Human populations not only pollute their freshwater (resources, lakes, and stream), but their activities also affect ocean resources. Almost half of the human population of the United States lives along the coast. Pollution from cities and towns can contaminate the near-shore ocean environments.

For centuries, human populations have been throwing their trash and pollution into the world's oceans. This greatly influences the health of animal and plant life, and the entire ecosystems in which they live. The video on the next page describes the common forms of ocean pollution, their causes, effects, and potential solutions.