Environmental Editorial

Science/English
2016

Ciara Kirby
February 8,

How Are Humans Affecting Marine Life?

What would life be like if you couldnt fish, for fun or for food?
Approximately 2,245 marine species are endangered. According to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) these marine species are
becoming endangered because of humans.(3) Humans are killing
marine life and damaging their habitats.
The main cause of endangerment to marine life is ocean
pollution and overfishing. Unfortunately, humans are the reason ocean
pollution and overfishing exist. Humans are dumping garbage into the
ocean which is home to millions of marine species, but they are also
taking too much from the ocean.(2) One way humans are endangering
marine life is by using basic fertilizers. The fertilizers people are using
on their lawns are running into the ocean. The fertilizers cause rapid
growth of algae that takes all of the oxygen in areas of the ocean and
leaves dead zones, where nothing survives.(1) Another way humans
are endangering marine life is by using more-advanced equipment to
fish with. The equipment allows them to reach further and deeper into
the ocean. Now the ocean is open and the fish cant hide.(3)
In addition, habitats and ecosystems are being destroyed.
Everything that lives in an ecosystem depends on another
species/element of the ecosystem, so if one part of it is damaged, it
has an impact on everything else. For example, when there is a lack of
big fish people start taking smaller fish of the same species that
havent had a chance to reproduce yet. Therefore fishermen are
fishing down the food web and are causing entire ecosystems to
collapse.(3) One reason habitats are being destroyed is because of
shrimping. When fishermen want to catch shrimp they have to dredge
the sea floor leaving nothing behind. For every pound of shrimp
caught, 3-15 pounds of other marine creatures are caught and wasted.
According to the Marine Conservation Biology Institute 98% of marine
species live on or just above the sea floor.(3) Wiping the habitats clean
devastates ocean ecosystems.
Luckily, humans can stop harming marine life. Ocean pollution
includes trash, chemicals, and sewage, and can be very harmful to life
in the ocean. Participating in beach cleanups can help.(2) So, if we are
more careful with sewage, and stop dumping garbage into the ocean,
we can help solve the problem.(1) On the other hand, overfishing is a

form of overexploitation (catching or killing species from the wild,

faster than natural populations can recover). It can result in reduced
resources. To fix

this problem we can watch what kind of fish we eat.(3) As well as

avoiding fish that are endangered.(2)
In conclusion, humans have a huge affect on marine life. Our
actions are killing the marine life and damaging their environment.
Ocean pollution and overfishing are two of the biggest causes of this.
We can fix this though. By being more careful with what we dump into
the oceans, and limiting how much we take from the ocean, we can
reduce the number of fish dying.

1. Halliday, Elizabeth. "Ocean pollution." World Book Student. World Book,

2016. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
2. SALA, E. OCEAN ALERT!. National Geographic Kids. 392, 10, Aug. 2009.
ISSN: 15423042.
3. WEIR, K. FISHED OUT. Current Science. 89, 9, 6, Dec. 19, 2003. ISSN:
00113905.