| Themes > Science > Earth Sciences > Oceanography > Ocean Regions > Blue Water > Humans & the Environment |
People have had a significant impact on the health of the ocean. Runoff from the land carries silt and harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, through rivers into the ocean. Dumping trash directly in the ocean or in other water bodies (streams, rivers, bays, etc.) is another way humans disturb the ocean environment. Overfishing is also a concern. Some areas that were once filled with a particular species are now off-limits to fishing, so that the fish populations can recover and repopulate. Along the Pacific Coast of South America, the native sardine populations have been wiped out, most likely because of agressive fishing and El Nino's warming effect on those coastal waters. Salmon catches along the North American coast are now closely monitored by both the Canadian and United States governments to make sure that enough of these fish can return to their river of birth to spawn and populate the next generation. |
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