II. ACTIVITIES THAT GENERATE MARINE POLLUTION 
Man utilizes the oceans and ocean resources in numerous ways. 
Many of man’s activities either directly or indirectly contribute to 
marine pollution. Among the activities that generate pollution are the 
following: shipping and commerce, waste heat disposal, ocean dump- 
ing, industrial and municipal effluent discharge, energy development, 
fuel combustion and industrial processing, military uses, dredging, 
and deep seabed mining. 
Shipping and Commerce 
Pollution derived from shipping and commerce can be either acci- 
dental or deliberate. Accidental pollution arises from disasters such 
as the breaking up of a tanker or spillage from loading facilities. 
Deliberate pollution is generated when a vessel intentionally dis- 
charges oil from its tanks or bilge into the ocean. 
Waste Heat Disposal 
Disposal of waste heat is primarily a coastal problem arising from 
the use of inland and coastal waters as coolants in electric-power 
generation facilities. The return of heated water to bays and estuaries 
has produced ecological changes in the local coastal environment. The 
full effects of these changes are still being evaluated to determine 
whether positive benefits outweight the negative effects. 
Ocean Dumping 
Ocean dumping is still practiced although some countries such as 
the United States have taken strong steps to control dumping in their 
own territories or by their citizens. Dumping includes mainly barging 
wastes out to sea, but disposal from long offshore pipes can also be 
included in this category. These activities in the past have accounted 
for the emplacement on the ocean floor of severely toxic and radio- 
active materials in sealed containers in addition to a wide variety of 
uncontained wastes of a less hazardous nature. 
Industrial and Municipal Waste Discharge 
Discharge of industrial and municipal waste effiuent into streams 
and estuaries also affects the quality of the coastal! marine environ- 
ment. These activities release mainly heavy metals, organic material, 
and nutrients causing eutrophication and pollution of many important. 
seafood producing areas. Bays and estuaries are the most severely 
affected bodies although many ocean fish have been contaminated by 
this discharge. Curtailment of some ocean fisheries and seafood indus 
tries has already resulted. 
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