Importance of Keeping the Ocean Clean

The Oceans are the largest ecosystem on earth although little is known about most of the ocean
itself. According to BBC, A recent 10-year assessment of life in the sea accounted for about a
quarter-of-a-million marine species, with an estimated million, perhaps 10 million more yet to be
discovered and at least given a name (and that does not include microbial forms). Our oceans are
so rich. Covering more than 70 percent of our planet, oceans are among the earth’s most valuable
natural resources. According to The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) we drowne
marine ecosystems in trash, noise, oil, and carbon emissions. NRDC reports that the majority of
the garbage that enters the ocean each year is plastic. Trash that enters the ocean mostly in the
forms of the single-use grocery bags, water bottles, drinking straws, and yogurt containers. The
problem is among eight million metric tons of the plastic items we waste to the ocean will not
biodegrade. They can persist in the environment for a millennium, polluting our beaches,
entangling marine life, and getting ingested by fish and seabirds. Therefore, keeping our ocean
clean by not throwing garbages to the ocean is extremely important for some reasons.

First, about one million of species live in the ocean. The National Geographic states that about one
million species of animals live in the ocean. Most of them –95 percent– are invertebrates, animals
that don’t have a backbone, such as jellyfish and shrimp. Some of the smallest animals on Earth –
zooplankton– can be found in the ocean and the biggest animals on earth –the blue whale– live in
the ocean, too. These treasures should be kept alive. Yet, humans’ behaviors makes their lives
really hard. Many animals are dead because of plastic. On Saturday, March 16, 2019, 90 pounds
of plastic was found in the stomach of a young cuvier beaked whale that died in the Davao Gulf
of the Philippines. National Geographic concluded that the whale likely died of starvation and
dehydration brought on by the plastic stuffing its belly. As the plastic pollution crisis grows, more
and more dolphins, whales, birds, and fish are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic. It
was not the only case. In 2015, scientists estimated that around 90 percent of all seabirds have
ingested some amount of plastic; UNESCO estimates that 100,000 marine mammals die because
of plastic pollution each year. The animals and plants living in the ocean will sooner or later be
vanished if we do not help them.
Second, ocean play a major role in the world economy. The ocean products –fisheries– contribute
a large amount of percentage to the countries’ economy because of people’s consumption on fish.
The news portal Detik reported that in 2018, fisheries contributes 30% to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in Indonesia. This number is considered low compared to some other countries
such as Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam that record 48% up to 57% to GDP. In the more global
level, a paper presented by Teh and Sumaila (2011) as cited from researchgate reported that
Marine fisheries contribute to the global economy, from the catching of fish through to the
provision of support services for the fishing industry. In total, it was estimated that, in 2011, marine
fisheries supported 260 million full-time and part-time jobs worldwide. From this data, we can see
that fisheries industry posses a very significant part in the world economy.
To summarize, ocean as the largest ecosystem on earth has a very big influence in humans’ lives.
The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) writes we are never too young to start learning
about the many benefits our oceans provide. Without them, life could not exist. In conclusion,
keeping our ocean clean by not throwing garbages to the ocean is very important to save the ocean
and the species in it.

References:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131206-sos-save-our-seas
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/ocean-pollution-dirty-facts
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/habitats/ocean/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/03/whale-dies-88-pounds-plastic-
philippines/
https://finance.detik.com/industri/d-3894559/hasil-laut-ri-baru-sumbang-30-pendapatan-nasional
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230480387_Contribution_of_marine_fisheries_to_wor
ldwide_employment/link/5a32f049aca27271442398b2/download
http://www.fao.org/zhc/detail-events/en/c/846698/