Introduction
The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary located on the east coast of the United States. The bay is over 200 miles long and goes through Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The bay has much to offer the locals. Many locals have made a career out of harvesting the bay's sea food. The bay's harvest and many of its other attractions bring tourists and in turn revenue for the area.
Blue crabs have the highest value of any Chesapeake Bay commercial fishery; in 2000, the blue crab harvest was valued at a staggering $55 million (Blue Crabs – Chesapeake Bay Program). For Maryland locals, the importance of crabs during the summer months is bigger than any other issues; summer days are spent at picnic tables picking away at the hard shells of the steamed morsels. During these months, commercial fisherman are up before the sun rises, riding along checking their lines and baskets in the bay in hopes of a good yield of the crustaceans to bring back to sell later that day. In fact, an estimated one third of the nation’s catch of blue crabs come directly from Maryland’s own Chesapeake Bay (Blue Crabs – Chesapeake Bay Program).Therefore, sustaining the population of crabs is essential in the success of the businesses that rely on the income from selling them, and also to the people who consume the crabs frequently. At the same time, the constant pressure on harvesting the crabs for income has created an issue. Since the early 90’s, yield of crabs has decreased, resulting in an increase of efforts to meet the demands of the business of co...
Graczyk, T.K., Fayer, R., Trout, J.M., Jenkins, M.C., Higgins, J., Lewis, E.J.Farley, C.A. “Susceptibility of the Chesapeake Bay to Environmental
...ell. We should care about the health and well-being of the plant and animal life around us because the majority of us also depend on these animals and their life cycles for nourishment. The water from thiswatershed, as well as others, is where we get our drinking water, irrigation and other industrial water usage, which means that the animals depend on this water as well. If they ingest harmful chemicals, we in turn ingest these chemicals with our daily food intake. The James River Association accepts volunteers to assist with the care of the Chesapeake River watershed and its sub-watersheds. There are lots of other ways to get involved in the prevention of further pollution to our precious natural resources. The first step is to not become part of the problem. Do not liter, don’t dump your oils in the gutters and think that you are not part of the problem.
...ity rates of animals due to lack of oxygen within the water. As reported by, Cerco, C. F., & Noel, M.R., express that an increase in the oyster population could significantly improve water quality of the estuary. Experimental results indicate clearance of solids from the water column by oysters can enhance the activity of benthic microalgae, thereby altering sediment-water nutrient exchange and sediment diagenetic processes (Newell et al. 2002; Porter et al. 2004). Restoration of oysters can increase nitrogen removal from 20% to 50% through denitrification and sediment retention. Computed surface chlorophyll is reduced by 30% for a tenfold increase in oyster density and is halved when oysters are restored to historic density (Cerco, C. F., & Noel, M. R.). All in all oyster restoration can be viewed as a way to remedy cultural eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay.
... the residual effects of pollution left behind by both mining in the Chesapeake Bay area around rivers, such as the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. Lutz also had quoted John Dawes, now the executive director of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, on the damage done to streams and to the aquatic life in the streams. Dawes told Lutz "'we're looking at 4,600 miles of dead streams in Pennsylvania'" in reference to the vitality in polluted regions. This can occur in several ways but the two generally accepted causes are the toxicity levels in the water are too high to support life and the contaminated water is slowly killing off members of the food chains for the aquatic life. In either theory, the death of fish and their food chain caused by AMD is impacting the billion dollar fishing industry that calls Chesapeake Bay home.
There is no doubt that pollution is a big problem throughout the United States, but it is also becoming an even bigger problem in the Tampa Bay waters. Due to the fact that Tampa Bay is the largest open bay estuary in Florida allowing excess pollution to enter the waters. Tampa Bay receives runoff from four different bodies of water, which can lead to many problems. Causing foreign materials in the water harming the sea creatures. There are simple solutions to help stop the pollution in our waters and they start in our own backyard. Options such as limiting the amount of water bottles that are used and materials that are not disposed of properly. We all have a huge impact on our waters and need to take care of them, for our own health and for the health of the animals as well.
Do you know that people are polluting oceans in so many ways, and what we are doing about it. First, my evidence shows that two billion people within thirty miles of the coast create 100 million metric tons of coastal plastic waste (Doc.1). In my own words, this evidence show that all this pollution is really harmful to ocean creatures and us. More evidence is that the North Pacific Gyre has collected lots of these pollutants, so it is nicknamed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (O.I.). This shows how we are polluting the oceans. My next evidence shows that a Beach Act was passed in 2000 saying the EPA or the Environmental Protection Agency will help states test and monitor coastal water pollution to protect swimmers (Doc.2). This evidence
The data gathered by volunteers is meant to inform the management, enforcement, and science of California's marine protected areas (MPAs). By involving local communities in this important work, MPA Watch programs inspire and empower stewardship, and educate citizens about California's ocean ecosystems. (“mpawatch.org” n.d.)
San Francisco is a treasure of the Bay Area and heart of our landscape, communities, and economy. However, San Francisco Bay’s health is threatened by various human activities that could harm the fresh water availability, the California drought issue, and sea level rise. Furthermore, clean water laws aren’t enforced, so that pollution continues unchecked. Water pollution has been an increasing problem over the last few years. As time passes, technology advances and the growth of human population has made so many changes to our earth. If we do not utilize our natural resources properly, we will have a serious problem, especially with water resource. San Francisco is known for the gold mining which until now most people called the miners with