by Hemant Singh Rajawat
2nd Year Law Studemt at Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur.
"For thousands of years, aquatic life has supported human civilizations. Human activity, on the other hand, is causing enormous issues for the planet's oceans as well as human lives, particularly in coastal communities. Overexploitation of marine animals, pollution, loss of coastal ecosystems, and climate change are among the issues."
Introduction
Poseidon with his trident must have been a very powerful god of the sea in ancient Greek mythology but in front of modern-day civilisation, he too has felt the incapacity to control the damage which is done to the Oceans in the name of development.
The deep, black ocean is frequently regarded as a serene and silent realm. It is, however, an orchestra of magnificence, including shrimp snapping, dolphin clicks, and whale melodies. From the colourless to the sparkling, from the freezing to the boiling, and from the bright to the enigmatic black of the earth's deepest sections. From microscopic life to the world's biggest animal to have ever lived on Earth, the oceans have it all. The oceans are a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem, providing biodiversity, food, and life. Over 40% of the world's population resides within 100 kilometres of the coast, according to the FAO.
We always forget the contribution of oceans to our biodiversity. The ocean is the earth’s powerhouse. The ocean, which spans 70 per cent of our planet's surface and supports the lives of billions of people, is home to stunning ecosystems and prized wildlife. It controls our climate, generates half of the oxygen we breathe, and powers the water cycle, which creates rain and freshwater, supporting vital economic sectors and providing a safe habitat for wildlife.
Habitat loss
Evidence points to the fact that we are currently facing the Earth’s sixth mass extinction, with extinction rates growing by the day which people are not aware of. For thousands of years, aquatic life has supported human civilizations. Human activity, on the other hand, is causing enormous issues for the planet's oceans as well as human lives, particularly in coastal communities. Overexploitation of marine animals, pollution, loss of coastal ecosystems, and climate change are among the issues. Due to factors such as increased sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and a variety of land-based activities, one-third of fish populations are being consumed at unsustainable levels, and up to half of the world's coral reefs have been lost.
According to UNEP, 11 million tonnes of plastic have been discarded into Oceans so far.[1] The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of trash in the Pacific Ocean, has grown to be three times the size of France. The massive amount of plastic that litters the water can entangle animals, and the plastic suffocates and destroys coral and sponges. Sea turtles frequently confuse plastic bags for food, causing them to become stranded or consume the bag, which clogs their digestive tract. Plastic degrades over time, resulting in tiny particles of "micro-plastic" that are ingested by a wide range of marine life, including numerous species that people enjoy catching and eating.
According to Afroz Shah, who was awarded the UN’s Champions of the Earth honour in 2016, marine pollution is a complex issue that needs urgent action from citizens, governments, and plastic manufacturers.: “The narrative should not be us versus them. The question is can we all work together? Environmental protection is very complex. It’s not about one remedy versus another remedy.”[2]
Humans have an especially negative impact on ecosystems. Seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs are all experiencing significant habitat loss as a result of human activities. Coral reefs are among the world's most prolific and diverse ecosystems, but manmade disturbances have resulted in the loss of one-fifth of them in recent years. To thrive in oligotrophic environments, coral reefs are microbially driven ecosystems that rely on marine microbes to retain and recycle nutrients. These same microorganisms, on the other hand, might generate feedback loops that exacerbate coral reef degradation, with cascading impacts throughout biogeochemical cycles and marine food webs. If reef protection is to succeed in the future, a deeper knowledge of the complex microbial interactions within coral reefs is required.
We think that coral reefs are plants but it is not true. The things like of as corals consist of thousands of tiny animals called ‘Polyps’. They are important being as they are home to a quarter of aquatic life and important for the production of many medicines. Many coral reefs are dying as a result of global warming. The temperature has risen by about 0.1 degrees Celsius in the recent century. While this may not appear to be a significant amount, it has resulted in coral bleaching, a process in which heat-stressed corals expel their symbiotic algae. These algae are required to keep coral alive, and their absence reduces coral reef resiliency.
Conclusion
Afroz Shah says “What we have to ban is what is in our heads and hearts: our empathy towards plastic, our disconnect with nature, our disconnect towards the ocean. There are plenty of laws, policies and regulations, which govern the use and misuse of plastic, but we have to ask, is this law or policy going to change people’s hearts and minds?”[3] Even if we don't live near the water, we need clean and healthy oceans to maintain our own well-being and existence. Every single one of us has the power to make a difference; now is the moment to act! Consider which ocean problems most concern you, or which ocean plants, animal species, habitats, or ecosystems you want to preserve, safeguard, and restore on a local and global scale and act accordingly. Taking action is important but the knowing reality is also similarly important. Unfortunately, we are unable to protect all species and habitats from all threats. However, if we can lessen or eliminate only one threat, it can make a huge difference in a species' survival. Managing the numerous dangers to our aquatic life is a difficult task. Nature, on the other hand, is resilient and has a built-in ability to adjust to difficulties. We can prevent pushing an ecosystem or species beyond their ability to recover by minimising one or more human effects on the ocean.
[1]Clean Seas, United Nations Environment Programmes, https://www.cleanseas.org/ [2] Saving our seas: 5 ocean heroes battling to turn the toxic tide, United Nations Environment Programmes, 07 June 2018, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/saving-our-seas-5-ocean-heroes-battling-turn-toxic-tide [3] Ibid.
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