Marine Life and Ecosystem Resilience as Oceans and Seas Get Increasingly Polluted

Oceans and seas harbor ecosystems that are dependent upon a sustainable exploitation of aquatic natural resources, and interactions with people. A balanced exploitation of the resources promotes resilience of the ecosystems. However, the sustainable development of the ecosystems is under threat from factors such as marine pollution, climate change, and habitat degradation. It is the main objective of this study to explore marine pollution as a threat to marine life and ecosystem resilience, and how local and international stakeholders are promoting such resilience against the threat. In this context, the chapter focuses on marine pollution through a global lens. Therefore, a literature review methodology was used to come up with emergent issues concerning marine pollution, and thus a thematic approach was employed to explore various measures that are being implemented by various stakeholders to combat marine pollution, and simultaneously foster ecosystem resilience in both local and high seas and oceans. The study confirmed that marine pollution is a threat to both aquatic flora and fauna, and to the welfare of people. Furthermore, the main drivers of such pollution were noted to be the following: societal behaviors; equity and access to technologies; and governance and policy. Conversely, actions that promote ecosystem resilience in marine life may be grouped according to where they may make a greater impact along the pollution spectrum, and the following three focal points of intervention were noted: at the source of pollution; along the way; and at the sink, implying the area where the pollution enters the sea. Nonetheless, to combat marine pollution at the global level, the Global North and South must actively collaborate toward the common goal of reducing marine pollution.