INTRODUCTION
Constituting almost the entirety of the globe, water envelops our planet. The very basis of our existence is the access to clean drinking water. One cannot live without it, yet, people across the world are forced to survive without access to any fresh water for drinking or sanitation[1][2]. I have chosen this topic to explore the immense water pollution due to the rampant disregard for nature. Activities like fish farming and aquaculture form a critical intersection where food production meets the need for environmental conservation. Policy framers continue to tussle with the goal of food sustainability while also achieving economic growth. However, it is necessary, now more than ever, to examine the policies and regulations governing fish farming practices, both nationally and internationally. These policies encompass steps and measures to mitigate these obstacles and encourage sustainable methods to ensure that climate change is minimised and everyone can live a healthy life. However, addressing these interconnected challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative policy approaches, and international cooperation to maintain water security, protect ecosystems, and ensure the well-being of present and future generations.
WATER POLLUTION
Water Pollution is caused by harmful substances like chemicals or contaminants entering water bodies, degrading their quality[3]. As pollutants are added to large bodies of water, they start turning toxic, which can lead to countless harmful consequences including the death of humans and animals alike[4]. Unsustainable agricultural practices are one of the largest contributing factors to the ever-rising water pollution. From the crop fertilisers that enter groundwater tables to the large-scale industrial agriculture pollution, it all adds up to the degradation of the environment. When fertilisers and manures are used for agricultural purposes, there is a large amount of “run-off”. This occurs when the nutrient-rich materials flow into nearby water bodies, enriching the water bodies with too many nutrients. This leads to an algal bloom, where a dense layer of algae collects at the surface of the water, preventing sunlight and oxygen from penetrating[5][6].
FISH FARMING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Another such cause of water pollution is fish farming. Due to the rising demand for seafood in the past few decades, fishermen are turning to aquaculture as an alternative to match the supply of fish[7] the intensive practices that result in environmental degradation due to the large number of pollutants produced. Unconsumed feed, excess faecal matter, and unnecessary chemicals released into the water often cause overloading and eutrophication of water bodies. This sludge left behind from fish farming containing fish waste, bacteria, pesticides and uneaten feed, also releases a large amount of climate-warming methane[8]. Additionally, depletion of oxygen in water due to such exploitative agriculture and aquaculture results in dead zones which thereby destroy intricate food webs and ecosystems[9].
CASE STUDY
Chesapeake Bay, in the USA, was one of the first to be identified as a dead zone in the 1970s[10]. The cause for such zones was identified to be rapid urbanisation and rampant agriculture. While several programs have been created to improve the water quality and reduce pollution, the dead zones are still present, although their size varies upon the season and climatic conditions. The dead zones present in the Baltic Sea are believed to be caused by the runoff from agricultural fertilisers as well as overfishing of the Baltic cod. Due to extreme fishing practices, the number of cod present in the sea has fallen drastically, breaking the natural food chain and leading to an increase in algae, intensifying such zones.
This fall in Baltic cod highlights another adverse yet interconnected consequence of fish farming- loss of biodiversity. To combat such drastic loss of biodiversity, policies and agreements have been created. One such was the Convention on Biological Diversity[11][12], to reverse the drivers of biodiversity loss. The Convention took up the idea of “The Sustainable Ocean Initiative” to address the need for capacity building in the field of ocean and marine resource management across the world. The Convention also identified and evaluated “Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas” (EBSAs). While the identification process does not impose any management responsibility on the respective parties, it attempts to highlight the need to conserve such areas[13].
MEASURES
The United Nations has recognised the importance of solving water-related challenges and declared the period from 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development” or simply put the “Ocean Decade”[14]. The goal is to identify and evaluate new mechanisms for sustainable development within the marine ecosystems and also mitigate some of the damage caused throughout the past. It was established with the vision: “ The science we need for the ocean we want.” [15] At the 2024 conference, India emphasised the need to develop early warning systems and adaptive planning strategies to build more resilience against water-related disasters[16]. It also stressed the need to create ocean forecasting projects on a regional level.
PLASTIC POLLUTION
Unfortunately, fish farming is not only affecting the oceans through the dead zones it leaves in its wake or the sheer number of species going extinct, today it has led to the creation of a new phenomenon called “ghost fishing”. Disposed fishing gear and other plastics in the oceans have led to ocean plastic pollution, a subset of marine pollution. Microplastics pose a significant threat due to their hazardous nature. According to National Geographic, “Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from both commercial product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. As a pollutant, microplastics can be harmful to the environment and animal health.”[17][18]
Experts around the world agree that there is an urgent need to address the problem of marine plastic waste and reduce plastic litter discharge into the oceans. A project titled “Assessment of Micro Plastic Impact on Marine Organism in Coastal and Estuarine Habitats” is being headed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, UK and some Japanese institutes. The main goal is to understand the distribution and abundance of litter and microplastics along the Indian coasts. This data can then be used to create management strategies to reduce plastic waste.
CONCLUSION
From industrial runoff to agricultural practices and fish farming, various human activities contribute to the degradation of water quality and the disruption of marine ecosystems, however, there is still some hope. There are ways forward from this, ranging from individual steps to international agreements[19][20]. Mindful practices during aquaculture would be a step in the right direction, for the protection of our marine ecosystems. This includes reducing the use of antibiotics, improving waste management, and investing in research and development of eco-friendly aquaculture technologies. Further research in the field of microplastics will lead to the development of solutions to mitigate its impact. There is no easy solution to curb the obstacle that not only threatens the health of our planet but also the animals and humans living on it. It is now society’s responsibility to unite and help fight the battle against pollution. Together, we can strive towards a clean, healthy and sustainable world.
Author(s) Name: Suvarnagauri Kalbag (BML Munjal University, Haryana)
Reference(s):
[1] “Saving Water, Saving Lives,” (United Nations Chronicle), https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/saving-water-saving-lives, accessed 2nd July 2024.
[2] ‘Quality’ (United Nations Water for Life Decade), https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/quality.shtml, accessed 2nd July 2024.
[3] René P. Schwarzenbach et al, ‘Global Water Pollution and Human Health’ (2010) 35 Annual Review of Environment and Resources 109.
[4] “Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know,” (Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)), https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know#causes., accessed 3rd July 2024
[5] “Algal Blooms”, (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)), https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/algal-blooms., accessed 2nd July 2024
[6] “Industrial Agricultural Pollution 101”, (Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)), https://nrdc.org/stories/industrial-agricultural-pollution-101#crop , accessed 3rd July 2024
[7] “More people, more food, worse water? A Global Review of Water Pollution from agriculture” (2018), International Water Management Institute
[8]Albert G.J. Tacon & Ian P. Forster, ‘Aquafeeds and the environment: policy implications’ (2003) 226(1-4) Aquaculture 181 .
[9] “Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms 101”, (National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)), https://www.nrdc.org/stories/freshwater-harmful-algal-blooms-101, accessed 4th July 2024
[10] “Dead Zone”, (National Geographic Education), https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/dead-zone/, accessed 4th July 2024
[11] “State of the Ocean: 10 Years of Discovery”, (Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)), (2022)
[12] “Convention on Biological Diversity Day”, (United Nations), https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day/convention, accessed 2nd July 2024
[13]“EBSA Impact: Understanding the Effectiveness of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in Marine Conservation”, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). (2021)
[14] UNESCO, ‘Ocean Decade’ https://www.unesco.org/en/decades/ocean-decade, accessed 2nd July 2024.
[15] ‘Ocean Decade’, https://oceandecade.org/, accessed 2nd July 2024
[16]News Desk, ‘ India bats for designing regional ocean observations to better understand deep ecosystems’ The Economic Times (4th July 2024),
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/india-bats-for-designing-regional-ocean-observations-to-better-understand-deep-ecosystems/articleshow/109474797.cms?from=mdr , accessed 2nd July 2024
[17] Agbekpornu, P., & Kevudo, I., The Risks of Microplastic Pollution in the Aquatic Ecosystem (2023)
[18] “Microplastics”, (National Geographic Education), https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/microplastics/, accessed 2nd July, 2024
[19] “Regenerative Agriculture 101”, (National Resource Defence Council (NRDC)), https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101#techniques, accessed 2nd July 2024
[20] “Report Identifies Agriculture as Greatest Source of Water Pollution.”, (International Institute for Sustainable Development), https://sdg.iisd.org/news/report-identifies-agriculture-as-greatest-source-of-water-pollution/, accessed 3rd July 2024
