Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 13 : Coastal zone and anthropogenic activities

13.10.Shipping and Port
Shipping can also be a source of pollution. The transport of potentially hazardous substances, such as oil, fertilizers and insecticides is always a hazardous activity and there have been several oil spills. While the local impact is immediate and obvious, there is little information and few quantified studies on the long-term effects of oil in the coastal zone. Corals do not die from oil remaining on the surface of the water. However, gas exchange between the water and the atmosphere is decreased with the possible result of oxygen depletion is enclosed bays where surface wave action is minimal. Coral death does result from smothering when submerged oil directly adheres to coral surfaces and oil slicks affect sea birds and other marine animals. Tar accumulation on beaches reduces tourism potential of coastal areas. With increased shipping activity in the Wider Caribbean, the dumping of garbage and washing of bilges at sea have become serious problems. Garbage dumped in international waters are driven by wind and currents to the shorelines of the Caribbean, causing persistent pollution, which threatens both the tourism and fishing industries, as well as health of coastal communities.