Ocean PollutionOcean Pollution Estimated 6 million metric tons of plastic Estimated 6 million metric tons of plastic

bottles, packaging material, and other bottles, packaging material, and other litter tossed from ships into the ocean litter tossed from ships into the ocean annually.annually.– Few coastlines in the world remain Few coastlines in the world remain

uncontaminated by oil or oil products.uncontaminated by oil or oil products.

The Trash VortexThe Trash VortexThe North Pacific sub-tropical gyre covers a large area of the Pacific in which the water circulates clockwise in a slow spiral. Winds are light. The currents force any floating material into the low energy central area of the gyre. There are few islands on which the floating material can beach. So, trash tends to stay in the gyre.

There are 6kg of plastic for every 1 kg of

phytoplankton mass

Ocean Pollution - OilOcean Pollution - Oil

11,000 sq.mi. of ocean were impacted

1300 sq. mi of shoreline

~11 million gallons of oil spilled

Hit Bligh Reef in the Prince William Sound

1) High pressured hoses

2) Physical Cleaning (heated water – killed single cell organisms)

3) Bioremediation – beaches treated to promote bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons

4) Solvents & Chemical agents were also used

Harbor Seals – declined 43% since 1989Harbor Seals – declined 43% since 1989

Sea Otters – recovering populations (1000 initial Sea Otters – recovering populations (1000 initial mortalities)mortalities)

Killer Whales, Bald Killer Whales, Bald Eagles, Shore Eagles, Shore Birds,HerringBirds,Herring

NOAA estimated that a great majority of the 10.8 million gallons of spilled oil evaporated, dispersed into the water column or degraded naturally.

Results of the 2001 survey Results of the 2001 survey showed that surface oil on showed that surface oil on Prince William Sound Prince William Sound beaches is weathered and beaches is weathered and mostly hardened into an mostly hardened into an asphalt-like layer. The toxic asphalt-like layer. The toxic components of this type of components of this type of oil are not as readily oil are not as readily available to biota, although available to biota, although some softer forms do cause some softer forms do cause sheens in tide pools. sheens in tide pools.

WHERE ARE WE NOW??

WATER POLLUTION WATER POLLUTION CONTROLCONTROL Source ReductionSource Reduction

– Cheapest and most effective way to reduce pollution Cheapest and most effective way to reduce pollution is is avoidavoid producing it or releasing it into the producing it or releasing it into the environment.environment.

Studies show as much as 90% less road salt Studies show as much as 90% less road salt can be used without significantly affecting can be used without significantly affecting winter road safety.winter road safety.

Reduce fertilizer runoff into surface waters & Reduce fertilizer runoff into surface waters & aquifers (agricultural practices can help)aquifers (agricultural practices can help)

Plant vegetative buffer zones (riparian land)Plant vegetative buffer zones (riparian land) Integrated Pest management – reduces Integrated Pest management – reduces

pesticide usepesticide use Soil conservation practices to reduce erosionSoil conservation practices to reduce erosion Protect current riparian land and wetlandsProtect current riparian land and wetlands Banning phosphate detergentsBanning phosphate detergents