Ocean on the Edge
Top 10 Ocean Issues
Global Trade
The Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports are two of the largest container ports in the nation. Together, they form the fifth-largest container port in the world. While this results in more jobs for Southern California and the transport of a huge supply of goods across the country that we all depend on, there are continued concerns about traffic congestion and degraded air quality.
Approximately 95 percent, by weight, of all U.S. foreign trade is moved by ships. One issue is that of invasive species being carried into our water from other countries. Because the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles usually are the first ports of call, they are fully loaded with cargo and invasive species are not an issue. But when the ships leave our ports, they often are empty or only partially filled with cargo, so they are filled up with water pumped from our harbor. This water provides the necessary stability for safe ship operation, but also may contain animals from our local harbor. Upon their arrival at their next port of call, they may release this water to take on additional cargo, thereby discharging non-native aquatic invasive species. In San Francisco Bay, more than 95 percent of the species are made up of aquatic invasive species.
Another aspect of importing consumer goods is the impact on air quality. With the largest U.S. ports in our backyard, the ships that import the goods and the diesel trucks that carry them out of San Pedro Bay and across the country are major contributors to poor air quality in the Los Angeles basin. Both the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports are taking leadership roles in becoming green ports. Both ports are making significant efforts to reduce emissions and particulate matter from ships and trucks.
There are still many significant environmental impacts and much progress yet to be made in international trade. When possible, we can choose to buy locally produced goods and food.
