Marine pollution - What are we heading for?

Abstract

Unlike the open ocean, the coastal zone is the most affected and vulnerable to human abuse with several nearshore areas including well-flushed regions and enclosed and semi-enclosed seas getting increasingly polluted. This paper examines the trends that have emerged concerning the health of marine areas with particular reference to the coastal zone of India. Mangrove and coral ecosystems have been degraded and continue to be under stress of the man induced changes. Tourism related ecological degeneration is prevalent in several coastal segments though measures taken by the Government may arrest these trends, if enforced vigorously. Many major ports planned along the Indian coast some of which in ecosensitive areas, would eventually result in localised degraded regions if the present state of environmental management of most ports continues. The trends support increasing levels of NO sub(3)-N and PO sub(4) sup(3-)-P along the central west coast of India and their utilization for primary productivity is suppressed perhaps by the high suspended particulate matter naturally occurring in these waters. The present impetus on coastal aquaculture and risk to which the culture stocks might be exposed, should a toxic bloom occur, requires implementation of a multilateral scientific research programme to systematically study the algal blooms. Proposed establishment of refineries along the southern shore of the Gulf of Kachchh and eventual increase in the movement of crude oil and petroleum products highlights the urgent need of an adequately evolved environment management plan to minimise adverse impacts on the rich and diverse bioproductive regime of the Gulf. Predicted sealevel rise implies far sighted planning to identify vulnerable area and devise a long-term approach to coastal zone management that periodically reviews ground realities and incorporates modifications in the plan accordingly.