2017
suggested that the oceans could lose 1 to 7 percent of their oxygen by 2100 , affecting species that live in the water
Source : Climate News Network
How does oil impact marine life ?
Oil spills are harmful to marine birds and mammals as well as fish and shellfish .
Following an oil spill , there are specialists and veterinarians to deal with oiled wildlife . These experts are trained on how to clean oil from animals , rehabilitate them , and return them to the environment .
Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals , such as sea otters , and the water repellency of a bird ’ s feathers , thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements . Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water , birds and mammals will die from hypothermia .
Many birds and animals also ingest oil when they try to clean themselves , which can poison them . Fish and shellfish may not be exposed immediately , but can come into contact with oil if it is mixed into the water column . When exposed to oil , adult fish may experience reduced growth , enlarged livers , changes in heart and respiration rates , fin erosion , and reproduction impairment . Oil also adversely affects eggs and larval survival .
Source : NOAA
Oil spills : prevent , prepare , respond , restore
International experts have been shared experiences , new technologies and scientific advancements relating to oil spill response at the International Oil Spill Conference ( IOSC ) in Long Beach , United States ( 15-18 May ). The theme of the conference was
“ prevent , prepare , respond and restore ”, which fully aligns with International Maritime Organization ’ s regulatory work to prevent oil spills from occurring and also its work to support countries to be prepared to respond to such incidents . IMO`s capacity-building activities include training for oil pollution preparedness and response through simulation of oil spills .
Marine Debris
Marine debris is everyone ’ s problem . It is a global problem affecting everything from the environment to the economy ; from fishing and navigation to human health and safety ; from the tiniest coral polyps to giant blue whales .
Marine debris comes in many forms , from a cigarette butt tossed on the beach to a 4,000-pound tangle of derelict fishing nets caught on a coral reef .
Since 2005 , the NOAA Marine Debris Program , one of three divisions within the Office of Response and Restoration , serves as a centralized program within NOAA , coordinating , strengthening , and promoting marine debris activities within the agency and among its partners and the public .
Importance
Diver exploring an abandoned vessel ( NOAA )
Marine debris has many detrimental impacts on ecosystems , such as habitat degradation , entanglement , ingestion , and transportation of non-native species . Debris can even affect human health and navigation safety .
Research is beginning to reveal the scope of the issue , and this knowledge , along with new technologies , can lead to more effective solutions to the problem . Efforts to reduce and prevent marine debris decrease not only the quantities but also the impacts of debris , and over time , create an overall change in the behaviors that lead to debris .
Through efforts in these areas as well as by working with partners across the U . S . and around the world , together everyone can make a difference in solving the problem of marine debris
Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • May - June 2017 19