MARINE LIFE AND POLLUTION
Authored By John Moono
What is an environment? Whose duty is it to safeguard the environment? What then if the environment is safeguarded? What are the benefits of this venture of safeguarding the environment? Who brought about climate change? Is pollution contributing to the scourge of climate change? What is plastic pollution? Questions that demand answers
The environment is one hot topic, which needs adequate time to be fully addressed. One of the prominent issues affecting the management of the environment is pollution. All kinds of pollution have been serious environmental challenge that has potential to rob humanity and the inhabitants of the earth on both land and water.
There many challenges around us but nothing have left humankind grappling with what to do next than the task of safeguarding the environment. Global warming or Climate Change is the measurable increases in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses
Many African countries are taking the bold step of protecting their environments by banning the use of plastic bags.
In 2014, Mauritania announced the banning of the importation, manufacture, and use of the plastic bags. The move by the government aimed at protecting the lives of marine and land animals, which can die after ingesting them. The government of the United Republic of Tanzania announced that effective 1 June 2019, the importation, production and the use of plastic bags would be a prosecuted offence.
The move by the government is to protect marine life, which is a major source of income for the country. The government is also trying to promoting the use of biodegradable alternatives, which are environmental friendly.
The Zambian government also on 1April 2019 completely banned the use of plastic bags as well. The move of banning plastic bags aimed at promoting biodegradable alternatives that are environmental friendly.
Pollution in all its forms is a source of concern for the long -term sustainability of the environment and the ecosystem. The adversity before humanity today, provides for humanity to take bold actions of protecting the environment and marine life by having clean water bodies.
Plastic pollution has in the recent years, become a serious threat to the continued existence of much of marine life. About 70 percent of the world is cover by water bodies, which include oceans, seas, lakes and rivers. Because plastic bags take a lot of time before they can fully decompose on land, the plastic bags mostly end up in the water bodies. These water bodies are home to many marine species. When these plastics are ingested by these marine species, the plastics causes suffocation and this leads to extinction of marine species.
Lately, the country has seen the reduction in fish stocks on the market, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has attributed the reduction of fish stocks in the water bodies around the country to the fact that some fishermen are using poor fishing methods of using mosquito nets and some other plastic materials. This has seen the government contemplating to extend the annual fish ban from three months to six months in order to protect the species in the water bodies from extinction.
The government is looking at protecting this fish species for long term purposes in order to keep the fishermen and others involved in the trade of fish to remain in employment for a foreseeable period of time. Protecting the water from all kinds of pollution and bad fishing methods would ensure that the water bodies dotted around the country to remain a major source of employment and income for many that depend on them.
Protection of marine life ensures employment and more income for those in the aquaculture sector. Clean seas, rivers and lakes are going to help maintain a well -balanced ecosystem that will lead to sustainable environmental management.
