The acidification of oceans will have drastic environmental consequences, speakers told a UN conference last week.
Over 3,500 people representing countries, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations attended the conference on sustainable development.
Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana said that effective regulations to safeguard the world’s oceans are being blocked by “those who are profiting most from marine resources, and who are intent on maintaining or increasing their advantages to the detriment of the poorer peoples and countries”.
He also raised concern about the destruction of eco-systems, which would have “serious consequences for all of us”.
Certain human activities were cited as the main cause of ocean pollution including over-fishing and pollution from oil, sewage, fertiliser, detergent, plastic and marine debris.