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VI. Ocean’s Health & Wealth. Ocean Resources, Pollution & Stewardship. Essential Questions: 1. The oceans are said to be a storehouse – of what? 2. How can I be a better steward of the world’s oceans?. 1. Living Resources:.
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VI. Ocean’s Health & Wealth Ocean Resources, Pollution & Stewardship
Essential Questions:1. The oceans are said to be a storehouse – of what?2. How can I be a better steward of the world’s oceans?
1. Living Resources: -Fish – are the greatest living resource harvested from the oceans.
-It is estimated that 75 million tons of just fish are collected each year.
-Due to over fishing, many fish farms are being developed to meet the demand for fish. “Ponds” are used to hold fish of varying ages.
-Shrimp, oysters, crabs & mussels are also raised in farms near the shore.
-Seaweed is a staple food in Japanese and other country’s diets.-Kelp can grow 33 cm a day on average.
-Seaweeds are a member of the alga family and contain lots of protein. -Seaweeds contain a chemical known as pectin, a thickening agent, used in jellies, ice cream…
2. Nonliving Resources: -Oil and natural gas are drilled for extensively under layers of impermeable rock under the oceans.
-Salts are also mined from the water for food and medical industries. Manaure, Colombia
-Manganese nodules, along with phosphate nodules are mined from the ocean floor. A pebble or some other object serves as the core for ocean water minerals to aggregate to, like layers of a Gobstopper.
-Scientists estimate that 15% of the ocean floor has nodules upon it. -Manganese nodules may contain iron, copper, nickel and cobalt, used in the steel industry. -The phosphates were eroded from the land, which they go back to as fertilizer.
-Scientists are designing wave energy power plants, to see if enough energy could be obtained to power certain areas.
-There are a few tidal power plants already running and generating power due to large, regular tidal ranges. The La Rance tidal plant has been in operation for thirty years without a major accident or breakdown. During high tide, the dam at the plant catches the waters of the Atlantic in the bay, & at low tide the water returns back to the ocean and passes through the 24 turbines, connected to the generators, producing power. The amount of electricity generated by this tidal plant could supply a city of about 300,000 people. In 1997, the plant was upgraded by the installation of turbines able to spin during both the incoming and outgoing tides.
Mont Saint Michel is a monastery built at the top of a rocky islet in the middle ages sea, right at the border between Brittany and Normandy. The statue of Archangel Saint Michael towers 560 feet above the English Channel. It was an island until a causeway was built at the end of the 19th century. It was separated from the mainland by 1kmof sand at low tide, or by water at high tide. The range in tides is one of the greatest in Europe: it can be 46 feet between high and low water marks.
-The pros of this alternate energy source is the fact that it is clean, inexpensive, renewable and regular!!!
-Freshwater is also being “mined” from the oceans because of great shortages on land. (Desalination)-Even icebergs have been removed from the Arctic region, by tug boat, and melted down to be a freshwater source.
Desal Watercraft Carrier from Australia – floats among coastal cities needing freshwater. The Jubail desalination plant in Saudi Arabia is the largest in the world.
3. Pollution • Nonpoint-source: • -Most stems from human action on land, polluting rivers and streams which dump into the oceans. • -Ex: 1. oil & gas leaks, wash to storm sewers • 2. personal watercraft leaks • 3. pesticides & fertilizer runoff
B. Point-Source: -Trash dumping used to be standard practice before the mid 1980’s.
-Much waste washed upon shores, endangering coastal animals and humans.-Ocean organisms are often strangled by plastic products.
-Sludge dumping, or putting out raw sewage, is a common practice for coastal communities.-Sludge pollutes beaches and kills marine life.
-Oil spills can be disastrous for oceans.-In 1989, along Prince William Sound, Alaska the Exxon Valdez struck a reef and spilled some 260,000 barrels of crude oil.
-While these oil spills are tragic events, they account for only 5% of the oil harming our oceans.-Double-hulled tankers are designed to prevent oil spills.
We are finally realizing our mistakes and taking action to help the ocean and its organisms.
A. International treaties – have been enacted worldwide by some nations. Enforcement of these is still an issue. 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONON THE LAW OF THE SEA 1982-2002
B. Clean-up and adoptions – are measures being taken by civic minded and concerned citizens and members of the scientific community.
MARP – Marine Animals Rescue Program is sponsored by our National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare
C. New legislation – has been accomplished thru politics. Ex. 1972 Clean Water Act Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) (33 U.S.C. 1251 - 1376; Chapter 758; P.L. 845, June 30, 1948; 62 Stat. 1155). As amended by: Chapter 928, P.L. 580, July 17, 1952; 66 Stat. 755; Chapter 518, P.L. 660, July 9, 1956; 70 Stat. 498; P.L. 86-70, June 25, 1959; 73 Stat. 148; P.L. 86-624, July 12, 1960; 74 Stat. 417; P.L. 87-88, July 20, 1961; 75 Stat. 204; P.L. 89-753, November 3, 1966; 80 Stat. 1246; P.L. 91-224, April 3, 1970; 84 Stat. 91; P.L. 92-50, July 9, 1971; 85 Stat. 124; P.L. 92-138, October 14, 1971; 85 Stat. 379; P.L. 92-240, March 1, 1972; 86 Stat. 47; P.L. 92-500, October 18, 1972; 86 Stat. 816; P.L. 93-207, December 28, 1973; 87 Stat. 906; P.L. 93-243, January 2, 1974; 87 Stat. 1069; P.L. 93-593, January 2, 1975; 88 Stat. 1924; P.L. 94-238, March 23, 1976; 90 Stat. 250; P.L. 94-369, July 22, 1976; 90 Stat. 1011; P.L. 94-558, October 19, 1976; 90 Stat. 2639; P.L. 95-217, December 27, 1977; 91 Stat. 1566; P.L. 95-576, November 2, 1978; 92 Stat. 2467; P.L. 96-483, October 21, 1980; 94 Stat. 2360; P.L. 97-357, October 19, 1982; 96 Stat. 1712; P.L. 97-440, January 8, 1983; 96 Stat. 2289; P.L. 100-4, February 4, 1987; 101 Stat. 7 Clean Water Act of 1972 - An act of the U.S. legislature, passed in 1972. The act addressed dramatically decreasing water quality in the nation as a result of industrial waste and poor application of pesticides. The goal of the act was to provide fishable and swimmable surface water areas.
Essential ? Answers:1. The oceans are a storehouse of resources such as fish, salt, freshwater, oil…2. By being knowledgeable, volunteering and acting politically I can be a citizen that is a better steward of the ocean.
We must act or we’ll lose the ability to enjoy the oceans!Make lifestyle choices and habits that support the environment!