Most of the ocean pollution begins on land. When large pieces of land are plowed, the exposed soil erodes during rainstorms and runs off. Much of this runoff flows into the sea carrying agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from land.

Plastics

The great pacific ocean garbage!

Plastics in our environment has reached a crisis proportions. It is estimated that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our ocean each year. Plastics of every size choke and clog the stomachs of marine animals who mistake it for food. Plastics are now entering every level of the ocean food chain and is ending up in the seafood on our plates.

Oil

Oil spills have devastating effects. Oil spills are caused by tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities. Oil spills can also be caused by people who did a mistake or being careless. Oil is so toxic that it can cause a wipeout of marine animals. Marine animals that live on shores are mostly affected by oil spills. Animals who drink the oil will get choked by the oil to death. There is a pipe which holds the oil so the oil doesn’t get into the ocean The pipe is located at the bottom of the ocean. Sometimes the pipe breaks which allows oil to go into the ocean.         

Interesting facts about the pollution

1. More than 80 percent of plastics waste in the ocean comes land.
2. It is estimated that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic.
3. In China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines were identified as the top five countries that do plastic pollution.The ocean conservancy report this in 2015.

You now know that pollution is bad to the ocean so next time uses less plastic and don’t throw trash on beaches. The trash can get into the ocean and maybe into a marine animal stomach! The marine animals who ate the trash or plastic will die! It would be sad to have all the marine animals die from plastic clogging their stomachs.