Most people have happy childhood memories about the ocean! Swimming at the beach, making sand castles with family, a fun filled day out on a boat, or even a long day out fishing could be some happy memories for most people. Sadly, people may lose the chance to do the many fun and exciting things on the worlds beaches and in the oceans. There are things human beings are doing that are causing harm to the beaches and oceans. The fertilizer currently being used on plants and the amount of it being dumped the oceans are two of the things that are causing problems in the world’s oceans. Fertilizers may be good for the plants to grow, but it is also killing fish and causing overgrowth of algae in the oceans and other bodies of water.(“The Damaging”). The algae problem is starting to damage the oceans and its inhabitants, as well as causing economic problems for cities along the coastlines.There are many solutions that can be done to help this problem such as managing how and when fertilizer is used and what kind of fertilizer is used. The algae problem is curable, however more action is needed!
The definition of algae, according to Dictionary.com, is “algae is any one of numerous groups of chlorophyll-containing, mainly aquatic, eukaryotic, organisms ranging from microscopic single-celled forms to multicellular forms 100 feet (30 meters) or more long. Algae is distinguished from plants by the absence of true roots, stems, or leaves, and by a lack of non-reproductive cells in the reproductive structures.” In much simpler words, algae is the slimy green plant that grows in water. It is a non- flowering plant that has no stems, roots, or leaves. Algae is the plural form of the word alga, which in Latin means ‘seaweed.'(Harcourt) Algae is not just something green floating on the water, it has a great purpose. It is extremely important in aquatic habitats. Organisms that live suspended in algae are the food base for most marine animals. Conversely, algae can also be harmful. The saying “everything is good in moderation”, applies to algae as well. Research shows, when there is too much algae it dies, decomposes, and uses up a lot of oxygen in the water. This causes there to be less needed oxygen for the animals living in the water which leads to so many more problems. The cause of the over-growth of algae is the fertilizer used for plants on land. Industries and people are not being careful about letting the fertilizers get into the ocean.(Laux) Just as the fertilizer helps plants grow on land, it also helps the algae grow in the water. To many, this may not seem like a big deal, “what is a little more algae?”one might say, but it is quite a big deal in the oceans and is becoming a larger global problem.
One characteristic of algae is that it grows in blooms. According to Webster’s dictionary an “algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems and is recognized by the discoloration in the water from their pigments.”An algae bloom is very hard to predict and can happen almost overnight. Scientists have discovered that one of the biggest causes of algae blooms is the fertilizer used on plants. It gets into the waters through surface water runoff or during rain and by dissolving into the soil by leaching. The fertilizer gets into the waters and causes the algae to bloom faster. This can be stopped by carefully managing the use of fertilizer. It is best to avoid fertilizer altogether if its being used close to a water source. However, if it must by used, use a phosphorus-free product, and reduce run-off by applying it when there is no rain in the forecast. When it rains or when sprinklers are used it can cause a little bit of fertilizer to run into the water and cause an increase in algae blooms. It seems rather simple, but most people are not following these precautions. It could possibly be as easy as keeping it all away from open waters or even figure it out how to make it, so the fertilizer does not affect the oceans, but works only the plants it is made for.(Laux) According to some Farmers, “there is nothing they can do. They say “can not change what is happing and it is just how it will be “. This is not true. There is very much that can be done, and there are organizations that are working to make the problem known and trying to make changes mandatory in Florida and the rest of the United States and the rest of the world.
Touching the fertilizer may cause skin irritation and ingesting it may be poisonous. Nitrates are the ingredients that cause the poisoning. Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but it can be very dangerous when present at high levels in humans. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are the rapid growth of algae that can cause harm to animals and people. A HAB can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of water and can be different colors. HABs can produce toxins that have caused a variety of illnesses in people and animals. HABs can occur in warm fresh, salt, or brackish waters with too many nutrients and are becoming more frequent with climate change and things like over fertilization. One place where HABs are affecting normal people’s lives the shores of Southwest Florida. The washing up dead sea animals are making it difficult for beachgoers to breathe. Recently a new type of bloom has appeared, turning the water a deep murky brown in addition to the bright green that is well known due to the media coverage. Discolored water has been reported at multiple locations, including Barefoot Beach, Seagate Beach and the Naples Pier. Beachgoers on social media also reported a similar discoloration at Bonita Beach. Florida Gulf Coast University marine sciences professor Michael Parsons said the diatom can grow ‘a lot faster’ than the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, also said offshore winds could start to break up the bloom.’The winds are coming out of the east-northeast, which should move the bloom offshore, so that will help,’.
