Ocean pollution is escalating through a range of contaminants—from oil spills and nutrient overloads to heavy metals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals—endangering marine life and human health. Excess of nutrients foster algal blooms that create “dead zones,” depleting oxygen and killing marine organisms. Heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium accumulate in fish and shellfish, risking neurological and developmental harm in people who consume them. Plastics break down into micro- and nanoplastics, carrying toxic chemicals that enter food webs. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical residues and novel substances further threaten marine species. The resulting collapse of ecosystems jeopardizes food security, livelihoods, and global health, highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated pollution management.