ocean facts
ALGAE blooms
An algae bloom is when the the population of algae grows rapidly. Some algal blooms produce toxins that have harmful effects on different marine life. These toxins are believed to be linked to nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon from lawns and farmlands flow downriver and build up in the sea. These toxins can can cause neurological damage like paralysis or seizures when consumed.
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Ocean zones
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marine protected areas The term "Marine protected area," can cause some confusion among people. Many questioning what exactly the term comes with. "Marine protected area," is an umbrella term for all areas of water that laws restrict human activity on for conservation. Though there are many different types of Marine protected ares like national estuarine research reserves, national parks, and marine sanctuaries. Only 1.6% of the world's oceans have been declared as marine protected areas. Before laws were in place to protect the Galapagos it's inhabitants were subjugated to over fishing.
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POLLUTION
Over 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities.
Ghost fishing Ghost fishing is when organisms still get trapped by old discarded fishing gear. Nets and other debris like this cause many fish non target organisms to die including some endangered species. Hundreds of kilometers of net and line are lost annually and can remain a problem for several decades.
micro plastics Micro plastics are plastic debris that are less than five millimeters in length. These plastics come from many places. Some being several beauty products like scrubs and various tooth pastes, or from broken down larger debris.
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The great pacific garbage patch This debris can disturb the natural ocean food webs and be a risk for the lives of many marine species. The Great Pacific Garbage Patches are bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. A gyre is a a system of circulating ocean currents made by the Earth's wind patterns. It is mostly made up of non-biodegradable micro plastics. |