Effects of Shipwrecks On the Marine Environment
By: Hannah Krause
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Shipwrecks
Shipwrecks
In the commercial world, shipwrecks are almost unavoidable. For years, we have studied shipwrecks and monitored impacts that they have had on the marine environment. We have seen studies on everything from negative impacts to potential positive impacts of the shipwrecks.
Shipwrecks can have both a negative and positive impact on the environment.
Shipwrecks can have both a negative and positive impact on the environment.
Since this was something I already knew, my original question was, what are the negative and positive impacts of shipwrecks on the marine environment?
Since this was something I already knew, my original question was, what are the negative and positive impacts of shipwrecks on the marine environment?
Negative Impacts
Negative Impacts
Pollution (metal, oil, gunpowder)
"Bridge" for invasive species
Positive Impacts
Positive Impacts
Artificial Reefs
Protect Endangered Species
Higher Diversity
Shipwrecks have been found to make great artificial reefs, but they have also been found to cause a lot of pollution.
Shipwrecks have been found to make great artificial reefs, but they have also been found to cause a lot of pollution.
After reading more into both positive and negative impacts, I began to wonder, how is the health of the artificial reefs?
After reading more into both positive and negative impacts, I began to wonder, how is the health of the artificial reefs?
Artificial Reef Health
Artificial Reef Health
While artificial reefs sound great and really are a great thing, we need to make sure we monitor them and check for pollution and invasive species. These two factors could potentially cause more issues for the artificial reef. Removal of wrecks have been found to leave pollution behind, but removal of the wreck may be in the best interest for the environment as a whole. Removing wrecks with invasive species is important, so then there is not a bridge for the species to travel further. Heavily polluted reefs are also important to remove, so the health of the environment is maintained.
Theoretical Framework
Theoretical Framework
For the theoretical framework, I worked in invasive species, because they can be just as devastating to an environment as pollution.
For the theoretical framework, I worked in invasive species, because they can be just as devastating to an environment as pollution.
Methods
Methods
Sample
Sample
Doing an initial sample of different species from the artificial reef can help us to determine the initial health of the reef. We need to check the pollution levels of the reef as well.
Monitor
Monitor
Continuing to monitor the health of the reef would be very important. Not only monitoring potential pollution levels, but monitoring for invasive and/or endangered species.
Protect
Protect
If the health of the artificial reefs are in good condition (no invasive species or heavy pollution), we can keep them as is. This way we can protect endangered species who decided to call the reef home.
Something important to remember is that shipwrecks are also historical objects. Environmentalists and historians need to work together to mitigate environmental issues while also doing their best to preserve the history.
Something important to remember is that shipwrecks are also historical objects. Environmentalists and historians need to work together to mitigate environmental issues while also doing their best to preserve the history.
References
References
Justyna Rogowska (2010, September 22). Impacts of pollution derived from ship wrecks on the marine environment on the basis of S/S “Stuttgart” (Polish coast, Europe). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969710007254
Edmund Maser (2022, October 8). Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 “John Mahn” from World https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722064233
Md. Nazrul Islam (2022, October 19). Effects of shipwrecks on spatiotemporal dynamics of metal/Loids in sediments and seafood safety in the Bay of Bengal. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122016669
Natali Pearson (2023, April 7). Saving two fish with one wreck: Maximizing Synergies in Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23001409
C.A. Sánchez-Caballero (2021, June 22). Can wrecks serve as exploitable surrogate habitats for degraded natural reefs? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113621001550
Soroor Peyghan (2023, March 22). Experimental result of a shipwreck influence on the surrounding soft sediment communities in the vicinity of Bushehr Port, Persian Gulf. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278434323000584
Bert W. Hoeksema (2023, February 1). In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma: Colonization of a 4-year-old shipwreck by native and non-native corals, including a new cryptogenic species for the Caribbean. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X23000802
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares (2020, July 8). Shipwrecks help invasive coral to expand range in the Atlantic Ocean. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X20305129
Veronica van der Schyff (2020, February 8). Impacts of a shallow shipwreck on a coral reef: A case study from St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius, Indian Ocean. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113619304866
Kuria Ndungu (2017, March 28). Petroleum Oil and mercury pollution from shipwrecks in Norwegian Coastal Waters. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717307349
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