Karnataka - Mangalore   

`65 per cent of sharks have disappeared due to pollution'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, AUG. 25. If the services rendered by oceans to human beings can be valued in terms of money, then $21,500 billion worth of services is what we get from the oceans, N.A. Madhyastha, environmentalist and former principal of Purnaprajna College, Udupi, has said.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of World Environment Day held at the Lions Seva Mandir here.

Keeping with the theme of this year's environment day focus, "Wanted: Oceans - Alive or Dead," Mr. Madhyastha stressed the need to protect oceans from all kinds of pollution. Air, land and water contamination were adding to the oceans getting polluted and the various species found in the oceans were also being affected, he said.

"Around 65 per cent of the sharks in the world have disappeared and the species is now endangered. Most sharks have been found dead with plastic and other dangerous material in their systems. Sharks play the role of scavengers in the ocean world, they act as cleaning agents and they are indeed very precious," he said.

On the different causes for ocean pollution, he said that the diminishing ozone layer, increasing dumping of garbage and plastic materials and oil spills from ships were some of the reasons.

The Technical Officer of the Indian Coast Guard, Dist. Headquarters 3, Mangalore, K.G. Dua, explained the role of the Coast Guard in containing marine pollution.

He described the action plan of the Coast Guard in the event of an oil spill in the ocean. He said that the Coast Guard would take up cleaning of beaches on the coasts of Bhatkal, Murdeshwar and surrounding areas on Sept 18 and 19. The president of the Lions Seva Mandir, Yogish Kumar Jeppu, was also present.

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