Did You Know?

Salt marshes, wetlands and coral reefs are nursery habitats for fish, shrimp, crab and other aquatic species.

Wetlands naturally filter and cleanse the water flowing from rivers and streams into the ocean. Estuaries -- where the ocean tide meets a river current -- depend on wetlands to maintain water quality.

Commercial and recreational fisheries support more than 1.3 million jobs, and in 1995, added more than $20 billion to the gross domestic product.

Fish and marine wildlife habitats are harmed by long-term releases of pollution, short-term oil and chemical spills, and physical destruction, such as ship groundings.

How It Affects You

Reefs and estuaries sustain 75 percent of all commercial fish and shellfish during some point in their life cycles. When these marine habitats are destroyed or injured, fish and other sea creatures cannot spawn, hatch and mature. The result is depleted or contaminated seafood meant for consumption by both humans and marine life.

Long-term releases of pollution into our watersheds, rivers, streams and estuaries can cause harmful algal blooms or low oxygen conditions that degrade or kill fish and marine habitat. The direct effect is that fish may be diseased, damaged or depleted; seafood prices may fluctuate; and recreational and commercial fishing -- a large part of our nation's economy -- may be threatened.

Injured or destroyed marine habitat may indirectly upset the ecological balance and the world's food chain. For example, species of birds and marine mammals that feed on contaminated fish and shellfish may become ill or diseased and continue to spread the problem throughout the food chain. Other marine habitats, such as reefs, that are damaged or destroyed would also attract fewer tourists, influencing the nation's $54 billion annual tourism trade.

What You Can Do

Get educated and share your knowledge!

Follow regulations that limit the type, size and amount of fish you can catch.

Don't pollute. Never throw trash, human waste, or plastic bags into the ocean. Fish, sea turtles and marine mammals mistake plastic for food sources, with lethal consequences. Don't misuse chemicals and fertilizers.

Don't disturb or remove sea life. Unauthorized taking of coral reef, shells and other marine organisms upsets the balance and health of the ecosystem.

Limit the use of boats and vehicles to approved areas, and obey speed limits. Swim where it is safe for you and the environment. Volunteer for beach clean-ups and wetland restorations.

Participate in community natural resources planning efforts. Get involved in protecting essential fish habitat.

Did You Know?

80 percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from land-based sources, such as runoff pollution. Runoff pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks and boats, plus larger sources, such as farms, ranches and forest areas.

Millions of motor vehicle engines make daily, one-drop-at-a-time "oil spills" onto roads and parking lots, which add significantly to runoff pollution.

Some water pollution actually starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans.

Dirt can be a pollutant. Top soil or silt from fields or construction sites can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.

How It Affects You

Non-point source pollution, commonly called runoff pollution, can make river and ocean water unsafe for humans and wildlife. In some areas, runoff pollution is so bad that it causes beaches to be closed after rainstorms. In 1992, for example, about 3,000 beach closures and swimming advisories were issued.

Drinking water supplies can be contaminated by polluted runoff, as can coastal waters containing valuable fish stocks. Experts think there is a link between agricultural runoff and water-borne organisms that cause lesions and death in fish. Humans who come in contact with these polluted waters and affected fish can also experience harmful symptoms.

More than one-third of the shellfish-growing waters of the United States are adversely affected by coastal pollution.

Correcting the harmful effects of runoff pollution is costly. Each year millions of dollars are spent to restore and protect areas damaged or endangered by non-point source pollutants.

What You Can Do

Get educated and share your knowledge!

• Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris out of street gutters and storm drains--these outlets drain directly to lakes, rivers, wetlands, and the ocean.
• Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions.
• Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints, and other household chemicals properly, not in storm sewers or drains. If your community does not already have a program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask your local government to establish one.
• Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease, and antifreeze. Do not hose them into the street where they will eventually reach the ocean.
• Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas.
• Encourage local government officials to develop construction erosion/sediment control ordinances in your community.
• Have your septic system inspected and pumped, at a minimum, every 3-5 years so that it operates properly.
• Purchase household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and coastal waters.