The extent of ocean pollution in Visakhapatnam is very high due to oil spillage by ships and the failure of proper mechanism by the regulatory agencies to check it, a study conducted by Asian Marine Conservation Association (AMCA) has revealed.
Research done by AMCA for over six years confirmed interesting information on water characteristics from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam.
Amongst these, it has been revealed that an average total chlorophyll content (which is directly responsible for releasing oxygen) from the surface water to its contiguous upper atmosphere through air-sea interfacial zone of the surface water from Sagarnagar area is 18.7 microgram per litre and RK Beach area (35.2 microgram per litre).
“These are the overall average data considering three different seasons of the year,” says AMCA secretary-general and chief scientist Anupam Ghosh. The study has noticed that the surface water samples collected from Dolphin Hill area has drastically lower values (5.38 microgram per litre) of total chlorophyll content.
This is also evident from the higher petroleum hydrocarbons recorded in the seawater of Dolphin Hill area (556.8 microgram per litre) compared to that of Sagarnagar (83.7 microgram per litre). This lower total chlorophyll content is attributed to the increase in the trend of hydrocarbons at the Dolphin Hill area which might have been caused due to the shipping activities in the harbour.
Dr. Ghosh told reporters that unless this trend was controlled or restricted, there would be considerable damage in the total climatic conditions of Greater Visakhapatnam resulting in loss of fish and other aqua-cultural products and also of agricultural production.
Temperature changes
He said in the oceans, climate change would induce temperature changes and associated adjustments in ocean circulation and sea level.
These changes would affect marine and the climate system.
Dr. Ghosh said that they had volunteered to conduct training programmes to mid-management officials of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust , Navy, Coast Guard, and other agencies on how to protect the ocean from hydrocarbons.
D. Satyanarrayana, former director, School of Chemistry, Andhra University, and P. Appa Rao, Professor of Microbiology, Osmania Medical College, were present.
