Save the sea to see a future!

What does the ‘big blue’ mean to you? Is it a holiday destination? A source of income? A vital source of protein? Well, it has a different meaning to everyone, but for all of us, it is a source of life.

Marine pollution, a growing problem in today’s world is damaging our oceans, as they’re being flooded with chemicals and garbage, most of which originates on land and is blown into the water. This equates to the damage of the environment, the health of all organisms and also to economic structures worldwide.

Water quality is critical to fisheries health, as it determines the impact on abundance, location, and size of fishes; affecting costs, fishing efforts and revenue for livelihoods who depends on them. However, marine pollution poses a threat within the fishing industry as the ingestion of toxic substances washed/blown into the water leads to the reduction of fish populations, contamination of fishes and health issues. So, how can we practice sustainable fishing if there are no healthy fishes to begin with?

Marine pollution has a significant and negative impact on biodiversity in our oceans. It leads to habitat destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds, that are critical for the survival of marine species. Chemical pollutants and run-off from land-based activities are toxic to oceans causing nutrient pollution, which reduces the availability of oxygen in the water, leading to the death of marine organisms.

As part of its commitments under the Paris Agreement, Jamaica has developed a nationally determined contribution which recognizes the importance of addressing marine pollution as part of its broader efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Such as proper waste management.

For the industry to tackle marine pollution using system thinking, a comprehensive and collaborative approach can be done such as developing a shared vision, among stakeholders for a future with clean and healthy oceans and strong sustainability.