Public Opinion on the Impacts of Marine Dumping in India

Abstract

The oxygen in the ocean may be depleted if garbage is dumped into it. As a result of the lack of oxygen, marine life suffers. Seals, dolphins, penguins, sharks, whales, and herring could all perish. Bottles and other plastics, including bags, have the potential to suffocate or choke sea creatures. Dumping waste at sea is estimated to contribute 10% of total pollutant input into the sea. Dredged material accounts for roughly 80-90% of all licenced materials dumped. Annually, 500 million tonnes of dredged material are dumped in London Convention and Protocol Contracting Parties' waters. With rising plastic production, low recycling rates, and ineffective waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year—enough to cover every foot of coastline on the planet! That figure is expected to triple in the next 20 years. Take a moment to absorb that. Plastic pollution in the ocean affects sea turtles, whales, seabirds, fish, coral reefs, and countless other marine species and habitats. In fact, scientists believe that more than half of the world's sea turtles and nearly every seabird have consumed plastic during their lives. Plastic pollution marries otherwise beautiful beaches, coastlines, and snorkel and dive sites all over the world, even in remote locations like Midway Atoll.