Introduction

You may think pollution that exists in the ocean has no impact in your life,
but it will all eventually wash up onto shore or fall as rain through the
process of evaporation and condensation. If you love animals, enjoy
seafood or like to take trips to the beach, you should understand what
ocean pollution causes, and even more important, become part of the
solution.
Today we are going to talk about beach pollution, and how can we save
our beaches.

Where does this pollution come from?

Rainfall patterns increase
The increase of rainfall patterns causes the rise of the sea level, mostly in
the winter. The sea flows over land or impervious surfaces like paved
streets, or parking lots as we can see in Barra. Climate changes increase
those patterns and when this happens, the sea picks up trash, chemicals,
and other pollutants like gasoline, pesticides or motor oil, which pollutes
the ocean and consequently, the beaches.
Sewer systems discharges
Sewer systems are another source of beach pollutants because they are
designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater
directly to rivers or oceans. By polluting ria de Aveiro with sewer system
discharges we are indirectly polluting the ocean too, and consequently
our most loved beaches: Barra, Vagueira and Costa Nova.
Trash and other solid material that reach rivers, bays,
estuaries and oceans
Another cause of beach pollution is the trash and other solid material that
reach rivers, bays, estuaries and oceans such as: plastic bags, bottles or
cans. They eventually end up washing up on our beaches because any
trash not recycled or properly thrown away can be carried by the rain into
sewers and then flow all the way to the ocean.
Other sources include:
Trash that people leave behind at the beach
The discard of fishing nets and lines in the ocean by the
fishermen

 Vessel discharges
Accidentally or intentionally discharges such as trash, fishing gear like
nets or ropes, water from sinks and food containers from vessels that
come into Aveiro harbor are a source of beach pollution too. They affect
aquatic species and may even kill them.
Excess of nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water can
also cause the pollution of the air and water
Excess of nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and the water can also
cause pollute the air and the water. Although these elements support the
growth of aquatic plants, which provide food and habitat for fish, large
quantities of these elements entering the environment pollutes the air
and the oceans, because the water incorporates those elements. Aveiro
harbor is one of the principal sources that contribute to air pollution in
Aveiro.

How does beach pollution affect you, animals

and plants?
Ocean pollution has a significant role in humans and other living beings.
Swimming or playing in unsafe water may result in serious
illnesses that may last longer than your vacation at the beach.
The fish we eat may also be filled with toxins, which come from industrial
and agriculture waste, and are going to cause health problems such as
cancer or birth diseases.
Beach pollution is also very harmful to marine animals due to the effect
of toxic wastes. The oil spilled in the ocean, for example, can get on the
gills and feathers and prevent the animals to fly or move.
It causes disruption on the Cycle of Coral Reefs:
Oil spills can also prevent sunlight from reaching marine plants and affect
the photosynthesis process, disturbing food chains and causing disruption
on the Cycle of Coral Reefs
Depletes Oxygen Content in Water
Most of the trash and the debris in the ocean which remain there for a
long period of time, use oxygen to degrade. As a consequence of this the
levels of oxygen in the sea decrease more and more and the chances of
survival of animals like penguins, dolphins, turtles or sharks decrease.

 Affects the Reproductive System of Sea Animals

The chemicals of pesticides that poison the sea disturb fish reproductive
system. This can lead to the extinction of some species. These chemicals
do not get dissolved at the bottom of the ocean. Small animals ingest
them and are later eaten by large animals, which affect the whole food
chain.

How can we save our beaches?

Organize a beach clean-up

Unfortunately, its difficult to find a beach where there isnt any rubbish.
Picking up this rubbish is an easy way to help reduce pollution on our
beaches and in the ocean. This is called a beach clean-up. If you would
like to join a beach clean-up group you must take a look at the Love your
coast website (http://www.loveyourcoast.org/)... (abrir a pgina). Here
you can see the groups that already exist in your area or even start your
own one.

Reduce your rubbish

One of the main ways to reduce beach pollution, and probably the easiest
one is reducing the amount of rubbish we produce. Besides not polluting
the land and the ocean, you can reduce your rubbish at home and at
school by recycling paper, glass, metal and plastic. You could also
compost food scraps and find ways to reuse some of your rubbish.
Make sure that only the rain water goes down the
stormwater drain
One way rubbish from land makes it into our oceans is through
stormwater drains. These drains collect and remove the rainwater from
our streets, which have trash like cigarette butts, oil from cars and others
bits of rubbish. The disposal and reduction of your rubbish are important
actions to reduce this pollution. Another thing that we must do but we
tend to forget is to not wash our car on the road or on driveways. There
are lawns or commercial car washes where you can wash your car
without polluting this stormwater drain.

Take care of a local stream

Taking care of streams and rivers can include picking up rubbish and/or
planting trees near the stream this is called riparian planting. Plants on
the stream banks help to hold stream and river beds together, making
them stronger, and stopping soil from being eroded.

Find out more about your local beach

The best ways to stop beach pollution is learning about your local beach
and protect it. Find out more about your local beach in the site of your
city and see how you can make the difference.