Experts: Plastic pollution likely to make Bay of Bengal unusable in 50 years
Experts call for including awareness on saving oceans in school curriculum
Plastic pollution Bigstock
Abdul Aziz, Cox’s Bazar
Publish : 13 Jan 2022, 02:45 PMUpdate : 13 Jan 2022, 02:45 PM
Plastic pollution is likely to make the Bay of Bengal, a source of livelihood for a large number of the population, unusable in the next 30 to 50 years, say experts.
The oceans can be saved if awareness can be created, they said during a seminar on ocean literacy.
The Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) organized the discussion titled “A Strategy to raise the Ocean Awareness for the Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable use of our Ocean” on Wednesday.
Currently there is nothing about oceans in the curriculums from the first grade to the 10th grade in schools, speakers said.
They added that not only do some refuse to acknowledge the pollution, the ignorance has become a barrier towards sustainable and productive use of the water resource.
Expressing concern over the increase in harmful bacteria in the waters of Bay of Bengal, experts suggested an effective plan of action to save the oceans.
“Tortoises have stopped coming to the shore at Cox’s Bazar beach due to the environment pollution,” said marine scientist Abdul Qayuum.
Meanwhile, Chittagong University Department of Oceanography Professor Dr Wahidul Alam fears that microbial pollution may endanger the tourism industry as well, given that Cox’s Bazar is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.
Globally, plastic is one of the most dangerous pollutants for seas and oceans. It directly affects the ecology and biodiversity of the oceans because of its non-biodegradable nature.
Plastic lasts up to 1,000 years, and accounts for nearly 90% of the debris in the oceans around the world. It also kills up to one million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year.
According to a 2018 report by South Asian Seas Program (SASP), marine litter or debris, which include plastic wastes, is a fundamental problem due to its harmful effect on the environment, wildlife and human health in the Bay of Bengal.
In a survey for the report, the researchers found that a total of 6,705 pieces of waste products were found on a 18.5km stretch of the four sea beaches – Laboni and Inani in Cox’s Bazar, and Ananda Bazar and Patenga in Chittagong. Among the litter, 63% were found to be plastic..
Plastic bags were found to be the most common type of litter: at least 2,182 pieces of plastic bags were found on the beaches. The survey also found 589 pieces of insulation and packaging foam, 470 pieces of cigarette butts and filters, and 300 bottles.
Moreover, most of the industries in Bangladesh are situated near the major river systems such as the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag, Karnaphuli, Rupsa, and Meghna. All of their untreated waste ends up in the Bay of Bengal further increasing pollution.
Experts: Plastic pollution likely to make Bay of Bengal unusable in 50 years
Experts call for including awareness on saving oceans in school curriculum
Plastic pollution is likely to make the Bay of Bengal, a source of livelihood for a large number of the population, unusable in the next 30 to 50 years, say experts.
The oceans can be saved if awareness can be created, they said during a seminar on ocean literacy.
The Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) organized the discussion titled “A Strategy to raise the Ocean Awareness for the Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable use of our Ocean” on Wednesday.
Currently there is nothing about oceans in the curriculums from the first grade to the 10th grade in schools, speakers said.
They added that not only do some refuse to acknowledge the pollution, the ignorance has become a barrier towards sustainable and productive use of the water resource.
Expressing concern over the increase in harmful bacteria in the waters of Bay of Bengal, experts suggested an effective plan of action to save the oceans.
“Tortoises have stopped coming to the shore at Cox’s Bazar beach due to the environment pollution,” said marine scientist Abdul Qayuum.
Meanwhile, Chittagong University Department of Oceanography Professor Dr Wahidul Alam fears that microbial pollution may endanger the tourism industry as well, given that Cox’s Bazar is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.
Globally, plastic is one of the most dangerous pollutants for seas and oceans. It directly affects the ecology and biodiversity of the oceans because of its non-biodegradable nature.
Plastic lasts up to 1,000 years, and accounts for nearly 90% of the debris in the oceans around the world. It also kills up to one million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year.
According to a 2018 report by South Asian Seas Program (SASP), marine litter or debris, which include plastic wastes, is a fundamental problem due to its harmful effect on the environment, wildlife and human health in the Bay of Bengal.
In a survey for the report, the researchers found that a total of 6,705 pieces of waste products were found on a 18.5km stretch of the four sea beaches – Laboni and Inani in Cox’s Bazar, and Ananda Bazar and Patenga in Chittagong. Among the litter, 63% were found to be plastic..
Plastic bags were found to be the most common type of litter: at least 2,182 pieces of plastic bags were found on the beaches. The survey also found 589 pieces of insulation and packaging foam, 470 pieces of cigarette butts and filters, and 300 bottles.
Moreover, most of the industries in Bangladesh are situated near the major river systems such as the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag, Karnaphuli, Rupsa, and Meghna. All of their untreated waste ends up in the Bay of Bengal further increasing pollution.