Marine Pollution in the Pacific and Coral Bleaching - December 2002

Marine Pollution in the Pacific and Coral Bleaching - December 2002

In the Pacific, severe marine pollution caused by industrial waste and plastic debris is widespread, particularly affecting coral reefs. In the Great Barrier Reef, about 50% of the coral showed signs of bleaching between 1998 and 2002. This phenomenon is triggered by rising sea temperatures and the accumulation of pollutants, which cause the algae that live in symbiosis with coral to die off, leaving the coral unable to obtain nutrients and eventually leading to its death. Additionally, the accumulation of plastic waste harms marine ecosystems as sea creatures mistakenly ingest it, disrupting the food chain and increasing the mortality of fish and sea turtles. This has placed the entire marine ecosystem at risk.