Human Impact on the Ocean's Ecosystems

Humans engage in many activities that harm the wildlife and ecosystems of the planet's oceans. From over fishing to pollution and oil spills, the delicate balance in ocean life is at great risk.

Types

• Pollution in the form of oil spills, toxic runoff from plants and debris that is not discarded in waste dumps is dangerous to marine life. Trawling and dredging the ocean floor destroys all wildlife in its wake. Over fishing is causing some species to be nearly extinct.

Identification

• Many bay and inlet areas have garbage floating on the surface or waste bins too close to the water. Animals that have been harmed in oil spills are covered in slick, black oil. There is a rise in fish prices as they become rare due to over fishing.

Geography

• According to the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, the highest amount of impact is at the North Atlantic Ocean near the Arctic and at the North Pacific Ocean at the base of China.

Prevention/Solution

• Nonprofit environmental protection organizations that focus on finding preventions and solutions include the Environmental Defense, Greenpeace International and World Wide Fund International.

Significance

• The world's oceans not only house some of the most diverse life forms, but also serve to regulate temperature and wind currents. If the ecosystems inside the ocean can't maintain control of bacteria, the human population will have to find a way to live in a world of extreme temperatures. Also, many indigenous cultures rely on seafood for their diet. If their food source disappears, so can they.