Marine Pollution Control and Management

Contents Preface 1 Health and marine environment 2 Coastal and marine degradation 3 Marine pollution 4 Techniques of marine pollution control Appendices Bibliography Index Oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the earths surface and contain some of the earths most complex and diverse ecosystems In addition to serving as the habitat for a vast array of plants and animals the oceans also supply people with food energy and mineral resources Over half the people in the developing countries obtain 40 per cent or more of their total animal protein from fish The coastal zone constitutes only about 10 per cent of the total oceanic area but accounts for more than half of the oceans biological productivity and supplies nearly all the worlds catch of fish Coastal areas contain many kinds of ecosystems that are vital to marine life and humankind four of the most productive are slat marshes mangroves estuaries and coral reefs About 60 per cent of the worlds population or nearly 3 billion people live on or within some 100 km of a sea coast In parts of South East Asia 75 per cent of the population live along the coast Along the coastlines of Bangladesh India Pakistan and Sri Lanka population densities often reach upto 500 per square kilometer representing more than twice the number of the people living in the interior The recreational use of coastal waters attacks large numbers of people at least seasonally in many countries In some areas this represents the major or often the only industry and often the major source of foreign exchange earnings Coastal areas are the most vulnerable and most abused zones of the oceans They receive direct discharges from rivers surface runoff and drainage from the hinterland domestic and industrial effluents through outfalls and various contaminants from ships Equally important are the physical changes in natural habitats especially salt marshes seagrass beds coral reefs and mangrove forests resulting from increasing population pressures and often illplanned development activities in coastal areas This book will be of immense help to all those contemplating to acquire expert knowledge of marine pollution and control besides coastal zone management 252 pp.…