean species, fish, coral reefs, and other marine life. The oceanic ecosystem will be damaged by this type of pollution from cruise ships, the food chains of the seas will be threatened and also mammals such as whales.

6. Marine debris

Marine litter is any glass or bottle residue, aluminum, cans, and also plastic bags. The waste comes from landfills and when dumped into nearby rivers it would be taken to the sea. Marine litter directly impacts marine life, in samples of dead and captured seabirds and turtles.

In addition, it can also have deleterious effects on marine habitats, such as the destruction of coral reefs and sea grass. The impacts of marine debris are not just for ocean ecosystems. The impacts are transmitted to human health, they consume fish that pollute marine debris that poses a threat to humans.

7. Habitat destruction

Marine habitats can be divided into coastal areas and open ocean. Most marine life is found in coastal habitats, although it accounts for only 7% of the total area of ​​the ocean. Some marine organisms like corals, algae, mangroves, and seagrasses are ecosystems that create more habitat for other organisms. Habitat destruction can cause, such as dredging, bomb fishing, mining activities, and overfishing.

Habitat destruction is probably the biggest threat to the various forms of life in the ocean. Habitat destruction also decreases the range of populations of organisms. Not only the population of organisms is damaged but also the environment and the ocean ecosystem is also changed.

8. Less mangrove forest

Today the mangrove is scum, you know that the mangrove is something important that we must maintain. The mangrove forest as a buffer zone between land and sea, protects the land from erosion. Hatcheries and nurseries are the actions of a variety of marine animals, it is happening here. Mangroves purify water by absorbing impurities and harmful heavy metals. It helps us breathe clean air by absorbing pollutants from the air.

In addition, the mangrove forest is also a place to host various forms of life, such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and even mammals. If there is no mangrove again, it will be a big problem'; coastal erosion.

9. turismo

Tourism can cause pollution like any other industry; air pollution, noise, emissions, garbage and much more. Noise pollution from planes, cruise ships, cars or buses causes discomfort, stress and even hearing loss for marine mammals, especially in sensitive areas.

In addition, construction facilities for tourism facilities such as accommodation, water supply, restaurants, and recreational facilities may involve sand mining, beach and sand dune erosion, soil erosion, and may lead to loss of wildlife habitats and deterioration. from the landscape.

10. Bleaching of coral reefs

Coral bleaching is one of the effects of ocean acidification or global warming. If this happens, it will not only have negative impacts on coral communities, but also on fish and human communities. Changes in corals also affect species that depend on fish and invertebrates that depend on living corals for food, shelter, or habitat. Changes in corals kill off species and increase mortality rates. You may want to know about the causes of coral bleaching.

See also :

• Threats to ocean ecosystems
• Threats to marine life
• Threats to the marine biome

What else?

So what other threats to ocean ecosystems? Our behavior in daily life can be a threat to ocean systems, there is activity down here in our daily lives and it can be a threat to our ocean ecosystem. They are :

• Do not throw your plastic or rubbish on the beach or coastal area as this represents a threat to our marine ecosystem. The chemistry of plastic can kill fish, and as we consume them, we also suffer the impacts.
• In addition to organic waste, it is also a threat to our marine ecosystem, such as algae blooms that can produce toxins and kill other species.
• Pollution and gas are several threats to our ocean ecosystems, the impacts are not only for the ocean ecosystem but also for other organisms that live in it. Today there is the friendliest energy and we can use it to change our fuel.
• Other air pollutants entering coastal areas and oceans, all animals, plants, and environments, will be toxic pollutants.
• Wash, in everyday life we ​​always do this. The chemical in the detergent may pose a threat to our ocean. How does it work? If the chemical from the detergent is spilled into the water, it can kill fish and the environment.
• If you are a fisherman, stop fishing with bomb fish. It is also detrimental to our ocean ecosystem, you destroy your habitats and your life. This way is illegal, but some anglers still do it.
• As long as the sunlight touches the greenhouse, it will affect global warming. This impact makes it a threat to our ocean ecosystem. The water will warm up and bleach the corals. For some animals like turtles, climate change can threaten the survival of their population.
• Pesticides are one of the water pollutants and can pose a threat to the aquatic ecosystem. The impact may cause harm to non-target animals, plants, and food chains in the water.
• Other water pollution from various factories is also a threat to our ocean ecosystems. Some of the pollution from factories seeps into the ocean, killing fish, plants, and the environment.
• Cruise ship transportation releases toxic chemicals into the ocean or oils that can kill animals, plants, and ecosystems in the ocean. Furthermore, it also threatens nearby ports and shipping lanes.

See also :

• Threats to aquatic biodiversity
• Threats to the Great Barrier Reef
• Threats to sea turtles

What is the solution for these?

If we want to make our oceans a better place, we must change our behavior towards nature and use environmentally friendly products. Recycling plastics and organic waste into bioenergy is the only way to reduce pollution. You can reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling, walking or cycling, using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags.
Store food in reusable containers.

Don't buy jewelry or other items made from marine life. Volunteering to clean up the nearby beach area, joining an organization that protects the ocean is one solution to protect our ocean from treats. I hope this article can be useful for you, please protect our ocean for our lives in the future.

See also :

• Impact of ocean currents
• Threat to ocean organisms
• Ocean habitat types