Oceans cover 71% of the earth's surface and are home to essential organisms and habitats that we depend on for food, livelihoods, climate control, and other reasons. However, the oceans must be preserved. Saving the oceans can seem daunting at times, but we can make a significant difference if we all work together.
Here are some ideas for protecting and restoring our oceans for future generations.
Reduce the use of plastic products
Plastics that end up as ocean litter degrade habitat and entangle and destroy tens of thousands of marine species every year. Carry a reusable water bottle, store food in non-disposable containers, shop with your own cloth tote or other reusable bag, and recycle whenever possible to reduce your impact.
Plastics that end up as ocean litter degrade habitat and entangle and destroy tens of thousands of marine species every year. Plastics pose a significant and increasing threat to the oceans. Every year, an estimated 17.6 billion pounds of plastic spills into the ocean from land-based sources, which is approximately equal to pouring a garbage truck full of plastic into our oceans every minute. Plastics, on the other hand, never go away.
Carry a reusable water bottle, store food in non-disposable containers, shop with your cloth tote or another reusable bag, and recycle whenever possible to reduce your impact. We must encourage businesses to provide plastic-free alternatives to customers and refuse single use plastics such as straws, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, water bottles, plastic bags, balloons, plastic-wrapped produce take-out food containers.
Help in Beach Cleaning
Always clean up after yourself, whether you're swimming, surfing, or just relaxing on the beach. Without messing with animals or removing rocks and coral, explore and enjoy the ocean. Encourage others to respect the ocean by engaging in local beach cleanups or inspiring others to do so. When the number of people visiting the beach, so does the amount of garbage left behind or blown away. Please don't add to the devastation of our oceans by spending your day outside. Remember to leave only your footprints behind and to gather and dispose of your garbage.
Don't buy something that exploits marine life.
Certain goods contribute to the devastation of coral reefs and marine life. Coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products should all be avoided.
Be a Pet Owner Who Is Ocean-Friendly
When choosing a diet for your pet, read the labels and think about how sustainable seafood is. Never flush cat litter down the toilet, as it can contain pathogens that are toxic to marine life. Avoid putting wild-caught saltwater fish in your tank, and never release aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, as this can introduce non-native organisms that are detrimental to the environment.
Reduce the amount of Carbon in your Footprint
Our oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of carbon dioxide, a recognized greenhouse gas. This leads to the global depletion of corals, as the rising acidity of the water weakens their calcium skeletons.
You can reduce your carbon footprint by taking any of the following basic steps:
Rather than driving a car, ride a bike, walk, or use public transportation.
When you leave a bed, switch off the lights.
Instead of turning up the thermostat in the winter put on a jacket.
Buy sustainably harvested wild seafood to spice up your diet. It's a natural resource that uses very little fresh water and produces less CO2 than land-based proteins like beef.
Learn about the oceans and marine life.
The ocean and its inhabitants are integral to all life on Earth. The more you hear about the problems that this critical system is facing, the more you'll want to help maintain its health and then share what you've learned with others to educate and encourage them.
Last Words
Why not take the lead now and then? If you live by the beach, why not organize a beach clean-up with your friends, family, and neighbors? Choose a day when the weather is nice and people are open, a beach in need where these types of events aren't normally held and use the power of social media networks to expand your impact. Oh, don't forget to take photos to post later, and invite others to join you next time!
