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Wasting oil is nothing new for the environmentalists. The marine ecosystem is deteriorating at an alarming pace because of oil overuse. Did you know that oil causes more harm to marine life than the 6 billion kilograms of waste that are dumped into the ocean every year? 

More than 2,600 million liters of oil or oil waste enter the ocean every year, and the damage is immeasurable. 

There are many reasons for oil being wasted, such as accidental spills and leaks from oil tankers. In most cases, spills are the result of chronic and careless practices in the use of crude oil and oil products. However, oil spill is not the major cause of oil waste. 

Land drainage is the origin of most of the oil that is found directly in the ocean.

Have you ever tried to imagine the impact that wasted oil has on marine life? Find out more about how oil waste affects both marine life and life on land.

How serious is the impact of oil waste on marine life?  

There is no doubt that oil waste has negative impacts on habitat, wildlife and weather events, as well as seasonal or climate conditions. In addition, some oils evaporate directly into the atmosphere or dissolve in seawater. However, this has much greater long-term impacts. The following can already be seen today.

1. Oil smothers all marine life and disrupts the thermal insulation of marine animals and plants. 

2. Furthermore, oil ruins the insulating capacity of birds and fur-bearing mammals, leading to their inability to repel water and insulate cold water. Birds and mammals subsequently die of hypothermia.

3. Fish and shellfish that are not immediately exposed to the oil will still eventually be exposed. Ingesting oil is poisonous to them. The exposure of adult fish to oil can reduce their growth, enlarge their livers, cause change in their heart rhythm and respiration, fin erosion or impaired reproduction.

What the future holds

According to the University of Florida, marine animals that are exposed to oil waste show physiological and behavioral changes and are forced to adapt their foraging patterns and times.

Commercial fishing businesses are also affected, as populations of high-quality, edible seafood and ecosystems are shrinking.

There is a high probability that oil residues will also be found on the shores of the seas and oceans. The future of this scenario depends on several factors, such as the composition and characteristics of the surface that the oil will reach, the amount of oil that will be found on the shore and the origin of the sediments and rocks that will be exposed.

These impacts will cause changes in the entire ecosystem. Scientists estimate that by 2048 many ocean areas of the world will be fishless. What are your predictions?