What pollution is impacting the ocean? - Lesson One

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

Introduction

Lesson 1 – What types of pollution can we find in the ocean? This lesson discusses the types of pollution finding their way into the ocean. For example, solid pollution, water pollution and noise pollution. Learning activities:  Research and discussions regarding what kind of pollution students create at home.  Identifying types of plastics and chemicals.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 1 - What types of pollution are in 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.  Ocean pollution is one issue Sea Shepherd is working on to help stop marine wildlife dying.

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What are 5 types of pollution
that end up in the ocean?

Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

 “What are 5 types of pollution that end up in the ocean?”

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.

WHAT IS POLLUTION?

“the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.”

Pollution is “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.”
Ocean pollution could be:
    Solid waste – such as plastics, glass and metals.
    Water pollution – liquids like chemicals, fertilisers and oils.
    Noise pollution – sounds from ships, coastal development.

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.

SOLID POLLUTION - PLASTIC

Up to 90% of marine debris is believed to be plastic based.

12 million tons p.a.

There are actually thousands of types of plastics made today, all with a specific purpose in mind.   Most are made from chemical substances that, when submerged in water, could leach chemicals into the environment.  
Up to 90% of marine debris is estimated to be plastic based.
Each year over 12 million metric ton of trash finds its way into the ocean.  This is the equivalent of at least one garbage truck full of plastic rubbish every 40 seconds being dumped into the ocean. (That is 788,400, garbage trucks of rubbish every year, at approx 15.2 tons per truck).

The amount of rubbish going into the ocean is still increasing. In the coming years this could soon be two garbage trucks a minute.  This poses a huge risk for marine wildlife that either ingests it or becomes entangled in the rubbish.

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.

SOLID POLLUTION - FISHING GEAR

Abandoned, Lost and Discarded fishing gear makes up a significant portion of plastic in the ocean.

640,000 tons of ALD fishing gear each year.

Abandoned, Lost and Discarded fishing gear makes up a significant portion of plastic in the ocean.
Researchers found that around 46% of plastic in the North Pacific gyre is from commercial fishing gear. Globally up to a fifth of the plastic in the ocean comes from commercial fishing gear.
What does ALD mean?
    Abandoned – means deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear, it is intentionally left behind.
    Discarded – deliberate disposal of fishing gear. Damaged or illegal gear thrown overboard before heading to port.
    Lost – means accidental lost at sea, for instance during a storm.
640,000 tonnes of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ends up in the ocean each year.

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

Water - chemical pollution

Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:

“What kind of chemicals end up in the ocean, where do they come from?”
Examples include:
    Household cleaning products.
    Cigarettes butts.
    Medications.
    Pesticides, herbicides and weed killer used by the agriculture industry.
    Industrial chemicals from factories.
    Chemicals that leach from plastics.
    Sunscreen – chemicals in sunscreens are damaging coral reefs and kill fish.
    Petrol chemicals – oils and fuels from cars and boats.

Ask students: “What impact do chemicals in the ocean have on marine wildlife?”
    High levels of chemicals, like mercury, PCB’s, DDT and other chemicals are found in fish, especially apex predators – whales, dolphins, sharks and tuna.
    This could have long term impacts on the health of species.

Over 100 million tons of fish caught each year.

Water - oil spills

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

What else do you think you can do to help?

Sound pollution

Ask students “What type of activities would cause noise pollution in the ocean?”
Examples include:
    Tourist vessels, leisure boats, jet skis – anything with a motor.
    Larger cargo ships and cruise ships
    Sonar from navy ships – ships and submarines use sonar which emits a sound that can be detected in the water, disorientating and disturbing marine wildlife.
    Survey ships for oil and gas – these use air guns that create a seismic blast. They are used to map the ocean floor and detect what might be under the surface.

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.