Ocean Pollution: Beach Clean-UpA PSA of my community service

By, Mairead Hurley

What is Ocean Pollution and why is it a problem?

Ocean/Marine pollution is a type of pollution where harmful chemicals, waste, or invasive species enter the ocean. Most of the time these are caused by residential runoff and waste, such as trash (litter) on the beach, or spillage of things such as oil, and other chemicals harmful to the life of marine species.

Pollution of the ocean is such a major problem because not only does it affect oceanic organism, but it affects humans and human resources as well. The earth is covered with over 70% water, most of which is composed of the oceans.

Stock Image

Stock Image

Causes of Ocean Pollution

Pollution of oceans is caused by many things, some of which we don't realize are affecting the earth in a negative way.

• Pollution by boating (can be easily prevented)

• Pollution by garbage dumping

• Waste water (runoff rain water)

• Deceased animals

• Agriculture

• Global warming (causes the water level to rise and collect surface pollution and chemicals)

Stock Image

Does this look like a happy beach?

How did I help?

On a saturday in late February, I went to the beach on Nags Head to clean up the trash I saw and to dispose of it correctly. I did not go with a formal group, but my older sister also helped a little, too. Sometimes when you go to the beach, you don't' realize how much trash and waste is on the beach. But when you go out to look for it you realize that there is more than what meets the eye. Most of the trash I saw was partly buried underneath the sand, which makes it all thre more important to properly dispose of it.

What did I learn?

I learned that ocean pollution is a very easy form of pollution, that can easily hit close to home. I learned that polluting our oceans should be taken very seriously, because the consequences can be severe. I think that everyone should do a beach clean-up, at least once in their life, because believe it or not, it helps. Who would even want to visit a beach that is full of garbage, and that has dark brown/green water? I sure wouldn't.

Was the activity worthwhile?

I would say that this activity was worthwhile. At first, I was a little hesitant because I didn't want to spend most of my saturday cleaning up a beach (it was a cold day, too) but I actually enjoyed it, and I'd do it again. I hope that my efforts, even though they may be considered small, helped prevent some sort of pollution in the ocean. The five hours went by pretty fast, which surprised me, and they were all worth it.

Bibliography:

Unknown, Unknown. "Ocean Pollution." ThinkQuest. Oracle Education

Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 March 2012.

Unknown, Unknown. "Marine Pollution." Wikipedia.Wikipedia, 28 June 2005.

Web. 20 March 2012