PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO REDUCE ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON WATERS OF THE WORLD OCEAN

Abstract

The article touches upon the current problems of pollution of the oceans. The significant role of the ecosystem, fauna and flora of the World Ocean in the formation of climate on the planet are noted. The oceans, as a powerful regulator of climate and weather, plays an extremely important role in the development of life on Earth, controls oxygen balance, provides food, biological and mineral resources, etc. One of the global tasks that humanity needs to solve is the reduction (prevention) of negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Especially detrimental to the ecology of the oceans are drilling works, production and transportation of liquid hydrocarbons by tankers, because in the process of work there takes place the water surface pollution producing a thin oil film. With sewage waters from the industrial enterprises a huge amount of toxic heavy metal compounds enter the World Ocean. The source of pollution is the ballast water from vessels, which serve to ensure the balance and stability of the vessels. At present, man has already faced such problems as the greenhouse effect, warming trend on Earth, melting of ice at the North Pole and South Pole, rising sea levels above 3 m, reducing biological productivity of the World Ocean, etc. The invasion of alien organisms, including pathogenic ones for the ecosystem and humans, is considered in detail. The standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for ballast discharged water have been given. Existing methods of ballast water treatment are described in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention on control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments 2004. The possible ways of combating pollution of ocean waters are proposed as an important element for protection of the ecosystem of the World Ocean.