Fishing is one of, if not the most, polluter industry of the ocean. It is a paradox. The fishing industry depends upon a healthy sea to economically survice but at the same time it is causing the oceans' death. Even the small scale fishing industry uses methods that are very damaging. The cages to catch the octopus, the lobsters and the crabs are tied up with ropes and left afloat offshore. All these are made of plastics which degrade in the sea and decompose in smaller particules or are destroyed and washed away to the beach after energetic storms. This summer I have been surrounded by small particules of plastic, mainly remains of fishing ropes, while swimming. These are so small that is impossible to collect them all and because they are so small it is incredibly easy for these to enter our food chain - with which consequences for our health, we still do not fully understand but there is a high likelihood these are bad, especially affecting negatively our fertility. Plastics are already taking its toll on marine life. In two weeks two dolphins were found dead on the beach. Even though I have not seen their stomach I have previously seen a dolphin killed by plastics in this beach. The sea is a "common" which benefits us and it is essential for us all but we are destroying putting at risk current and future generations. The ocean is also fundamental for the planet's climate regulation and for climate change mitigation, but also this we are ignoring.
