The discharge of waste substances in to the sea resulting in harm to the living resources, hazards to the human health hindrances to the fishery and impairment of quality use of sea water.

Causes

1. Dumping the wastes:

Dumping of untreated wastes and sewages in the oceans by coastal towns, cities and industries. Rivers on the way to sea carry huge amount of sewage garbage agricultural discharge pesticide heavy metals. Huge quantity of plastic dumped in to the sea.

2. Oil:

This is discharged in to the sea as crude oil and as separate fraction. Oil and it’s fractions are used in houses automobiles and industries. This causes devastation of marine environment

3. Radioactive materials enter the ocean from nuclear weapon testing.

4. Toxics:

Toxic waste is the most harmful form of marine pollution. Once toxic wastes affects an organism it quickly passes along the food chain and as sea food which cause various problems.

5. Marine Debris:

Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons.

Effects of marine pollution

1. Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg shells and tissue damage of egg.

2. Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including algae bird, fish etc.

3. Oil spilling in the sea causes abnormal low body temperature in birds resulting in hypothermia. During Exxon Valdez accident 150 rare species of bald eagles are affected by ingested oil.

4. Oil films are able to retard the rate of oxygen uptake by water.

5. Hydrocarbon and benzpyrene accumulate in food chain and consumption of fish by man may cause cancer.

6. Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal disorders.

7. Oil spills inhibit photosynthesis and the growth of planktons. All aquatic animals depend either directly of indirectly on planktons the basis of tropic chain.

Control of marine pollution

The industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped with pollution control instrument. Methods of removal of oil by skimming the oil off the surface with suction device or Chemical methods like dispersion , emulsification etc.

1. Municipal and industrial waste should be treated before disposing in to sea

2. Coastal waste are periodically analyzed for detecting pollution level

3. Soil erosion in the coastal land should be arrested be suitable techniques

4. Recreation beaches should be maintained to meet hygienic and aesthetic standard.