Introduction
The health of our oceans is an interesting topic for discussion. The fact that many species become extinct as a result of excessive pollution should not be disregarded. The influence of humans on the state of oceans is mostly negative, and the situation is going to worsen if necessary measures to protect nature are not taken. Also, the fact that the health of the population is also affected most of the time should not be overlooked. The biggest problem is that some of the ecosystems are incredibly fragile, and scientists cannot predict how pollution would affect ocean life.
Dead Zones
It is imperative to note that dead zones have been actively discussed over the last few years, and it can be described as an aquatic region that has been plagued and does not have enough non-compound oxygen to support living conditions (Maser 118). The most significant issue that should not be overlooked is that the number of such areas has been increasing at a rapid rate, and it can be regarded as a critical problem that needs to be addressed. There are approximately 407 such zones all over the world. Moreover, it is necessary to mention that this number is astounding, and it has been growing at a rapid rate since 1960 (Craig 31).
This issue should be regarded as a global environmental problem, and many individuals still do not understand why it can be difficult to resolve. Another aspect that should not be overlooked is that there are several types of dead zones, such as permanent and temporary. The size of some of the zones is shocking. Approximately 80% of all the pollution comes from the surface (Craig 31). Also, it needs to be said that many think that such actions can be viewed as accidental, but the issue is that many individuals and companies have intentionally participated in such activities. The harm that was caused is irreversible in some cases. The fact that such an enormous number as 1,65 million nutrients such as nitrogen are discussed is problematic, and it is evident that the pollution is excessive (A. Getis, Bjelland, and V. Getis 386).
Fertilizers can also be quite problematic most of the time. The runoff that is produced can be dangerous, and many scientists predict that pollution will increase significantly because of the growing demand for agricultural products. One of the core issues is that currently, there are several contradictions, and it would not be an easy task to address this problem. The impact of such actions is long-term most of the time, and this aspect should not be disregarded. The critical issue that needs to be discussed is that the biodiversity of such zones may be hurt, and productivity can also be impacted. Excessive nutrient pollution can be viewed as one of the primary issues that have led to the situation that has occurred. Climate changes also had an enormous impact that should not be overlooked, and it is not an event that may occur naturally.
The harm that has been caused by the influence of people is shocking, and it is not an easy task to predict possible damage to the environment. Another aspect that is worth noting is that the high temperature is one of the core problems that have led to severe consequences. Also, it needs to be said that some animals need much more oxygen because of heat, and it is nearly impossible for them to survive.
Some creatures that are very slow are not capable of escaping such areas, and they are doomed in most cases. Furthermore, such changes may have an enormous influence on the global economy because people are extremely dependent on ocean goods. Another aspect that should be taken into account is that it is likely that the situation is going to worsen because of global warming, and this is an enormous problem that needs to be addressed. It needs to be said that agriculture runoffs can be regarded as one of the core culprits in this case. Also, another aspect that should be taken into account is that industrial emissions and sewage also play a vital role most of the time, and the harm they cause should not be disregarded.
Strategies
There have been numerous attempts to address this issue, and some of those approaches can be viewed as incredibly comprehensive. Another aspect that should be mentioned is that it is likely that zones will be able to recover, but emission needs to be reduced dramatically to achieve any significant result. The government should develop policies that are much stricter because it is evident that the results of current activities are not satisfactory. Another core aspect that should not be disregarded is that numerous programs have been developed to solve this problem. The most significant factor that should be considered is that some of them struggle with funding. Moreover, it is important to understand that these issues should be addressed based on priority because some regions are especially problematic.
For example, enormous attention has been devoted to a dead zone that is located in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the primary goals of such strategies is to limit nitrogen runoff, and the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that 45% reduction would be sufficient most of the time, and it would help to reduce the size of this particular zone. Similarly, the need to monitor the use of fertilizers should not be disregarded. The fact that new technologies are used to develop and test such approaches needs to be discussed because it allows us to model situations and predict the effectiveness of such activities.
Another aspect that should not be overlooked is that it is necessary to establish a particular daily amount of nutrients. The problem that is worth noting is that it will not be easy to implement such an approach, and numerous internal and external factors should be taken into account in most cases. Another aspect that should not be disregarded is that it requires significant funding and an enormous amount of resources. The establishment of relationships with businesses, agriculture, and communities is needed most of the time. The communication may help to develop a plan of action that would be reasonable and would not have a tremendous impact on the economy.
Also, it is imperative to note that current strategies can be improved, and there is a need for future research because it is likely that the situation may change because of numerous factors. Another factor that needs to be mentioned is that that some of the new technologies that are being developed may help to address this issue. It needs to be said that the role of the Hypoxia Task Force that has been established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency should not be disregarded, and they were able to build valuable relationships with numerous agencies. Similarly, the Gulf of Mexico Initiative and other programs are also essential, and they are determined to improve the current situation. Some of the designs that are proposed by scientists, such as two-stage ditches, can be regarded as incredible efficient and would help to reduce pollution in most cases.
The fact that the population is educated on this issue is also critical because many individuals still lack the understanding of why this situation is problematic, and what course of actions should be taken. Furthermore, it is entirely possible to reduce the risks, and it paramount to take necessary measures to ensure that the process is successful. Overall, a collective effort is essential in this case because the extent of this issue is enormous.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the presence of dead zones in the oceans should be viewed as a critical problem. This issue needs to be addressed because it may lead to numerous complications that should not be overlooked. The fact that the economy of the world may be affected should not be disregarded because it may hurt the overall development of numerous countries, and may lead to political and economic problems. Some instances could have been prevented in case appropriate measures are taken. Overall, it is a duty of the global community to come up with a solution that would help to resolve this issue because it is evident that current approaches are not as efficient as they should be.
Works Cited
Craig, Robin K. Comparative Ocean Governance: Place-based Protections in an Era of Climate Change. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012. Print.
Getis, Arthur, Mark Bjelland, and Victoria Getis. Introduction to Geography. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2013. Print.
Maser, Chris. Interactions of Land, Ocean and Humans: a Global Perspective. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2014. Print.