Ocean Pollution
• Coastal areas – highly productive ecosystems – Occupied by 40% of population
– Coastal populations will double by 2050
– About 80% marine pollution originates on land
• Ocean dumping (controversies) • Algal blooms
• Effect of oil pollution
• Volatile organic hydrocarbons
– Kill larvae
– Destroy natural insulation and buoyancy of birds and mammals
• Heavy oil
– Sinks and kills bottom organisms – Coral reefs die