Biological Implications of Global Marine Pollution

Abstract

The sea is discussed as an excellent source of animal protein, the lack of which contributes to malnutrition of large numbers of the human population. Although the sea produces large amounts of vegetable material, its harvest is unrealistic because it is so sparsely distributed. Consequently, the land must continue to produce the energy rich plant materials in the human diet. Pollution has already limited our harvest of seafood in estuaries, and the remaining areas, suitable for marine life, must be protected from additional pollution if we are to maintain and increase our harvest of protein from the sea. The potential supply, and its limitation, are briefly discussed and it is suggested that development of modern aquaculture would be desirable, in addition to the search for and exploitation of additional natural populations.