Ocean on the Edge
Top 10 Ocean Issues
Land and Sea Connections
The ocean is greatly affected by what people do on land. Over 80 percent of marine pollution comes from land-based activities. Practices, such as construction of dams and water diversion, change the flow, quality, and timing of fresh water being delivered to the ocean. These changes affect wetland habitats and estuaries, which are prime locations for animal spawning and nursery grounds. They also serve an important function by filtering the water and removing contaminants.
As our coasts become more populated, more people are in harm’s way because of tropical storms, tsunamis, and sea level rise. These coastal hazards are expected to increase because of global climate change. Sea level rise may submerge some coastal areas entirely. Other areas will experience greater effects of storm surges, as changes in climate and weather patterns will increase the frequency and intensity of tropical storms and perhaps hurricanes.
Some of the biggest problems from land come not from large factories, but from tens of thousands of non-point sources of pollution such as runoff from lawns, farms, streets, and parking lots that flow into storm drains. To reduce the amount of chemicals being washed into the ocean through storm drains, we encourage the use of car washes rather than washing your car in the driveway or on your lawn. We also suggest reducing or eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in your garden.
