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  • Biological And Hydrographical Consequences Of Pollution
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Biological consequences of marine pollution with special reference to the North Sea fisheries

Biologische Konsequenzen der Meerwasserverschmutzung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Nordseefischerei

Helgoländer wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen volume 17, pages 126–140 (1968)Cite this article

Kurzfassung

Obwohl das Gesamtvolumen der Ozeane erheblich größer ist als der Süßwasservorrat der Welt, so kann doch das hemmungslose Einbringen von Haus- und Industrieabwässern in das Meer zu schädlichen Folgen für den Bestand der Meeresflora und -fauna führen. Besonders anfällig sind die Küstengewässer, da diese oft die Ernährungsgrundlage für viele Nutzfische bieten und zudem dort Austern und Miesmuscheln gezüchtet werden. Aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen erfolgt andererseits das Verklappen von Abfall und Unrat vorzugsweise dicht unter der Küste. Schädliche Wirkungen können erfolgen durch Bakterien- und Virusinfektionen, durch biologische Akkumulation von Schwermetallen und von Schädlingsbekämpfungsmitteln (unter ihnen besonders chlorhaltige Kohlenwasserstoffe), durch petrochemische Produkte, wodurch übler Geschmack bei Fischen und Muscheln hervorgerufen wird, und durch eine allgemeine Eutrophierung, die zu einer Vermehrung von unerwünschtem Plankton führen kann.

Summary

1. A case of copper pollution on the Dutch coast is used to demonstrate that waste disposal in inshore waters can easily lead to damage to the living resources of the sea, since dilution is under such conditions a much slower process than is usually assumed.

2. Pollution by domestic sewage, its direct hazards for human health, and its contaminating effect on shellfish, is discussed. Next to these direct and indirect health hazards, discharge of domestic waste may lead to eutrophication, which in its turn can contribute to the development of plankton blooms producing truly poisonous metabolites. Some examples of eutrophication of the marine environment are given.

3. Of the industrial waste, examples are given which clearly demonstrate how dangerous discharge of heavy metals and pesticides can be, also in the marine environment. Possible effects of petrochemical waste products and of synthetic detergents and soaps are discussed.

4. Radio-active waste disposal in sea is more carefully studied and monitored than disposal of other types of waste.

5. The increasing quantity and variety of industrial waste is a reason for serious concern. Careful discrimination between the many products is advocated and discharge far offshore is advised for certain categories of pollutants. Pesticides and other very dangerous products should never be admitted in the shallow sea areas, so important as nursery grounds for the fishery resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Institute for Fishery Investigations, I Jmuiden, Netherlands

    Pieter Korringa

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Korringa, P. Biological consequences of marine pollution with special reference to the North Sea fisheries. Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 17, 126–140 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01611217

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Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

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