How do humans impact the ocean? - Lesson Three

• Social Studies
• History
• +3
• 5th,6th Grade

Introduction

Lesson Three – How does chemical pollution impact the ocean? This lesson covers the different types of chemical pollution that find their way into the ocean. Learning activities:  Research chemicals that go down the drain.  Discuss how we can reduce our negative impact on the ocean and marine wildlife.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 3 - How does chemical pollution impact the ocean?

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. 

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Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

What types of chemicals are entering the ocean?

This lesson we will look at chemicals and oils.  
Chemicals are substances that are artificially prepared or purified. They aren’t naturally occurring.
Ask students “What type of chemicals do you think might be entering the ocean?”

What chemicals are
used in your home?

Every day we use different chemicals.  
Ask students: “What chemicals are used in your home?”
    Examples might include cleaning products, air sprays, washing liquids, cigarettes, sunscreens, medications and weed killers.
Discuss how these chemicals might find their way into the ocean.

What chemicals are
used in agriculture?

Many industries use chemicals including the agriculture sector, producing our food.
Ask students; “What chemicals do you think are used in the agriculture sector?”
    Insecticides – used to get rid of insects.
    Herbicides – used to spray plants and unwanted vegetation.
    Fertilisers – used to add nutrients to the soil.
    Fungicides – to stop fungus on plants, like fruits.
    Medications and chemicals - used to treat animals that are sick/injured or prevent pests in animals.
    Industrial chemicals dumped or leaking into waterways or the ocean.
Ask students: “How do you think these chemicals find their way into the ocean?”
(Run off or finding its way into ground water, to rivers, to the ocean)

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

Industrial chemicals

They may be intentionally dumped into the ocean by individuals or companies in order to save money. Instead of disposing of rubbish or chemicals properly it is dumped into waterways or directly into the ocean.
Not all countries are set up with proper waste or hazard management facilities. There are still areas where factories simply dump their waste, chemicals and rubbish into rivers.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

OIL SPILLS

40% of oil produced is shipped around the world.

DeepWater Horizon

In 2010 some 780,000cubic metres (7.8m litres) of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexio.

Another issue that can have a huge impact on the health of our oceans is oil spills and toxic waste.  Oil leaking from oilrigs or ships after an accident.  These can leak into the ocean for days before clean ups can properly stop the oil from entering into the ocean.
These can have a devastating impact on eco-systems and take decades for the area to start to recover. Some 40% of oil produced is shipped around the world in tankers and over the years there have been a number of accidents with oil tankers.

In recent years we have seen some massive incidents with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 when an oil rig doing exploratory drilling had a blowout, resulting in oil leaking into the surrounding ocean for 3 months. The amount of oil that leaked was some 780,000 cubic metres (7.8m litres). This equates to 180,000km2 of ocean covered.  This resulted in the deaths of 1,000’s of marine mammals at the time, and still continues to impact marine wildlife.

The chemicals used to disburse the oil from the ocean surface are also toxic. Causing cancers to fish and decimating marine species. They result in the oil being dropped to the sea floor, coating everything in a layer of oil, killing everything on the seabed.

Ask students: “What do you think the impacts of oil spills would be on marine wildlife and the ecosystem?”

This video shows the oilrig and surrounding oil spill not long after Deepwater Horizon happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0QjVuwfcOE&list=PLNmnNu36NAjgGsH70Aq5VoQOWd_8xOoyN&index=1

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

Plastics = chemical contamination

In the previous lesson we discussed plastic pollution and that plastics are made from a mixture of chemicals. As they are exposed to water and the sun for long periods of time those chemicals will leach into the water.   Research has found that one cigarette butt left in a litre of water for 4 days would make it toxic enough to kill small fish.  Over time, it could potentially contaminate hundreds of litres of water.

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.