The environment

With disappearances and changes observed every year, ocean pollution directly threatens 693 marine species. The consequences of this pollution include:

The collapse of biodiversity

Marine animals are the main victims of ocean pollution.

Turtles choke on plastic bags they mistake for jellyfish. Dolphins, seals and sharks get trapped in debris left at the bottom of the water. 90% of seabirds today have plastic fragments in their stomachs and the figure could reach 99% by 2050 if waste management continues in this way.

In coral reefs, refuges of astonishing biodiversity, the chemical compounds in our sunscreens dumped by the thousands of tons each year alter the development of corals and lead to their bleaching.

At all trophic levels, marine organisms have already been in contact with microplastics and toxic products whose accumulation causes havoc on the behavior, development, physiology and reproduction of a whole range of species.

Eutrophication of marine environments

The excessive presence of waste in the ocean alters water quality and leads to oxygen depletion. Pollutants such as oil spills act as a barrier between the sun and the seabed, affecting the photosynthesis process of plants while the presence of nitrogen-rich fertilizers triggers the exponential growth of marine algae capable of disrupting ecosystems.

As a result, marine environments are suffocating and the health of plants and animals is directly affected.

There are around 500 dead zones today in the world's oceans, covering a total area of 245,000 km², or approximately the size of the United Kingdom. The deep seas are not spared.

At the same time, we are witnessing the development of a whole new ecosystem: the plastisphere. These are simply microorganisms that grow on drifting plastic. Their impact is still poorly understood, but it is already said that it would take 80,000 years to completely rid the oceans of this waste. These often transport other invasive species which deeply disrupt ecosystems.

Acidification of water

The ocean acts as a huge natural carbon sink by dissolving atmospheric carbon dioxide and excess heat in its waters. However, due to increasing CO2 levels due to global warming, ocean waters are becoming more and more acidic.

Changing pH affects coral reefs around the world. 25% of them have already suffered irreversible damage, with harmful effects on marine life which depends on these reefs for its life cycle.

With warming waters, the population of krill, these microscopic shrimp located at the base of the food chain, has already been reduced by 80%.

Loss of livelihoods for populations linked to the sea

Fishing and tourism are two essential sources of income for thousands of people around the world. However, plastic waste washed up in the oceans creates visual pollution and causes major economic damage to tourism, fishing and navigation activities. Which poses a challenge to the countries that depend on it.

and we don’t really know how long they will resist.

Multiple sources of pollution therefore, which could ultimately upset the balance of marine ecosystems and our human societies.