The public should also be banned from throwing waste near our shores
KARACHI: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 80 per cent of marine pollution originates from land. Municipal waste and sewage from residences and hotels in coastal towns are directly discharged into sea. The discharge from manufacturing plants includes toxic waste, which is then incorporated into the food chain at the lowest level and subsequently transferred throughout the ecosystem, becoming more concentrated as it ascends the chain. This is why large predatory marine species like tuna, marlin, dolphin and sharks contain high levels of mercury and other dangerous toxins. Toxic metals can also be introduced into marine food webs. These can cause a change to tissue matter, biochemistry, behaviour, reproduction, and suppress growth in marine life.
A major threat beyond over-exploitation of fisheries and physical destruction of marine coastal habitats by dredging is the strong increase in coastal development and discharge of untreated sewage into the near-shore waters, resulting in enormous amounts of nutrients spreading into the sea and coastal zones. This, together with changes in salinity, melting sea ice, increased sea temperatures and future changes in sea currents may severely affect marine life and their ability to recover from extreme climatic events. Some water pollution actually starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt can be a pollutant. Top soil or silt from fields or construction sites can also run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.
I have seen many people throwing garbage at Seaview Beach in Karachi and there is nobody to stop them or guide them on the hazards of marine pollution. Since oceans provide home to a wide variety of marine animals and plants, I request the authorities concerned to take serious steps in favour of marine animals. The public should also be banned from throwing waste near our shores so that marine animals can be free from such hazards. This would also serve to protect the human population.
Iqra Saleem
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2016.
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