Human Impact "Under the Sea"

     It is easy for us to see the various ways in which humans are harming ecosystems on land; after all, we are land-dwelling people. But what about aquatic ecosystems? Surely we aren't harming them too...Unfortunately, humans affect water environments just as much as land environments, but it is hard for us to tell considering we spend the majority of our lives on solid ground.
     The oceans, lakes, ponds, and rivers are being harmed in several ways. The most obvious way is pollution. Factories, pesticides and herbicides from fields, and acid mine drainage cause toxic chemicals to leak into these bodies of water, killing off both plant and animal life. Once again, this affects all the links of nature, for wild animals drink from these water sources and eat aquatic organisms- we also use water for several purposes, which means we are potentially harming ourselves as well. Organizations like the Ocean Conservancy emphasize the importance of aquatic ecosystems to ourselves and to the world. Pollution also comes in the form of littering- trash of all shapes and sizes will manage to find its way into streams and oceans. Bottles, cans, and plastic bottle rings will attract marine life, and their curiosity may cause them to choke or suffocate on this carelessly dumped garbage. Who knew that the bottle you may have just thrown out the window could work its way into a river or ocean and kill a magnificent aquatic organism? All of our actions really to have an impact on the environment.

     Another way humans are harming water ecosystems is by poaching and overfishing. Sometimes we have the mindset that there is an endless source of fish, lobster, crab, and other seafood living in the ocean. I have seen several shows, such as Wild Justice, where wildlife patrol officers are fighting to stop people from hunting for these organisms when they aren't in season. Lobsters in particular, are taking a huge blow from overfishing. People crave the money that lobsters will bring in to the point where they are willing to hunt them out of season. The biggest problem with hunting any form of wildlife out of season is that this leaves no time for the animals to reproduce and therefore increase their population numbers.
     So, not only are aquatic plants and animals being indirectly affected by pollution in the form of chemicals, oil, and litter, but they are also being directly harmed by overfishing and poaching. The world is covered by more water than it is land. This means that bodies of water, especially oceans, are holding even more organisms than land is. Our efforts to protect aquatic environments should be just as strong, if not stronger, as land environments.
     There are several ways you can help protect and preserve the precious aquatic gems of this earth. Take a trip to an aquarium with some friends to see these amazing creatures up close and learn more about conservation efforts to protect them. Two of my personal favorites include the Virginia Aquarium and the Baltimore Aquarium. If you would like to know more about Ocean Conservation, I would check out the Ocean Conservancy website and the World Wildlife Fund. Don't forget that the World Wildlife Fund gives you the opportunity to "adopt" endangered species by donating money to help protect that animal- they don't exclude marine animals! With educated knowledge about human impact on aquatic ecosystems, passion, and a willingness to reach out and make a difference, we can ensure that we will always have oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds to enjoy.

Peace. Love. Save the Tigers.