The Reality of Ocean Pollution. 2011. Photograph. Green Renaissance, Cape Town.
What we know today
The world is made up of about 70% water, about 80% of pollution to marine environment comes from runoff pollution. In the past two years, the amount of dead zones have increased by 1/3, which means that excessive pollution from humans mixed with other factors that deplete the oxygen required to support most marine life in bottom and mid level of oceans and lakes has increased dramatically. Runoff pollution includes dirt, gasses in the air, top soil or silt, from fields or construction sites that run into waterways and off shore lines. Pipelines are also a big effect of ocean pollution, pipelines containing sewage and waste from cities are monitored and controlled by the Department of Water Affairs, they often discharge below the low water mark. Oil spills, pesticide runoff from farms, nitrogen waste from construction sites, and human pollution are all factors which can affect the oceans clean and safe living marine environment.
The
picture on the left depicts a small sea turtle being rescued by
volunteers
in the effort to save animals from the massive oil spill
that occurred
on the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.