The
problems afflicting
oceans are
growing,from relentless over fishing by government-subsidized fleets to the insidiousaccumulation of thousands of chemicals in marine food chains. And too manyinternational institutions working on oceanic issues were created to promoteeconomic growth and development. The fundamental challenge in protecting oceansis to make them more visible to people and communities who may not realize thatthey have a stake in the health of oceans. Better public understanding andpolitical support are essential for carrying out the detailed program McGinnproposes for advancing ocean protection. The oceanis under constant pressure from our ever-growing population's desire to liveand recreate near the coast. Today, 70% of us live within an hour'sdrive of the coastline. Despite recent improvements in environmentalconditions in our waters, significant problems remain.
Theseproblems include: habitat loss and degradation, toxics, pathogens, floatingtrash, and nutrient and organic enrichment. The impacts of theseproblems range from the decline in fish and shellfish populations to fishconsumption advisories and the intermittent closure of bathing beaches.Our society has long believed that water
pollution is causedby industrial and sewage treatment plant discharges, otherwise known as Point Source Pollution.In fact, the everyday activities of each one of us have an enormous collectiveimpact on water quality. Some examples of Non-Point Source Pollution include fertilizer and pesticide runoff from lawns andfarms, silt carried off construction sites and the street-litter that ends upin our storm water drains. These pollutants find their way into thenearest body of water and may eventually reach the
Ocean, degrading our waterquality all along the way.
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