Land-based sources
Although vessel source pollution is a serious threat to the marine environment, it should not be exaggerated. The 80% of marine pollution are those which originate on shore and eventually find their way into the sea (Bowman, 1996). The most common types of pollutant entering the sea from land are sewage, industrial wastes from manufacturing, and agricultural pesticides and fertilizers that are washed off the land. These substances usually find their way into the sea through rivers, but a significant amount of land-based marine pollution comes from dumping wastes at sea and through air pollution that is deposited into the oceans in the form of rain (Anton, 1996).
The 1990 GESAMP report highlighted the diverse nature of the land-based threat to the marine environment. It concluded that this type of marine pollution had significantly worsened since 1982 and that sewage disposal and agricultural runoff of fertilizers and pesticides were the most urgent problems requiring international attention. The report also concluded that land-based pollution was no longer confined to coastal waters, but that some of the toxic substances from these sources are now resulting in the loss of marine life in the high seas (Anton, 1996).
Exploration
Another threat to the marine environment is posed by the unsustainable commercial harvesting of marine living resources such as fish and whales. During the past 100 or so years commercial exploitation of marine resources has resulted in significant harm to those resources and to the marine environment (Hunter, Salzman & Zaelke, 2002). For example, in the late 1980s, the use of driftnets by some East Asian states, such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, caused controversy. Many states charged that the use of driftnets seriously depletes stocks of commercial fish in an unsustainable manner and accidentally traps and kills porpoises, seabirds and a wide of fish not sought by the fishermen. International efforts to ban the use of driftnets in fishing resulted in the 1989 Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific (Ringbom, 1997). The United Nations General ASSEMBLY also passed a resolution that recommended that immediate action should be taken to reduce progressively large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing activities. In July 1990, it was reported that Japan and china would suspend and ban driftnet fishing (Anton, 1996).
Effects of marine pollution
Marine pollution cause major damage to marine life, and not just fish and shellfish. In 1998, some black sea lions were observed to be critically ill, with nerve poisoning symptoms. The cause of this is thought to be Psuedo-nizschia australis, a type of diatom that is one of the causes of red tide (Hunter, et al., 2002).
Coral reefs, which support a great diversity of sea life, are highly sensitive to environmental change. Coral reef produce nutrients through the photosynthesis of microscopic algae, so when the degree of transparency of the sea decreases because of eutrophication, reef organisms are damaged immediately. It is said that in Indonesia as much as 60% of coral reefs are dead as a result of sea contamination and related phenomena. Consequently, marine pollution could destroy the habitat of such marine creatures (Kindt, 1996).
Rights and duties of States
In order to prevent sea contamination, it is necessary to immediately determine the state of pollution, and to take countermeasures. It is also necessary to very promptly collect information in order to check the spread of pollution. This calls for the development of facilities for the prevention of sea contamination, for purification projects in areas where the sea is polluted, and for research and technical development for the prevention of the pollution (Bowman, 1996).
Sea contamination is a problem shared by all the countries of the world, so it is essential that all nations cooperate in such international conventions as the 1972 London Convention (Convention concerning the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of waste and other materials), the Protocol of the revision of the London Convention in 1996, the Convention MARPOL 73/78, the OPRC Convention, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The cooperation of even more countries in these international conventions is needed, as is a vision of sea contamination from the point of view of the world as a whole (Hunter, et al., 2002).
The 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) is one of the most comprehensive treaties concerning environmental protection of any sort and addresses protection of the marine environment in several different parts (Ringbom, 1997). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea went into effect in 1994 for the purpose of establishing laws determining the sea-related rights and obligations of each country, for example territorial waters, the extent to which the waters surrounding a country's coast can be claimed as that country's territory (Timagenies, 1980). However, unless the peace, order and security of the coastal countries are violated, foreign ships have the right to pass unharmed through such territorial waters. Also, a country's exclusive economic waters extend for 200 miles off its coast. In these waters, the coastal country has the sovereign right to carry out research and develop the living and non-living marine resources there. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an attempt to clarify these international conventions and the related obligations As for the marine environment, it requires each country concluding the convention to make an effort to prevent pollution (Kindt, 1996).
Additionally, according to the different causes, the different regulations have been worked out. For instance, eight international agreements address threats posed by vessel pollution and dumping. Of this eight, MARPOL 73/78 regulates both operational discharge and unintentional release of pollutants such as oil, garbage, plastics and sewage from ships. Moreover, the London Convention, 1972, controls the intentional dumping and incineration of wastes at sea. 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, several regional framework conventions and four regional agreements that contain provisions relevant to land-based marine pollution (Hunter, et al., 2002).
What should we do?
Although relevant laws have been established to regulate and protect the marine environment, everyone is under a responsibility and an obligation to protect marine environment. If we contaminate rivers, soil and groundwater with chemical substances, harmful substances will eventually flow into the ocean. Thus it is always important to check whether such contamination is occurring around us or not. It is said that 60% of the contamination by organic matter in rivers and ocean is from domestic drainage (Hunter, et al, 2002). Therefore, we should be careful not to put oil or leftover food down the drain, try to reduce the amount of chemicals we use at home and in the garden, such as fly sprays, detergents and weed killers and do not drop litter anywhere make sure to use a bin, try and avoid buying products with lots of packaging (McNutt, 2002).
In conclusion, marine pollution is a global environmental issue, pollutants are flushed down rivers and streams, and oil spills into the water when tankers and other ships collide and through off-shore drilling and other marine resource development. This pollution exerts harmful effects on fish and birds, and the resultant "red tides" cause problems for fisheries. The international law has been implemented to protect and regulate the marine environment. Furthermore, everyone should take the responsibility to protect marine creature and create a safe and beautiful marine environment.
References
Anton, D. K. (1996). Challenge: Global environmental protection. Sydney: McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY.
Bowman, M. (1996). International environmental law and policy series: international law and the conservation of biological diversity. London: Kluwer Law International.
Hunter, D., Salzman, J. & Zaelke, D. (2002). International environmental law and policy (2nd ed.) New York: Foundational Press.
Kindt, J.W. (1986). Marine pollution and the law of the sea. New York: William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
McNUTT, M.K. (2002). .
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Ringbom, H. (1997). Competing Norms in the law of marine environmental protection. United Kingdom: Kluwer Law International 1997.
Timagenis, G.J. (1980). International control of marine pollution. United State: Oceana publications, Inc.