Pollutants such as oil and fuel debris were found in the ocean after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew. These can smother sponges and bury bottom dwellers like lobsters in slime. Each life lost in the ocean affects the delicate ecosystem balance.
Debris like fishing line that is swept into the ocean can entangle sea turtles and manatees. Over time, the line can tighten, cutting into the animal's skin. Metal from homes, businesses and boats promote algae blooms that thrive on iron, creating an imbalance in the ecosystem.
Many fish can become disoriented and die during a hurricane if they do not swim further under the water. Massive fish kills like those after Hurricane Andrew can occur because of depleted dissolved oxygen levels in the water. This also endangers the lives of other animals by lowering the ability for plants to grow. Coral reefs can be greatly harmed by storms, which in turn harms the animals that rely on the coral reef to survive.
Turtles make an annual swim to certain beaches to lay their eggs. However, according to the National Science Teachers Association, if the beaches and water near the shore are too polluted, researchers believe the turtles will no longer nest there.