Polluted Sea – Source: Economatter
Pollution of the sea is caused by the release of sewage by industries, dumping of garbage and agriculture’s chemical runoff. These activities have contaminated the environment for sharks as well as all living things.
Sharks are found to have absorbed the poisonous methyl-mercury from the chemicals released into the sea. This has negatively impact their ability to reproduce, causing a strain to the shark population.
Algae Bloom – Source: Photo by eutrophication&hypoxia from Flickr
Agriculture’s chemical runoff includes nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizers which often cause eutrophication, leading to algal bloom and subsequently these algae consumes the oxygen present in the sea, leaving the zone dead. This can result in the death of significant number of fishes, including sharks.
Toxic chemicals being consumed by marine animals entered the food chain with increasing levels of concentration as it moves up. These marine animals are then being consumed by humans, negatively impacting us too.
Plastic Sea Pollution – Source: Photo by Lynettelynn from Flickr
Plastic is another source of pollution with an estimate of 10 million tonnes, which can form 2 islands twice the size of Texas, ended up in the ocean every year. Over time, these plastic decomposed into smaller particles, which dissipation requires thousands of years to do so, are being consumed by marine animals. This consumption also impacts humans as it goes up the food chain.