Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Marine resources, encompassing the biological and geological wealth of oceans and seas, are crucial for global ecological balance and human socio-economic development. These resources, estimated to cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, provide food, energy, minerals, and support a vast array of ecosystem services. However, increasing anthropogenic activities are leading to unprecedented levels of marine pollution, threatening the sustainability of these vital resources. The recent focus on the ‘Blue Economy’ highlights the growing importance of sustainably utilizing these resources, making their preservation paramount.
Marine Resources: A Categorization
Marine resources can be broadly classified into two categories:
- Living Resources: These include fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, algae, and microorganisms. They form the basis of marine food webs and are vital for fisheries and aquaculture.
- Non-Living Resources: These encompass minerals (manganese nodules, polymetallic sulphides, cobalt-rich crusts), oil and gas deposits, freshwater (through desalination), and potential energy sources like tidal and wave energy.
Economic Significance of Marine Resources
The economic significance of marine resources is immense and spans across multiple sectors:
- Fisheries & Aquaculture: Globally, fisheries and aquaculture contribute significantly to food security and livelihoods. According to the FAO (2022), global fish production reached 219 million tonnes in 2020, with aquaculture accounting for over 56%. India’s fisheries sector contributes around 1.2% to the country’s GDP and 5.45% to agricultural GDP (Economic Survey 2022-23).
- Tourism: Coastal and marine tourism, including recreational activities like diving, snorkeling, and beach tourism, generates substantial revenue and employment. Coral reefs, in particular, are major tourist attractions.
- Energy: Offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction are major economic activities. Renewable energy sources like tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) hold significant potential.
- Mineral Resources: Deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules, containing valuable minerals like manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt, is gaining attention, though environmental concerns remain.
- Shipping & Transportation: Over 80% of global trade is carried by sea, making shipping a crucial component of the global economy. Major ports like Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in India are vital for international trade.
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology: Marine organisms are a source of novel compounds with potential pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.
Marine Pollution and its Impact on Resources
Marine pollution poses a severe threat to marine resources. The major types of pollutants include:
- Plastic Pollution: The most visible and pervasive pollutant, plastic debris harms marine life through entanglement, ingestion, and habitat destruction. Approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually (National Geographic, 2023).
- Oil Spills: Accidental oil spills from tankers and offshore platforms cause widespread damage to marine ecosystems, impacting fisheries, tourism, and wildlife. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a prime example.
- Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural lands lead to eutrophication, creating ‘dead zones’ with low oxygen levels, harming marine life.
- Industrial Waste: Discharge of heavy metals, chemicals, and other industrial pollutants contaminates marine ecosystems and bioaccumulates in the food chain.
- Sewage & Wastewater: Untreated sewage introduces pathogens and nutrients, leading to water quality degradation and health risks.
- Noise Pollution: Noise from shipping, sonar, and construction activities disrupts marine animal behavior and communication.
The impacts of marine pollution on resources are far-reaching:
- Decline in Fish Stocks: Pollution reduces fish populations through direct toxicity, habitat degradation, and disruption of food webs.
- Coral Reef Degradation: Pollution, combined with climate change, causes coral bleaching and reef destruction, impacting biodiversity and tourism.
- Harm to Marine Mammals & Seabirds: Entanglement in plastic debris, oil spills, and ingestion of pollutants harm marine mammals and seabirds.
- Contamination of Seafood: Bioaccumulation of pollutants in seafood poses health risks to humans.
- Economic Losses: Pollution leads to economic losses in fisheries, tourism, and other marine-related industries.
| Pollutant | Impact on Resources |
|---|---|
| Plastic | Entanglement, ingestion, habitat destruction, microplastic contamination of food chain |
| Oil | Smothering of marine life, toxicity, disruption of ecosystems |
| Agricultural Runoff | Eutrophication, dead zones, algal blooms |
| Heavy Metals | Bioaccumulation, toxicity, reproductive impairment |
Conclusion
Marine resources are fundamental to global sustainability, providing essential ecological and economic benefits. However, escalating marine pollution threatens their long-term viability. Addressing this challenge requires a multi-pronged approach, including stricter regulations on pollution discharge, promotion of sustainable fishing practices, investment in waste management infrastructure, and international cooperation. The success of the ‘Blue Economy’ hinges on our ability to protect and sustainably manage these invaluable resources for future generations.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.