The sea on a sunny day appears clean, serene and
majestic. However, under that luminous mask lurks turbulence, pain and death for
the dwellers in what has become for many an inhospitable habitat as a result of
human activity. Can this situation be rectified?
A recent study by American, British and Canadian researchers published in the
journal Science, paints a picture much worse than most people expected. Every
area of the oceans has been affected by at least one human activity, and 40% by
multiple activities. In addition to the use of the oceans as a dump for
hazardous chemicals, obsolete munitions, garbage and human waste, the run-off
from agriculture contains fertilizers rich in phosphorous and nitrogen that
force-feed microscopic plants.
The resulting oxygen-starved dead zones or “slime” means death to larger
species. In addition, the red tides, toxic algae blooms, kill sea life and
inflict respiratory ailments on seaside residents. These blooms now appear more
than once a month rather than once a year as before. Recently, 88 manatees, some
weighing a ton, died of toxic shock with their lungs full of blood.
One of scientists in the study noted that there are areas in fairly good
condition. “We can try to protect these patches and use them as a guideline for
what we'd like the rest of the oceans to look like”. Wherever we see the good,
we have an opportunity to learn from and emulate it. The human being, part of
the web of nature, has a responsibility to protect life on the planet. To love
life and nature is not enough. Much more is needed, including the will to do,
the intelligence to see what is needed, the know-how to do what is needed, and
wisdom to guide our actions in revitalizing ourselves and our planet.
