Management of Ocean Pollution (SL IB Geography)

• Oil, plastic and radioactive waste pollute our oceans
• Management of ocean pollution takes place on local and global scales
• Individual consumers can minimise their impact on ocean pollution
• International treaties and conventions act as global strategies to reduce pollution problems
• Solving these issues is a large task for the future

Oil spills

• Oil spills come from oil rigs and tankers onshore and offshore
• Sometimes they are accidental, but in some cases, they can be purposeful 
• Oil spills are devastating for the environment and marine life
  • Oil stops animal fur from keeping in heat and bird feathers from keeping out water, so animals are at risk of death from hypothermia 
  • Oil is also poisonous to marine life
  • Even if not directly ingested, it enters the water column or food chain. Animals suffer from stunted growth, heart or lung issues and loss of reproductive abilities 
• Oil spill cleanups can have negative effects on human health 

Managing oil spills

Strategy	Description	Strengths	Weaknesses
Dispersion	Dispersion is the addition of chemicals to separate oil into smaller droplets, to help remove the oil from the water	Useful for removing oil from the surface waters of the ocean  Smaller oil particles biodegrade more easily	Chemicals may also damage human and marine health Dispersants increase the amount of oil in the water column. They enter the food chain and can damage the environment e.g. coral reefs
Burning	Setting oil alight whilst it is still in the ocean. Floating “booms” stop the oil from spreading further	It is an efficient method, removing most of the oil from the ocean Don’t need to use other resources to collect and store the oil	Emits toxic gases and causes pollution  Can injure or kill wildlife in the region of the fire Toxic pollutants affect wildlife
Skimming	Skimmers attached to boats drag the oil off the ocean surface	Some skimmers can work with all types of oil thickness Some skimmers are very efficient in calm waters	Skimmers can be easily blocked by debris They need constant management They are ineffective in rough waters, as more water enters the skimmer than oil
Containment	Floating fences (booms) that stop the oil from spreading further	Some booms can soak up some of the oil spills  They are useful when the water is calmer They cause the oil to merge in one place, making it easier for other collection methods	They are costly and difficult to manage They only keep the oil in one place; another method is required to remove the oil  In rough conditions, the moving water and wind can cause the oil to spill out over the boom

Plastic pollution 

• Around 20 million tonnes of plastic can be found in oceans per year
• The causes of plastic pollution include:
  • River runoff, sewage outputs and wind transportation
  • Plastic dumping 
  • Industry (fishing)
  • Poor management of waste disposal
• Plastic can kill marine life:
  • Animals ingest pieces of plastic and plastic bags
  • Animals can become entangled in things like packaging or discarded fishing nets
  • Phytoplankton and even coral polyps can ingest microplastics

Managing plastic pollution

Strategy	Description	Strengths	Weaknesses
Consumer consciousness	Reducing your plastic waste, boycotting products, taking part in beach cleanups, supporting organisations	Beach cleanups minimise the amount of plastic reaching the ocean Elicits a feel-good factor  Minimises plastic entering the system	Tackles the problem on a smaller level  Needs lots of people to get involved
The Ocean Cleanup	An organisation using technology systems to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The system involves a large floating barrage that scoops plastic up. The material is collected and sorted for recycling	It is reducing the plastic in our ocean  It is a non-profit organisation  The upgraded second system has removed enough rubbish to fill the country of Luxembourg	Uses ships that pollute the air with carbon dioxide Can harm ecosystems that float on the ocean surface Might not be that effective in collecting microplastics In the first system, it proved difficult to keep the plastic inside the barrages
River interceptors	Machines that sit at river mouths pick up rubbish before it enters the ocean. The Ocean Cleanup has created these technologies to trap material	Different technologies exist to cater to rivers of different sizes and types  Solar powered	May not be stable during bad weather, resulting in pollution of the waterways The entrance is quite small; some larger debris may not fit
Changing the plastic industry	Phasing out plastic, improving recycling technologies and ensuring plastic can break down more easily	Reduces pollution and the use of vital resources Creates jobs in new plastic and recycling industries	It is a huge task, involving all industries across the world Possibly an unrealistic solution

Radioactive materials

• Nuclear waste typically comes from nuclear power stations or mining 
• It can be solid, liquid or gas
• Radioactive material can stay radioactive for hundreds of years 
• Contamination of marine life can occur through the food chain 
• Contaminated organisms may make their way into clean waters
• Humans consume this radiation by eating contaminated fish 
• Earthquakes and tsunamis can exacerbate radioactive waste leaks
• There are no real solutions for dealing with nuclear waste; it is an unknown territory
• There are global conventions and laws in place concerning the disposal of nuclear waste e.g. the London Convention 

Possibilities for managing radioactive waste

Strategy	Description	Strengths	Weaknesses
Storage	Using concrete or glass to keep the radioactive waste trapped inside; buried in sediment in the ocean or in containers under the ocean	Stops waste leaking into the surrounding waters Radioactive material settles in the clay sediment, undisturbed  Burying the material even deeper is much safer, protecting humans	If storage is not undertaken properly, it can be catastrophic  Containers can decay Deep sea burial is not yet legal Ocean pressure could damage containers
Waiting time	Keeping material on the land until radiation levels go down	This means that the material doesn’t have high radiation levels when entering the ocean	This can take a very long time This isn’t a very viable option  Impacted by laws and conventions

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 

• A convention created in 1982
• It is the law and governance of all oceans and resources
• The convention separates the ocean into 5 marine areas:
• Internal waters
• Territorial sea
• Contiguous Zone
• Exclusive Economic Zone
• High seas

The Maritime Zones of UNCLOS

The Maritime Zones of UNCLOS

• Different laws operate in each marine area, with guidance for the responsibilities of governments and states
• The convention guidance includes: 
  • Territory limits
  • Ship passages
  • Conservation and management
  • Protection 
  • Dispute settlement
  • Resource use
  • Marine research
• UNCLOS has 168 signatures from states or other governing bodies 
• UNCLOS states that all signatories should do everything possible to:
  • Take all measures possible to minimise pollution
  • Analyse the scientific effects and consequences of pollution
  • Enforce laws and restrictions to combat pollution 
• It has been a successful initiative to support states in reducing ocean pollution 
• On the other hand, this guidance is extensive and vague
• A “take into account” strategy of certain international rules and guidelines results in the state’s decision on what or how many restrictions operate

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

• MARPOL deals with reducing pollution from ships 
• This convention was created in 1973
• It provides regulations to all ships with the flag of a country that signed the convention
• It provides six annexes, working to prevent pollution from:
  • Oil
  • Noxious substances
  • Substances in packages
  • Sewage
  • Garbage
  • Air pollution 
• It aims to make sure that transport via ship is the least damaging form of transport to the environment 
• It has successfully reduced shipping pollution 
• If there are violations of MARPOL, it can result in fines, probation and even imprisonment
• In some cases, the flag system is an issue. Some vessels fly the flag of a country that has weaker laws (Flags of Convenience or FOC):
  • These are typically developing countries 
  • There is not enough money to regulate ships or care about pollution 

The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)

• This convention aimed to reduce waste dumping in ocean waters, including plastic
• It was created in 1975
• It aims to control and stop waste pollution 
• In 1996, the convention added the London Protocol, which banned waste dumping (with some exceptions)
• It provides guidance and advice on dumping and how to deal with waste
• In 2006, the London Protocol became the official name
• It provides a complete ban on radioactive waste and sewage sludge dumping
• However, radioactive dumping may still be occurring e.g. Fukushima began pumping wastewater into the ocean in 2023