🔆 Ocean Pollution: A Global Environmental Threat 📍 What is Ocean Pollution? Ocean pollution refers to the introduction of plastics, toxic metals, chemicals, and agricultural runoff into marine ecosystems, leading to ecological imbalance and human health risks. 📍 Key Impacts ✅ Microplastics Menace • Account for 80% of ocean debris • Ingested by marine animals, reaching humans via seafood • Detected at 100m depth, disrupting the carbon cycle 📖 Source: Nature (2023) ✅ Harmed Marine Life • Ingestion leads to reduced feeding and poor health • Pollutants destroy habitats, threaten biodiversity ✅ Oxygen Depletion • Decomposing waste consumes oxygen, suffocating marine life ✅ Risks to Human Health • Contaminated seafood • Toxic aerosols from sea spray may affect coastal populations 📍 Mitigation Measures ✅ Climate Change Action • Cut greenhouse gas emissions to ease ocean stress ✅ Enhanced Monitoring • Invest in data, satellite tech to track oxygen levels & pollution sources ✅ Awareness & Behaviour Change • Public education to reduce plastic use & marine dumping 📍 Global Action & Treaties ✅ MARPOL – Regulates pollution from ships ✅ UNCLOS – Ensures sustainable ocean governance ✅ High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement, 2023) • Adopted under UNCLOS • Focus: Conserve marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction • Targets: Reduce pollution, support sustainable use of high seas resources 📍 Fact Sheet ✅ Plastic = 80% of all marine pollution ✅ 8–10 million metric tons/year plastic enters oceans ✅ By 2050, plastic could outweigh all fish 📖 Source: UNESCO, Environmental Studies #environment