WaterPollution

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Water Pollution

Overview

Common sources of water pollution that effect the coral reef environment include variations of chemical and physical factors from industrial, domestic, and individual entities. Pollution can be done purposefully or accidentally and on a variety of scales by corporations attempting to rid themselves of waste materials, chemicals leeching out of a swimmer’s sunscreen, or as a result of coastal development. A decrease in the proficiency of corals has been noticed globally. Numerous forces easily disturb the fragile state of coral reef biomes. A slight change in pH, temperature, chemical content, strength of sunlight may be enough to bleach a reef, and even kill it. Regardless of the source of pollution, consequences include a severe loss of biodiversity, damages to food chains, loss of habitat for indigenous creatures, and as a result loss of income for tourism based economies.

Major Sources of Pollution

water_pollution.jpg [1]

Industrial

Industry affects the coral reef biome in numerous ways, depending on the type and degree of emitted pollutants. The form of pollution may differ between various factories or agricultural areas, and also varies based off of the number of businesses or people within the area. [2] Manufacturing complexes are more likely to emit chemical and thermal pollutants during product assembly as turbines are cooled with ocean water and excess reagents are released into the sea. Large scale agricultural businesses are more prone to pollution via emission of fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste products into the ocean. [3] Studies have found that about 80 percent of pollution that affects coastal ecosystems is produced terrestrially, a number that could easily be reduced with effective policies and management. [2]

Urban Development

City development entails negative consequences for the reefs as well, as household runoff from manicured yards pollutes the surrounding waters. [4] Development of housing also requires the removal of native vegetation, which results in erosion and degradation of beach habitats and adds sediment to contingent beaches. [5] [3] If located in an area close to reefs, the unsettled sediment may land on and smother the reefs, crushing them and blocking necessary sunlight. [5] Urban development is becoming a progressively pressing issue as the number of people residing in beach side properties increases, especially when newcomers lack knowledge about proper locational maintenance. [4]

Tourism

Poorly managed tourism damages coral reefs as well. Ignorant visitors may accidentally knock, kick, touch, or physically harm the corals by kicking with flippers in shallow areas or stealing fragments as souvenirs. [6] In addition, certain sunscreens that tourists wear contain compounds that are toxic to the reef system and upset the fragile chemical balance of the waters by adding phosphoric particles into the water that unbalance the pH of the water [7] and rupture the cells of the zooxanthellae on the surface of the coral. [8] A study conducted by Roberto Danovaro from the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy predict that in tourism rich areas, corals can be bleached within four days of sunscreen exposure and that each year, globally, approximately 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen are absorbed by the ocean which has resulted in a ten percent decrease in coral life worldwide. [8]

Biological Human Waste

Excretion of biologically hazardous materials into coral reef habitats holds major implications for animal survival and ecological stability. In areas where corals are located, in this case the majority of the Caribbean, proficient sewage systems are not provided by the state, and therefore approximately less than 16 percent of sewage is correctly treated. [3] Also, boats that contain waste repositories on deck pose a problem because of the difficulty in maintaining restrictions (currently no waste can be disposed of within 4 miles of coastal areas) on where waste is released into the water. [3] The effects of exposure of coral reefs to septic waste are extremely deleterious as it causes eutrophication and introduces new strains of diseases into the environment. Eutrophication, or an increase in nutrient levels, results in expedited algae and bacterial growth, altering the chemical composition of the usually nutrient deficient water and killing sea grasses and corals. Fecal waste also exposes corals to diseases from which they may not have immunity. [9] Examples would be the Serratia marcescens, which does not affect humans, and Arcobacter, which causes mild diarrhea in young children.[9] Once introduced, these diseases cause white pox in elkhorn corals and black band disease in round corals. [9]

Litter and Debris

Litter and other forms of debris hold obvious consequences for life within the reefs. Ramifications include physical damage to animals such as scrapes or accidental ingestion, which could result in infections or death and a loss of biodiversity. In addition, large fragments of trash that sink to the ocean floor may land on corals or seagrasses, breaking and restricting access to sunlight. The presence of litter is also unsightly and discourages tourists from visiting and supporting the local economy.

Case Study: Focus on St. John

Types of Pollution

Outline difference between point and nonpoint source pollution

Major Sources of Pollution on St. John

  • “Sediment from dirt roads, farmland, construction sites, urban encroachments, and other disturbed soils is the primary nonpoint source pollutant threatening the Islands' water resources.” [10]

Coastal development and runoff

Causes of coastal sedimentation have shifted from primarily natural to anthropogenic origin, with increased population resulting in the need for more housing, roads, and other development in the region to accommodate the influx of tourists. This is a particularly notable problem in St. John and St. Thomas, where steep mountain slopes allow rapid runoff. Indeed, studies indicate a direct relationship between shoreline development in St. Thomas and increased sedimentation during periods of heavy rainfall (Nemeth and Nowlis, 2001). Given similar topology and the fast pace of shoreline development on St. John, it is likely that these trends can also be seen on that island.

Coastal pollution: Industrial and Biological

Impacts

  • Buries coral reefs and seagrass beds
  • Clouds the water
  • Impairs fish feeding and breeding sites
  • Impacts recreational activities.
  • Destroy natural resources
  • Reduce the income and attractiveness of the tourist industry
  • Damage the territory's fishing industry [10]

Current Regulations and Conservation Efforts in St. John

  • "The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Islands' Nonpoint Source Committee are successfully using a multifaceted education and outreach approach to address this severe water quality problem. Workshops sponsored by the University of the Virgin Islands-Cooperative Extension Service help regulators, developers, and the general public better perceive the challenge that erosion and sedimentation present." [10][11]
  • "The USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) administers and enforces of all laws pertaining to the preservation and conservation of fish and wildlife, trees and vegetation, coastal zones, cultural and historical resources, water resources, and air, water, and oil pollution. DPNR is also responsible for oversight and compliance of land surveys, land subdivision, development and building permits, code enforcement, earth change permits, zoning administration, boat registration, and mooring and anchoring of vessels in territorial waters. It formulates long-range comprehensive and functional development plans for the territory's human, economic, and physical resources." [12]
  • The DPNR also releases evaluation findings for the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program regularly. [13]
  • "The U.S. Virgin Islands is also a member of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. As part of the Task Force, the Coastal Program has led a participatory process to develop local action strategies to address four priority threats to coral reefs: land-based sources of pollution, over-fishing, lack of public awareness, and recreational misuse/overuse. The Coastal Program is also the U.S. Virgin Island's primary point-of-contact to the Task Force." [14]
  • Local Action Strategies (LAS): "U.S. Coral Reef Task Force led initiative to identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce key threats to valuable coral reef resources in each U.S. coral reef jurisdiction." [15]
  • 2 U.S. Marine Protected Areas on St. John: Virgin Island National Park & Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (see map below) [16]

caption

Alternative Policy/Regulatory Frameworks

  • Ecosystem-based Management [17]
  • Needs for Multidisciplinary Approach to Coral Reef Conservation [18]
  • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) [19]
  • NOAA's Coral Research, Restoration, or Monitoring Expeditions [20]
  • Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring, Mapping and Assessing [21]

Additional Research/Study

Potential Future Complications

  • ecology
  • evolution of types of pollution

References

  1. Sources of Water Pollution." N.d. MetEd, n.p. Photo collage representing various sources of urban and suburban water pollution.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "How Pollution Affects Coral Reefs." NOAA 200th:. NOAA, 19 July 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/visions/coral/side.html
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution." UNEP-Caribbean Environment Programme_Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution. CAR/RCU, 21 Aug. 2001. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://www.cep.unep.org/issues/lbsp.html.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Status of and Threat to Coral Reefs." International Coral Reef Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://www.icriforum.org/about-coral-reefs/status-and-threat-coral-reefs
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Austrailian Bureau of Statistics." 1370.0. N.p., 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs%40.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/20a49b567cecb84eca25779e001c4833%21OpenDocument
  6. "Coral Damage." Right Tourism Campaign Care for the Wild International Coral Damage Comments. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://right-tourism.com/issues/marine-activities/coral-damage/
  7. Tovar-Sa ́nchez A, Sa ́nchez-Quiles D, Basterretxea G, Benede ́ JL, Chisvert A, et al. (2013) Sunscreen Products as Emerging Pollutants to Coastal Waters. PLoS ONE 8(6): e65451. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065451
  8. 8.0 8.1 Than, Ker. "Swimmers' Sunscreen Killing Off Coral." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Harder, Ben. "Raw Human Waste Killing Off Coral Reefs?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 27 June 2002. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/06/0627_020627_coral.html
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Syedali, S.A. "Nonpoint source success stories: Virgin Islands." US Environmental Protection Agency, 6 March 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/virgin.cfm
  11. "Virgin Islands Coastal Nonpoint Program NOAA/EPA Decisions on Conditions of Approval." NOAA. Feb. 2002. <http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/nonpoint/docs/6217vi_fnl.pdf>
  12. "Task Force Members." United States Coral Reef Task Force. June 2011. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. http://www.coralreef.gov/about/members.html
  13. "Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program." NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. Jan 2009. <http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/mystate/docs/virginislandscmp2009.pdf>.
  14. "Ocean and Coastal Management in the U.S. Virgin Islands." NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. 19 Feb 2014. Web. 25 Feb 2014. <http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/mystate/virgin_islands.html>.
  15. "Local Action Strategies." United states Coral Reef Task Force. May 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.coralreef.gov/las/
  16. "U.S. Marine Protected Areas." Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/dataanalysis/mpainventory/mpaviewer/
  17. NOAA. "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program." June 17, 2011 Web. 23 Feb 2013. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/methods/#manaagement
  18. NOAA. "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program." June 17, 2011 Web. 23 Feb 2013. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/methods/#multidis
  19. NOAA. "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program." June 17, 2011 Web. 23 Feb 2013. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/methods/#mpa
  20. NOAA. "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program." June 17, 2011 Web. 23 Feb 2013. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/methods/#expeditions
  21. NOAA. "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program." June 17, 2011 Web. 23 Feb 2013. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/methods/#assessing
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