Marine life is an important part of our eco system. From deep oceans to coastal reefs, from mudflats to sea grass beds, marine systems not only provides habitats and shelter for many marine organisms but it also supports human beings in getting food, oxygen and employment. It provides renewable energy and protection from tropical storms and damaging effects of waves.

But Marine environment is most undervalued by human beings. Since ages, man has been extensively using ocean and water bodies for its insatiable interests and needs with no regards to marine lives. Dumping of waste from industries, sewage plants and ships, chemicals from household cleaners, wastes from mines, garbage and other debris like plastics from the land have put two-thirds of the marine lives in the world under threat. According to reports, mining companies across the world dump 220 million tonnes hazardous waste directly into our water bodies every year. Simultaneously, years of dumping habit of human beings is posing risk to their health as well.

With the increase in population and to keep pace with the consumption, humans have delved into oceans for fish, gas, oil, minerals and new genetic resources. Human activities on land have led to 80 per cent of marine pollution.

Of late, there has been increased cases of flooding, agricultural land contamination and erosion. Reason being Global warming, that is alarmingly increasing sea water levels, by around twice the average speed of rising over the preceding 80 years, threatening the marine ecosystem.

 Besides Global warming, ocean acidification is posing threat to our marine environment. There has been a continuous decrease of sea water pH due to absorption of excessive amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ocean acidification has endangered the lives of marine organisms and also humans who depend on fish and fish products for their daily sustenance.

My article cannot be complete without the mention of plastic pollution that has of late become one of the biggest threat to our marine environment. Our ocean and its species  are succumbing to the poison of plastic. As per the estimate,13 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year that is equivalent to a truck full of garbage worth every minute. 80% of the litter thrown in the ocean is plastic that affects almost 800 species worldwide. Having visited beaches many times in UAE I have seen people disposing off plastic bags and cigarette butts near the beaches so conveniently with no regards to the environment around. During my beach cleanup drive I collected buckets full of cigarette butts and plastic bottles from near the beaches.

Marine environment of UAE has a greater significance as most economic and social activities are held around its sea which is an essential source of oil production, fishing and desalination. Authorities have taken significant steps to protect the marine environment and its resources, including issuing and implementing laws and regulations to protect it from pollution, regulate activities in the marine environment or the coastal strip.  There are special marine protected areas in UAE for the conservation and development of biodiversity, to name few, Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve which covers a territory of 4,255 square kilometres, and the Al Yasat marine protected area.  

In the last few years, global leaders have been taking steps to protect our water bodies but there is still a long way to go, as years of exploitation of sea beds and marine bio diversity has caused irreparable damage to our marine environment. It cannot be reversed in just couple of years. Finding ways to clean our oceans and lakes, creating awareness among people towards the protection and conservation of the marine environment  will be a crucial effort.

 Credits : https://www.moccae.gov.ae/, https://www.marineinsight.com/ www.unenvironment.org