6 Things You Can Do Right Now to Save Our Oceans
The world’s oceans are facing multiple threats from mankind and the next ten years are critical to the survival of the seas. However, if you’re sceptical whether you can make a difference, you’re not alone. Many people assume the problem is too big for them to solve. However, there are steps you can take in your day-to-day life that will have a big impact on the health of our oceans.
What’s more, you can impact and educate the people around you about ocean conservation and start a positive movement in your community. Put simply, you can make a difference, all you need to do is make a start! So, here are 6 things you can do right now to save our oceans.
1. Reduce Your Use of Plastic
We all know how difficult it is to avoid using plastic in today’s world. It seems that everything is packaged in plastic. However, there are ways you can reduce your use of plastic! Some suggestions are to:
- Use a refillable water bottle
- Pack your lunch in brown paper
- Stop using plastic straws
- Use reusable shopping bags
- Buy your fruit and veg from farmers’ markets
- Don’t buy one-use products
Last year, reports stated that there was a 40% drop in plastic bags found on beaches simply because of the plastic bag charge. This strongly suggests that reducing our usage of plastic can have real-world positive outcomes and make a huge difference to the health of our oceans.
2. Pick Up Litter When You See It
How often have you been walking along the beach and come across rubbish floating in the water or stuck in the sand? Rubbish on the beach is one of the biggest killers of ocean species. So, do your bit by picking up any rubbish that you see so that it doesn’t make it back into the ocean. It may seem like a small feat, but it can make a significant difference and, what’s more, it can encourage others around you to do the same!
3. Avoid Microbeads at All Costs
Microbeads pose a significant threat to marine life and even to us. These tiny plastic particles are often undetectable, but they are present in many of the products we use, such as; face scrub, toothpaste, body-wash, and detergent.
These microbeads get washed down sinks and into our waterways and sewer systems, before ultimately ending up in our oceans. Unfortunately, microbeads are small enough to be ingested by fish and, when these fish end up on our plates, we can ingest them too! By simply avoiding products with microbeads in, you can make a difference to the health of the world’s marine life and do your bit to help save the environment.
4. Join A Beach Clean-Up Event
Beach clean-up events are one of the best ways to clear the world’s beaches of litter. There are multiple organisations around the world dedicated to cleaning up the world’s beaches.
It really is as simple as finding a clean-up site near you, inviting your friends, and turning up on the day to do your bit. If you don’t live near a beach, you can still do your bit to clean your local rivers, lakes, and waterways. A few hours of cleaning up can make a huge difference to the health of our ocean’s and waterways.
5. Support a Good Cause
If you’re passionate about saving the world’s oceans, why not support causes trying to do the same thing? There are environmentalists, researchers, and ocean conservationists (to name a few) committed to transforming our oceans and making a difference.
There are so many threats to our oceans: overfishing, illegal and international dumping of waste, commercial waste, and so much more. But there are organisations dedicated to changing this and by donating or volunteering, you will be helping significantly. Here is a list of organisations who need your support for the work that they do:
Divers worldwide are seeing the benefits of ocean conservancy projects and are discovering how much cleaner and healthier the ecosystems under the sea are as a result of ocean conservation efforts. If you want to explore the world beneath the waves for yourself, books diving lessons in London and get your diving up to scratch so that you can explore the ocean’s safely.
6. Eat Sustainable Fish
Fish is high in Omega-3 and an important addition to your diet. However, there are many types of fish that are so popular they are at risk from overfishing. If you want to enjoy fish for years to come but also eat sustainably, it’s time to think sustainably!
When buying fish, always choose sustainably sourced options. One of the easiest ways you can find sustainably sourced fish is by downloading The Seafood Watch App. You can download this app and it will help you find a sustainable seafood market or restaurant near you.
How Are You Doing Your Bit?
Our oceans give us so much, but they also face challenges from every side posing risks to the marine life, coral reefs, and overall ocean health. The least we can do is help make our oceans better. No one can transform the health of the world’s oceans on their own, but every one of us can do our best and help educate others about the importance of conserving our oceans for future generations.
