As per Ratnavali Poosawat, a recognized authority in ecology at the Fisheries Department, our oceans serve as a massive absorber, soaking up nearly 90% of Earth’s heat, and about 30% of the carbon dioxide humans churn out. The result? A corrosive reduction in oxygen, which sets the stage for a counter-productive sequel – ocean acidification.
The heat is on, and its effects have far-reaching consequences, says Ratnavali. Changes in wind patterns are accompanied by a discernible shift in ocean water quality, dealing a blow to the abundant marine life that thrives within it. Any disturbance in this space could send ripples across the food chain, she envisages. As seafood dwindle, species dependent on them encounter problems in seeking food, causing a domino effect on reactions farther along the food chain.
Rising sea levels are another consequence, climbing 3.1 millimetres on an average each year, she discloses. The fallout of this elevation is a significant loss of coastal territories, the heartlands of marine species. Lively breeding nurseries for juvenile marine life, mating hotspots for turtles, fish, and shrimp…all come under siege. The livelihoods of coastal fishing communities hang in the balance, too, pushing them to tread lightly on the brink of adaptation or risk unemployment and estrangement from the ocean’s volatile climate patterns.
Technological interventions look like the new age solution in this scenario, Ratnavali suggests. IoT (Internet of Things) could lend a hand in managing marine resources and sustainably farming aquaculture practices, ensuring close monitoring of water quality. Despite this, the ocean’s management is a mammoth task filled with complexities, attributed mainly to global warming and nefarious industrial pollution.
Marine species showcase resilience, acclimatising to varying water temperatures and seasonal shifts, and demonstrating their versatility in reproducing. That being said, a whopping 20-30% of these creatures run the risk of getting eradicated due to such tremendous changes, Ratnavali and Rachawadee Chantara, a veterinarian from the upper Gulf of Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute, mention.
Winds of change sweep these waters, creating a domino effect on marine animal populations. Adult marine animals starting to fall ill and pegging out kick-starts a cycle of tragedies and separations among marine families, Rachawadee ominously warns.
A cloud over the water quality also hangs heavy, especially over the upper Gulf of Thailand, where a majority of water struggles to maintain a prim and proper state. Rachawadee points the finger at the intrusion of freshwater from the heartland to the gulf, causing a phenomenon called ‘red water.’ This decline in water quality is attributed chiefly to the release of wastewater, coupled with the burgeoning growth of plants that exploit the water’s nutrients, in turn reducing the oxygen levels in the water. The depleted oxygen thrusts fish into a space where finding food becomes a nightmare, often spelling doom for them.
The increased acidity due to carbon dioxide absorption signals a warning bell for marine species like corals and shellfish, making it an uphill battle for them to form protective shells. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is, however, making strides in promoting awareness and engaging the public in addressing plastic waste, with an objective of safeguarding and restoring marine resources and coastal regions. A safe ocean, after all, translates to a secured human food source, and that, Rachawadee insists, demands everyone’s concerted efforts.
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