The Earth is a planet with life in it which every life on it is incorporated into various ecosystems. The ecosystem on Earth consists of two; terrestrial ecosystems and water ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems which its ecosystems are residing on land, such as rain forests, seasonal forests, desert ecosystems, taiga forests, tundra ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, and savanna forests. Meanwhile, water ecosystems are ecosystems which habitat is in water, such as river ecosystems, lake ecosystems, swamps, coastal ecosystems, and coral reefs.
Every ecosystem has its own natural resources and each can be utilized by humans for the benefit of humans (Also read: 20 Sustainable Uses of Ocean Resources). Natural resources can be divided into land and sea natural resources. Mainland natural resources are natural resources on land. While marine resources are natural resources in the sea.
Potential of Marine Natural Resources
Marine natural resources are natural resources originating from the sea. The sea is one of the largest parts of the Earth. The sea is an area completely surrounded by water so that only a few ecosystems exist in the sea. Even so, the sea saves a lot of natural resources. Most natural resources in the sea are natural resources that can be improved. Improved natural resources are natural resources that can multiply and are abundant. That is why it can be used for a very long time for human needs. Meanwhile, natural resources that cannot be repaired are natural resources that require thousands of years in the process of formation. So, the number is very limited. Here are 10 marine natural resources.
1. Salt
Salt is one of the kitchen ingredients that is crucial for cooking. Salt contains iodine, which is very good at preventing cancer and eliminating acne. Salt comes from seawater that dries, leaving only granules of salt crystals. In the manufacturing process, it can be done traditionally, using solar and fire power. In a more modern way, it can be processed using a machine. Madura is an island in Indonesia that produces salt with good quality.
2. Fish
Fish are one of the living things in the sea. Fish is one source of protein for humans. Fish are classified as renewable resources, because they are able to breed. However, as a result of hunting that does not see aspects of the balance of ecosystems, many marine animals are threatened with extinction. One of them is flying fish, whose eggs are considered a luxury food with the name caviar. In addition, marine mammals such as whales are also threatened with extinction, due to careless hunting.
3. Plants
Even though the sea is an area with 100% water in it, the sea also has living plants that function as a place for fish to live. Not only as a place to fish, marine plants also have a lot of functions for humans. Marine plants such as seaweed have high fiber content which can help humans with digestive problems. Seaweed is also used as a raw material for making capsules for medicine.
4. Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are one of the marine plants. Coral reefs usually live in shallow marine waters. Some coral reefs are considered an indicator of sea hygiene. In addition, coral reefs can produce oxygen derived from photosynthesis. Every coral reef can be a home for fish. With the existence of coral reefs, the sea becomes beautiful and can attract tourists.
5. Phosphate
Phosphate is the bones of dead fish. The fish bone that contains phosphate can be used as organic fertilizer.
6. Waves
Not only living things that can be used as natural resources, the sea itself is a part of the Earth that every part of it can be used for the benefit of humans. One of them is waves. Waves are movements in the rise and fall of sea water, due to the presence of winds and differences in sea level. Waves can be used as a power plant. The use of wave power can help provide electricity supply in coastal areas that are difficult to get access to electricity.
7. Tide
Tides that most people already knew are changes in sea level due to the gravity of the moon. Meanwhile, the tides of the sea are utilized by fishermen to work where fishermen go to work when they are in high tide and go home at low tide. Adding to that, tides are also used as a tool to light a lighthouse on a cliff. The lighthouse can help determine the direction of the ship.
8. Pearls
Pearls are one of the sea products that have a fairly high economic value. Pearls come from a clam. Slams that are given solid food will wrap the objects with their saliva. And in the process, the object will turn into a pearl. Pearls are utilized by humans as part of jewelry. In addition, extracts from pearls are also believed to be able to whiten the skin. Pearl is considered as renewable natural resources of the sea, because humans can create their own pearls by cultivating shellfish.
9. Plankton
Some fish in the sea are not carnivorous animals. Some fish eat sea plants, like plankton. Plankton is one of the very small sea water plants. Plankton is commonly used as a mixture for ornamental fish food that is maintained by humans. Because of its very small size, plankton cannot be seen clearly by the human eye.
10. Offshore Oil
The carcasses of marine life that have been deposited for millions of years will become petroleum. This also happens to marine animals that have died for millions of years and are deposited in the layers of the Earth’s crust. Offshore petroleum is petroleum that is in the sea. Offshore petroleum in Indonesia is located in the Java Sea, southern China Sea, Sulawesi Sea, and Malacca Sea.
Those are 10 kinds of marine natural resources. Every marine resource is renewable and some are non-renewable. However, even though it can be renewed, marine resources also have limitations. If humans consume marine resources excessively, it will cause the disappearance of the marine resources. Therefore, it is important for humans to maintain environmental balance so that there are no more natural resources that are extinct.
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