Lives underwater are in danger

By, Nur Iwanie Safia Shehabudin

It has been raining these few days, and somehow it has made many people think about water. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are important aspects of human life. Water, is the source of our foods and drinks, a means of transportation, and a place called home for biodiversity. However, these beautiful water places are no longer sacred for some people. Lives that have been living under the sea are no longer safe as they encountered many dangers as time goes by. Aquatic life such as fish and corals are dying. Why?

One of the main reasons this has happened is because of pollution. Plastic waste, untreated sewage, and chemicals from the factory often find their way into the water and posion marine life. Animals live in water; for example, turtles, the whales, and the seagulls mistakenly accept plastic as their food. This can lead to injury, death, or starvation, as plastic is not supposed to be eaten by them. Chemical pollutants from the factory can change the nature of the fish. They will accumulate in the skin of the fish or other sea creatures, making them toxic and a danger for both wildlife and humans who rely on fish as their sources of food.

Next, climate change. When change happens, many incidents occurr that tragically changes aquatic life. For example, the rising of water temperatures causes the altering of ocean currents, making sea levels rise. Warm water can lead to the bleaching of the corals and disturb the breeding cycle.

Other than that, the oxygen level can also be reduced, making it difficult for the survival of marine life.

Last but not least is habitat destruction. Yes, our country is developing in terms of the tourism sector but unknowingly destroyed some place called home for other creatures. The construction of dams and coastal development has damaged some vital ecosystems like coral reefs and wetlands. These habitats are important to maintain the balance of water systems. For example, coral reefs are places for fish and some aquatic life, yet they have been destroyed to build dams.

In a nutshell, all levels of society, from family to school to university, and the ministries need to play their role in catering to these problems by doing what is best for the lives under the water because humans, depend on them and so are they, dependent on us.***