Special Issue

Major Environmental Problems in Oceans

Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026 (Open) Submit Now

Guest Editor

Bijan Dargahi, PhD

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, Division of Resources, Energy, and Infrastructure. Stockholm, Sweden

Website | E-Mail

Research Interests: Hydraulic Engineering; Physical Oceanography; River Engineering; Sediment transport; Turbulent boundary layers

About This Topic

The topic centres on the various environmental challenges that oceans encounter, which endanger marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the health of humans. The problems covered are:

1. Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution is one of the most pressing issues affecting marine environments. It encompasses both chemical contamination and physical debris, with billions of pounds of trash entering the oceans annually. The primary sources include:

• Plastic Waste: Approximately 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, contributing to what is often referred to as “plastic soup.” This plastic can harm marine life through ingestion or entanglement.
• Chemical Contaminants: Pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides accumulate in marine organisms, posing risks to both wildlife and humans who consume seafood.
• Nutrient Pollution: Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff lead to harmful algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels in water and create dead zones where marine life cannot survive.

2. Overfishing

• Overfishing poses a significant threat to ocean ecosystems by depleting fish stocks faster than they can replenish. This not only affects the targeted species but also disrupts entire food webs, leading to declines in biodiversity. Approximately 30% of commercially fished waters are classified as overfished, which threatens food security for billions who rely on fish as a primary protein source.

3. Climate Change

Climate change has profound effects on ocean health, primarily through:

• Rising Sea Temperatures: Increased temperatures lead to coral bleaching and loss of biodiversity. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable; projections suggest that up to 90% could be lost by 2050 if current trends continue.
• Ocean Acidification: The absorption of excess carbon dioxide by oceans leads to acidification, which adversely affects calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish. This process disrupts marine ecosystems and diminishes their ability to provide essential services.

4. Habitat Destruction

Human activities such as coastal development, bottom trawling, and pollution contribute significantly to habitat destruction, particularly in sensitive areas like mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs. These habitats are crucial for many marine species’ life cycles and serve as important buffers against storm surges and erosion.

5. Marine Biodiversity Loss

The combination of pollution, overfishing, climate change, and habitat destruction leads to significant biodiversity loss in ocean ecosystems. It is estimated that more than half of all marine species could face extinction by the end of this century if current trends continue9. This loss not only impacts ecological balance but also undermines fisheries and tourism industries that depend on healthy marine environments.

Keywords

• Chemical Contaminants
• Habitat Destruction
• Nutrient Pollution
• Plastic Waste
• Rising Sea Temperatures
• Ocean Acidification

Manuscript general requirements

Original research contributions on all the aforementioned subjects are encouraged, provided they enhance the understanding of these topics. The primary selection criteria include originality, impact on the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, examination of existing physical processes, and an interdisciplinary perspective.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted through the LIDSEN Submission System. Detailed information on manuscript preparation and submission is available in the Instructions for Authors. All submitted articles will be thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process and will be processed following the Editorial Process and Quality Control policy. Upon acceptance, the article will be immediately published in a regular issue of the journal and will be listed together on the special issue website, with a label that the article belongs to the Special Issue. LIDSEN distributes articles under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License in an open-access model. The authors own the copyright to the article, and the article can be free to access, distribute, and reuse provided that the original work is correctly cited.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). Research articles and review articles are highly invited. Authors are encouraged to send the tentative title and abstract of the planned paper to the Editorial Office (aeer@lidsen.com) for record. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Office.

Welcome your submission!