The marine environment plays a key role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem as well as being an important living space for humans, a solid foundation for sustainable development. However, facing the changes of climate change, the marine environment also faces many serious pollution problems, directly affecting the quality of human life. So what solutions to protect the marine environment need to be implemented immediately in the current context? Let's GREEN IN Find out more about this issue through the article below!
1. What is the marine environment?
Before learning about solutions to protect the marine environment, you need to understand what the marine environment is? In the document of the Regional Seas Programme of UNEP, the definition of the marine environment is defined as follows: "The marine environment is the set of ecosystems, including seawater, seabed, marine life, and all related elements interacting with each other and with human activities."
It can be seen that the marine environment is an indispensable part of the ecosystem because it directly affects human life. This is not only the digital environment of billions of species but also a rich source of resources such as oil, gas, and seafood.
2. What is marine pollution?
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982): "Marine pollution is the introduction by man directly or indirectly of substances or energy into the marine environment, including estuaries, resulting in harmful effects such as damage to living resources and marine ecosystems, risks to human health, interference with marine activities, including fishing and other legitimate uses of the sea, reduction of seawater quality and degradation of the aesthetic values of the sea."
This situation has seriously affected the marine environment such as causing depletion of marine biodiversity, coastal erosion, economic damage as well as human health today.
3. Current status of marine pollution in Vietnam
Marine pollution in Vietnam is becoming alarming, especially in coastal areas such as Ha Long Bay, Dong Nai River and the central coast. According to a 2022 report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, about 70% of plastic waste is not properly treated, leading to plastic waste accumulating on beaches and floating in the sea, causing serious consequences.
These seas also face pollution from oil, toxic chemicals and heavy metals, increasing pressure on ecosystems and human life. According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam ranks fourth globally in the amount of plastic waste discharged into the sea, at 4 million tons per year. Many studies have shown that the level of pollution not only degrades the marine environment but also seriously threatens public health and coastal economies.
4. Causes of marine pollution
4.1. Natural causes
Many natural factors are responsible for the increase in marine pollution such as:
- Natural phenomena: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis can all cause huge changes to the marine environment as they introduce many toxic substances and sediments into the seawater.
- Climate change: Melting of ice at the two ends of the Earth due to global warming can increase sea levels, affecting ocean currents, thereby contributing to environmental pollution.
4.2. Causes due to human impact
Marine pollution is increasing largely due to the impact of human activities such as:
Waste generated from industrial and agricultural activities
Many agricultural farms, industrial zones, and factories discharge large amounts of untreated wastewater into the aquatic environment to save costs. Typically, chemical factories often discharge extremely toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, and organic compounds that are difficult to hydrolyze into rivers and lakes. From rivers and lakes, they will follow the water flow to the sea, causing serious pollution, directly affecting marine life as well as humans.
Littering
Single-use items such as plastic bottles and plastic bags, when thrown away carelessly, can be the cause of serious marine pollution. According to research by the Vietnam Institute of Oceanography, 730000 tons of plastic waste are discharged into the marine environment each year, of which only about 9% is recycled. This "huge" amount of waste can directly harm marine life and degrade water quality.
Oil exploitation and transportation activities
It is not difficult to see that oil spills caused by leaking oil rigs and oil tanker accidents are the causes of a huge amount of oil spilling into the ocean, seriously polluting water sources and directly affecting the marine ecosystem.
Tourism activities
The increase in tourist numbers has led to significant waste, wastewater and noise generation, putting heavy pressure on the marine environment. Popular beaches are often polluted by waste and wastewater from restaurants, hotels and recreational activities, leading to marine environmental degradation and significantly reducing the tourist experience.
5. Serious consequences of marine pollution
Marine pollution not only damages the ecosystem but also seriously affects people and the economy, including:
- Biodiversity loss: Many marine species are facing extinction or are in serious decline due to habitat destruction. According to a WWF report, marine species have declined by 49% in just the past 40 years, posing an alarming threat to marine ecosystems.
- Impact on human health: Marine pollution causes a series of health problems such as skin diseases, respiratory diseases from polluted air, and the risk of food poisoning from consuming seafood contaminated with toxic substances. This situation increases chronic diseases, directly affecting the quality of life.
- Economic losses: The marine tourism and fisheries industries are suffering heavy losses due to environmental pollution, resulting in huge losses for coastal communities. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, each year, marine pollution can cause billions of dollars in damage, pushing many communities into economic hardship.
6. Some solutions to protect the marine environment
6.1. Raising community awareness of marine environmental protection
One of the most practical solutions to protect the marine environment is to raise public awareness. Propaganda and education through green campaigns are effective methods to improve public awareness of the serious effects of marine pollution as well as the responsibility of each citizen in repelling it.
Organizing marine environmental protection campaigns such as collecting coastal waste, planting trees and raising public awareness about protecting marine ecosystems, need to be carried out regularly and synchronously. At the same time, promoting a green lifestyle through prioritizing the use of environmentally friendly products, minimizing plastic waste, along with saving resources such as water and energy, are practical solutions to help protect the marine environment in a sustainable way.
6.2. Management of marine resource exploitation activities
In order to protect the marine environment, marine resource exploitation activities need to be closely managed. Ministries and agencies need to issue regulations on sustainable marine exploitation, thereby strictly handling violations, overexploitation or the use of destructive exploitation methods. Exploitation planning needs to be planned reasonably and scientifically, with the issue of protecting biodiversity and marine ecosystems being the top priority.
6.3. Collection and combined treatment of waste
To limit pollution, the management and treatment of domestic and industrial waste needs to be implemented synchronously and effectively. Onshore and coastal waste collection systems must be upgraded to ensure proper waste classification and treatment. In particular, building wastewater treatment systems that meet standards and prevent direct discharge into the sea is an essential solution. At the same time, minimizing plastic waste by limiting the use of disposable plastic products and promoting effective collection and recycling of plastic will contribute to significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste in the oceans.
6.4. Sustainable development of marine tourism
Towards sustainability, the marine tourism industry needs appropriate planning strategies to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Promoting and educating tourists about marine environmental protection is an important step. Encouraging participation in environmentally friendly tourism activities and handling waste generated from tourism activities will help reduce pollution pressure from this sector.
6.5. Strengthening international cooperation
International cooperation plays a key role in protecting the marine environment. We need to share experiences and technologies in pollution treatment, actively participate in international agreements on ocean protection, and strictly abide by the commitments we have signed. Promoting regional cooperation to jointly solve transboundary marine environmental problems is also an important solution, aiming at the goal of comprehensive and effective marine environmental protection.
7. Conclusion
The above article has helped you learn about solutions to protect the marine environment. Hopefully our information will be of some help to you. Don't forget to follow the next articles for more updated information!