聯合國於16日發出警訊，指東亞快速成長的經濟與人口，對於此區域的海洋生態系統造成與日俱增的壓力。一項新的研究結果發現，亞洲地區高達90%的污水未經過處理即排放至海水中，威脅到魚類、紅樹林、珊瑚礁以及沿岸的溼地等。
此報告是在北京舉行減少海洋污染的國際會議中提出。這個會議於16日召開，為時五天，是為聯合國環境規劃署的保護海洋環境全球行動計畫（UNEP/GPA）的回顧。來自115國的代表參加這項國際政府間的10年回顧會議。由於有相當大比例的海洋污染是來自島嶼地區的河川和其他淡水污染源，因此，此次會議希望能夠達成具體承諾，促成對淡水（如河川及湖泊）更直接的管理，以減少沿岸的污染。
全世界許多地方都有相似的海洋污染問題，亞洲並不是唯一的地區，「但亞洲地區是全球社群的縮影──顯示了全球各地在經濟發展、消除貧窮與社會、經濟因子之間求取平衡時，所面臨的挑戰與機會。」UNEP/GPA協調人凡得瓦（Veerle Vandeweerd）如此表示。
凡得瓦說：「儘管國際間已有協議，但我們仍不斷地把未處理過的廢水排放至海洋。」。廢水的處理程度在亞洲差異極大，從日本的60%，印度孟買的15%到巴基斯坦喀拉蚩的6%都有。凡得瓦補充說，來自諸多沿岸大型工廠的廢水排放也對海洋造成極大的威脅，而這在南亞是「極普遍」的現象。
傳統土地利用方式的轉變，正在亞洲各地上演。人們為了追求經濟持續成長而增加肥料的使用，而這些肥料養分則隨著廢水與動物排泄物一起排放，造成沿岸水域的營養物含量愈來愈高。例如2001年就發生了近80起紅潮，影響了15,000平方公里的沿岸水域。
聯合國環境規劃署指出，在南亞和東亞，全球三分之二的沈積物被送入海洋；而森林砍伐更加重土壤侵蝕，並使更多沈積物排放至水道中。
凡得瓦表示，會議也希望促成政府、民間社團、地方政府、私人企業及其他非政府組織間的更多合作和聯盟。
編按：紅潮（red tide)係指海中藻類與微生物異常急速繁殖，造成海水變色，或稱赤潮、藻華。
The fasting growing economies and populations of East Asia are putting the region's marine ecosystem under increasing stress, the United Nations warned Monday. A new study finds 90 percent of Asia's sewage is discharged into the marine environment waters without treatment, threatening fisheries, mangrove forests, coral reefs and coastal wetlands.
The report comes amid an international conference in Beijing aimed at reducing marine pollution. The conference, which began Monday and extends through Friday, is reviewing the UN Environment Program's (UNEP) global program of action (GPA) for protection of the marine environment. Delegates from 115 countries are attending the intergovernmental review of the 10 year-old initiative.
Organizers are hoping the meeting will result in commitments to more directly link management of freshwaters, including rivers and lakes, with efforts to minimize coastal-based pollution in recognition that a substantial portion of marine contamination comes from inland areas via rivers and other freshwater sources.
Asia is by no means alone - much of the world faces similar problems with marine pollution. But the "Asian region crystallizes the challenges and opportunities facing the global community trying to balance economic development and poverty eradication with social and environmental factors," said Veerle Vandeweerd, co-coordinator of UNEP/GPA.
"Despite international agreements, we keep pumping raw sewage into the sea," Vandeweerd said. Sewage treatment access across Asia varies widely - from roughly 60 per cent of Japan's population to 15 per cent in Mumbai, India, to about 6 per cent in Karachi, Pakistan.
Discharges from many big industrial plants situated along the coast is also a threat and is a "common feature" in much of South Asia, Vandeweerd added.
Traditional land use patterns are changing across Asia as result of continued economic growth leading to increased use of fertilizers, which along with sources like sewage and animal wastes, are increasing nutrient loads in coastal waters. In 2001, close to 80 red tide events occurred affecting 15,000 square kilometers of coastal waters.
Two thirds of the world's total sediment transport to the oceans occurs in South and East Asia, UNEP said, and deforestation is adding to soil erosion and sediment loads in waterways.
Vandeweerd said the conference organizers are also hoping for commitments towards greater cooperation and alliances between governments and civil society, local authorities, private business and other non-governmental organizations.
