Marine pollution
![While marine pollution can be obvious, as with the marine debris shown above, it is often the pollutants that cannot be seen that cause most harm.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Obvious_water_pollution5500.jpeg")
![Parties to the MARPOL 73/78 convention on marine pollution](/Images/godic/202502/09/MARPOL_73-78_signatories5500.png")
![Septic river.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Nrborderborderentrythreecolorsmay05-1-5500.JPG")
![Acid mine drainage in the Rio Tinto River.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Rio_tinto_river_CarolStoker_NASA_Ames_Research_Center5500.jpg")
Marine pollution occurs when harmful, or potentially harmful, effects result from the entry into the ocean of chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms. Eighty percent of marine pollution comes from land. Air pollution is also a contributing factor by carrying off pesticides or dirt into the ocean. Land and air pollution have proven to be harmful to marine life and its habitats.