Ten Things You Can Do to Help the Ocean
1) Learn all you can. Did you know state and local governments issue seafood contamination warnings and beach closure warnings? Read labels and signs and ask questions. By learning why a beach was closed or why certain seafood is contaminated, you may also learn how to prevent it from happening again. Learn more about the ocean and conservation by reading, watching films, attending lectures, or visiting aquariums and museums.
2) Be a smart shopper. The seafood choices that we make have an impact on the environment. Not all seafood is created equal. There are good - and - bad choices for the ocean. Good choices from wild fish come from populations that are healthy and managed in a way to preserve the populations for future generations. Likewise, sustainable fish farming respects the surrounding environment, uses water and other resources wisely, and does not interfere with natural, wild fish populations. Ask grocery stores and restaurants where their seafood comes from and if it was caught or farmed in a way that protects the ocean. For more information, see http://www.seafoodchoices.com/
3) Conserve water. Use low-flow showerheads and faucets. Don't run water continuously when washing dishes by hand, brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face, or washing your car. Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Take short showers. Check for leaky faucets and repair them. Water your lawn in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation, and water it only when necessary. Put a trigger nozzle on your outdoor hose; it uses water more efficiently. It's not necessary to water your driveway. After all, it won't grow.
4) Reduce "household pollution." The less herbicides and pesticides you spray, the less you will swim in! Use lawn clippings, compost, or manure to fertilize your lawn and garden. Use phosphate-free laundry and dishwasher detergent because phosphates in lakes and rivers can encourage algae growth, which can suffocate aquatic life. Try non-toxic products, such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, instead of hazardous chemicals for cleaning.
This post was modified from its original form on 19 Feb, 15:25
5) Reduce run-off. Put trash in the can instead of the gutter. Use soap sparingly when washing your car. If you must use chemicals on your lawn, don't spray on a windy day or when rain is expected. To improve drainage and decrease run-off, avoid landscaping with hard surfaces and instead select vegetation, gravel or other porous material. Sweep your driveway and sidewalk to collect any toxic materials that could be washed into waterways and properly dispose of the waste. Redirect rain gutters onto your lawn or into collection barrels to water your garden. Scoop pet waste. An estimated 15 tons of pet waste flows into ocean waters every day.
6) Recycle or dispose of all trash properly. Never flush non-degradable products, such as disposable diapers or plastic tampon applications, down the toilet. These products can damage the sewage treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters. Never throw cigarette butts on the ground or out car windows. Pick up litter and avoid using disposable products if at all possible.
7) Reduce oil pollution. Fix car leaks! More oil enters the ocean from large tanker spills. Recycle used motor oil. Much of the oil pollution in surface waters is caused by people dumping used oil into storm drains. Buy a fuel-efficient car. Even better, drive less! Walk, bicycle, carpool or take public transportation. Check underground heating oil tanks for leaks.
8) Be considerate of ocean wildlife. Never dispose of fishing line or nets in the water. They could entangle, maim, injure or kill unsuspecting animals. Don't release helium balloons outside. They could end up in the ocean and harm animals that mistake them for food. Minimize your use of Styrofoam, which degrades into smaller pellets that also resemble food. Cut open plastic six-pack rings; they can entangle ocean life
9) Get involved. Take part in a beach cleanup. Report illegal dumping to the local authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency or the Coast Guard. Report full catch-basins; your local department of public works should clean clogged storm sewers. Contact your local government to learn the proper methods of disposal for batteries, paint, appliances and other products. Encourage your local government to recycle and upgrade sewage treatment systems. Urge public officials to support measures that help the ocean.
10) Understand Why...
The Sea I am the beautiful sea, For the beauty I hold,
the provider for many.
You may know me
but only for what is in me.
it is I who chooses
to make me beautiful.
But only for those who deserve it.
I am the beautiful sea,
For the beauty I hold,
For being so mysterious
it is anger and frustration
for what goes on around me.
The way I work
no one shall ever know.
For my secrets
you will never understand them.
I am the great provider
you give up on me,
you shall lose me forever.
AND DO NOT FORGET TO USE THE SUGGESTIONS/COMPLAINTS BOX! VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTEST AGAINST THE ABSENCE OF FISHING COMMERCE POLICIES AT SUPERMARKETS. Do you know what the number one thing you can do is to protect the ocean? Learn! Learn all you can about the threats facing the ocean and marine life. First and foremost, Global warming (Climate Change/Abrupt Climate Change) is the number one threat not only to marine life but to all of our ways of life as well. The debate is over. It is happening. Only the magnitude and details, such as whether we've reached a tipping point yet, remain. Now is the time to act. To learn all about Global Warming/Climate Change, what it really is, what very likely will happen, and what we can/should really do about it . Don't buy live saltwater fish caught in the wild for your aquarium. The fishing methods, such as cyaniding and dynamiting, for the live fish trade are horribly degrading to the marine environment. Hundreds of thousands of young and rare tropical reef fish die every year in aquariums in the US alone. If you must keep a saltwater tank, buy only Marine Aquarium Council certified fish to ensure your fish are sustainably caught or reared in captivity. Never return aquarium fish into the ocean or other body of water. This practice has introduced non-native species to many areas disrupting the balance of marine ecosystems often causing widespread destruction. Learn to scuba dive if you want to experience the underwater realm. Diving is safer now than riding a bicycle, and, if you really like what you see when you're diving you can keep it forever! How? Take a digital camera or even a video camera with you! If you learn to dive, learn to dive responsibly. Don't touch the reefs or marine life, and don't take souvenirs. Leave only bubbles. Only patronize environmentally-conscious dive operators and refuse to dive on “cattle boats” that carry more than 10 divers per boat. Choose dive spots at ecotourism destinations where marine resources are protected and marine conservation is a priority. Use your dive skills for science and conservation. Participate in “fish counts”, etc. to help census fish populations and other reef species. Join an underwater cleanup group like Project Aware . Stop eating seafood? OK, well how about stop eating unsustainably-caught seafood and carry a sustainable seafood wallet guide THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE AND PRINT (TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE SUPERMARKET) http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx
Only 10% of the big fish that once lived in the ocean remain today (because we ate too many of them, too fast) and they are likely not coming back soon. According to a recent study, if we don't limit fishing and seafood consumption now, there will be no more fish in the next 50 years. Overfished species are rapidly becoming endangered. Nontargeted species caught as bycatch (caught by accident and usually thrown back dead) are also being depleted. For every pound of shrimp or prawns caught there are around 15 pounds(!) of bycatch thrown back, wasted, dead, worthless, into the ocean. 12. Only purchase seafood from retailers that support sustainable seafood, such as Whole Foods and others that carry the Marine Stewardship Council's seal of approval.
YOU CAN FIND IT HERE: http://www.msc.org/
1.Patronize restaurants that recognize the need to consume seafood sustainably. Visit the Chef's Collaborative for a list of restaurants in your area.
2.Make your voice heard! Complain to the management of restaurants and retailers selling endangered fish.
3.Vote! Vote for candidates who support marine conservation and contact your representatives to notify them of your concerns for marine life and the marine environment. We only have one ocean.
4.Support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and support organizations working to establish MPAs such as the Ocean Conservancy , Conservation International , Environmental Defense , and others.
5.Take your kids to the beach!. A fun day at the beach can inspire years of wonder and provides a perfect opportunity to teach your kids about the ocean.
6.Don't walk on dunes. Dunes provide a barrier to wind and water to prevent beach erosion and often contain native plants vital to local ecosystems. 7.Keep beaches clean. Plastics, fishing line, and other debris harm sea life and pollute the ocean. Clean up after yourself. Get involved! Participate in beach cleanups if you live in a coastal area.
8.Practice safe and clean boating. Obey no-wake zones, and watch out for marine life. There are at least tens of thousands of recreational boats in the water at any one time. A drop of oil from each is tens of thousands of drops in the ocean each day....
9.Don't dispose of trash or toilet waste in the ocean.
10.Use environmentally-friendly cleaning agents and boat paint, etc. 12.If you enjoy recreational fishing, please obey regulations and try to enjoy only catch-and-release fishing and use care when releasing fish back into the ocean. Take photos, not fish. Real men catch and release. Save some for your children. There are millions of recreational fishermen, each one of you does make a difference and your impact rivals that of the commerical fishing industry.
13.Promote marine conservation in your school or through social activities. Many people are unaware that the ocean is in jeopardy. Take whatever opportunities you can to spread the word. Start a local marine conservation club to promote awareness.
14.Refuse to patronize cruise lines that contaminate the ocean with sewage, oils and other dumping.
15.Don't purchase items that exploit marine resources unnecessarily such as coral jewelry, “snake oil” supplements such as coral calcium and shark cartilage. Educate others that these products are ineffective, medically unsound and damaging to our ocean ecosystems. The nutrients these supplements allegedly provide are easily obtained from other food sources such as green leafy vegetables.
Things you can do inside the home (yes these also protect ocean life)
1)If you own your home, install water-saving toilets. You'll save significant money as well. Everything that flows downhill, flows to the ocean. 2)If you're renting, add a water saver bag (a small bag filled with water) or a brick to your toilet tanks. They raise the water level in the tank, which reduces the amount of water used when you flush.
3)Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120°F and make sure it is well insulated. Many utility companies will insulate it free of charge. 4)Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer.
5)Take shorter showers. Add water-saving/low-flow showerheads and faucets in your home.
6)Turn off the water when brushing teeth, shaving, etc. Leaving it running wastes about a gallon a minute!
7)Run the dishwasher only with a full load. Use the dishwasher's energy-saving setting to dry dishes; don't use heat when drying. Use full wash loads set to cold water to wash your clothes whenever possible. Some washing machines use 40 or more gallons for each load!
8)Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs or other energy efficient light bulbs. Note: Luminescence is the amount of light produced, watts is the amount of power used. Both should be printed on the box. Look for bulbs with low watts and high luminescence. Example: http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=CONSUMERCATEGORYSUBPAGE&CHANNEL=Consumer&CATEGORY=Lamps&bulbtype=Lamps_Compact%20Fluorescent
9)Buy energy efficient appliances.
10)Keep your refrigerator's temperature set at a medium-cool temperature.
11)Get a free energy audit from your utility company.
12)Use double-pane windows to better insulate your home. Turn off lights when not in use.
13)Turn off your computer, television, etc. when not in use.
14)Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended.
15)Make sure your printer paper is 100% post-consumer recycled paper. The paper industry is the third greatest contributor to global warming emissions.
16)Use email instead of snail mail for informal letters.
17)Manage your bills and bank accounts online with paperless statements. Print or copy on both sides of the paper whenever possible. Buy used books, e-books, audio books online or visit your local library.
18)Look to yard sales, thrift stores, auctions, craigslist.org and antique shops for used household goods instead of buying new ones. “One man's trash is another man's treasure.”
19)Think twice about buying "disposable" products. (They really aren't disposable and are extravagant wastes of the world's resources. You are paying to basically fill up landfills with plastics, etc.)
20)Buy paper products instead of plastic if you must buy "disposables." They break down better in the environment and don't deplete the ozone layer as much.
21)Avoid buying food or household products in plastic or Styrofoam containers. They can't be recycled, deplete the ozone and are not biodegradable.
22)Don't use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand, like opening cans or mowing small lawns.
23)Don't buy wood that isn't certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and SmartWood.
24)Clean out that closet and give away or donate the things you no longer need.
25)Recycle everything: newspapers, cell phones, electronics, cans, glass, aluminum, motor oil, scrap metal, etc.
26)Encourage/insist on recycling in the workplace.
27)Use washable coffee mugs instead of disposable cups.
28)Use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible. You'll live longer too.
If you are building your own home look into adding a gray water system, ask the contractor what alternative eco-friendly supplies are available. Collect rainwater from your home's downspouts to use for watering the garden. If you own your own home and live in a sunny area, add solar panels to your roof. Even though it isn't as efficient as nuclear power, using solar power can help decrease dependency on electric power. Cover Pools and Jacuzzis! An average sized pool loses about 1,000 gallons of water per month to evaporation. A pool cover can cut these losses by 90%! Plant trees or other vegetation to offset your carbon footprint. Opt for an alternative to a grass lawn (which uses a lot of water, fertilizer, and doesn't provide shelter for wildlife). Try a non-traditional yard, you can liven up your home and create habitats for animals by planting a variety of native plants. Start a compost pile for leaves and yard debris or take them to a yard debris recycler. (Burning them creates air pollution. Throwing them away wastes landfill space.) Leftover coffee grounds can be used to increase the soil acidity for growing plants like tomatoes, chili peppers, and blueberries. Avoid using pesticides; use natural predators (such as the praying mantis) and insect deterring plants (onions) to deter pests in the garden. Pull weeds instead of using herbicides, or better yet let them grow. Avoid use of chemical fertilizers (which causes pollution, and helps create excessive algae blooms in the ocean, aka red tides) or peat moss (which comes from ancient bogs that cannot regenerate). Instead, make your own mulch and use organic fertilizers only when needed. Take extra plastic and rubber pots back to the nursery for reuse. Put up birdfeeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths (precaution: due to bird flu, do not place near or around domesticated birds. Report any dead birds to local health authorities.) Keep outside trashcans closed. Use lids that snap shut to prevent wild life from eating hazardous materials and becoming a nuisance. Keep your car tuned up, not only will proper upkeep save your pocketbook but it helps prevent oil and other hazardous materials from leaking onto your driveway, into the local water system, and ultimately into lakes and streams, rivers, and the ocean. Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated and drive conservatively to get the best gas mileage. Keep your wheels properly aligned to save your tires from being replaced frequently. (It's safer too.) Check your car's air filter monthly and replace frequently for better fuel efficiency. Never litter. Keep a small trash bag in your car. Buy a fuel-efficient/eco-friendly car. Carpool or use public transit whenever possible. Ride your bike or walk.
Take a reusable bag grocery shopping, to the drugstore etc. If you must use plastic bags, recycle them. (Publix and Trader Joes accept used plastic bags.) Store food in re-usable containers instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Reuse brown paper bags to line your trash can instead of plastic liners. Buy locally-grown food and locally-made products when possible. They'll be fresher and less fuel is used for transport. Buy organic coffee and free-trade certified to ensure no pesticides were used and that the grower received a fair price. Make it a lifestyle Learn about conservation issues in your community or state. Write your legislators and let them know where you stand on the issues. Teach children to respect nature and the environment. Take them on hikes, or camping. Help them plant a tree or build a birdhouse. Be a good example and role model. Join a conservation organization and volunteer for conservation projects. Donate, join or sponsor marine conservation organizations (like the MarineBio Conservation Society) regularily.Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to save resources.