5 ways to help our oceans + charities to support
Many of us have a strong connection to the sea, be it from childhood memories of trips to the beach, or from favourite hobbies such as surfing, or even because it is a source of livelihood, such as fishing.
In fact, we all have a connection to the ocean. The Earth is called the Blue Planet because it is the only one in our solar system that has water - two thirds of the Earth is covered by it. This is why the Earth is also the only inhabited planet: without water, there is no life.
Whilst people have always taken to the sea, for food or for transport, as we’ve found out more about our ocean over time, we‘ve realised the damaging impact that human activity is having on our seas. You only need to watch Blue Planet or other nature documentaries to see some of the extent.
It is not all doom and gloom though! There is plenty we can do to help the ocean we love. Here are some ideas of the little things that can make a difference:
1. Reduce/replace plastic usage with sustainable alternatives
Plastic is a big problem because it never disappears. There are masses of floating marine debris across the different oceans, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Unfortunately, plastic doesn’t just float on the surface either. Over time, plastics degrade into microplastics and find their way into ecosystems by being confused for food by animals. The plastic problem is huge, to the extent that, according to It’s A Fish Thing, globally, there are approximately 8 million pieces of plastic that enter the ocean every single day..
By reducing our plastic usage, or ideally replacing it entirely, we can ensure that plastics stop making their way into our seas and affecting the several ecosystems that depend on our ocean. How can we do this? Looking for products that have no plastic, here are some ideas to make your lifestyle more sustainable.
2. Pick up litter you see on your daily walks (or join a beach cleaning!)
Another way of helping out is stopping plastic and other litter from entering the ocean altogether. All litter ends somewhere, if it is not in landfill, you can be sure it is the ocean. So if you see a candy wrapper on the floor, or a plastic bottle on the beach, pick it up and drop it at the nearest bin. Always good to carry a foldable bag that you can reuse.
Want to take it up a notch? Why not join a beach or riverside clean up near you? Easiest way to find one is through some of the charities below. For example, Surfers Against Sewage are currently campaigning for the Million Mile Clean.
Another innovative idea is using search engines that benefit the environment, such as OCG. They use their advertising revenue to fund cleanup operations in South East Asia.
© OCG Saving The Ocean @oceancleanupgroup, photo available on Unsplash
3. Cut your emissions
We know this sounds repetitive, but carbon emissions have a detrimental effect on our planet as a whole, and particularly our ocean is one of the most affected. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere (NOAA). As the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere increase, the ocean continues to absorb it, forming a weak acid; the more CO2 the ocean absorbs, the more acidic it becomes. This can be really damaging for marine life, no matter how small. For example, a more acidic ocean can affect how animals like crabs or oysters regrow their shells, and a really acidic ocean can even cause them to dissolve. If these animals disappear it breaks down food chains across whole ecosystems.
So why not leave the car trips for longer journeys and instead hit the shops or high street by bicycle or foot? Or support companies that are actively taking steps to reduce their carbon emissions, such as Climate Neutral certified brands and other certifications. By supporting certified brands, you can support those who are committed to tackling climate change.
4. Think consciously about your food choices
Look for local, sustainably sourced produce - that includes seafood! Commercial fishing is one of the biggest threats to our oceans, particularly when we overfish (fish too much, too quickly). Did you know that about 94% of fish stocks are either overfished or maximally sustainably fished (WWF). This is why choosing a varied and sustainable diet can help reduce the pressure on certain fish groups as well as pollution in our seas. By choosing different kinds of seafood throughout the year or even during the week.
So next time you go to the fishmonger ask a few questions, such as:
Where was it caught? Is it farmed?
How was it fished? (Handline-caught will be better than trawlers that destroy the seabed, for example)
You can also have a look at this article for some ideas on sustainable seafood in the UK.
5. Put it in paper
There are several petitions globally looking to persuade representatives and politicians to put the environment and our oceans first. This is truly something that takes very little time and your signature can make a difference. Here are a few to consider supporting:
The 30x30 for Nature Petition, calling world leaders to protect at least 30% of the world’s lands and seas by 2030.
The Speak Up for our Rivers Petition, calling for the UK government to set legally binding target to increase the number of Official River Bathing Waters - only 14% of rivers in England meet ecological status. You can’t have a thriving ocean without thriving rivers.
Ask your US representative to support the Break Free from Plastic Act in Congress to phase out the amount of single-use plastics used across America.
Want to learn or do more? These are some of the charities that are working to improve our ocean’s habitats and health:
Marine Conservation Society (UK)
MCS is championing the fight for a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean. They work with communities, businesses and governments across the UK to tackle pollution and defend marine protected areas. Activities range from volunteer beach cleans, where they record the items found in a 100m stretch of coastline, to campaigning for environmental regulations across the country.
Surfers against Sewage (UK)
A grassroots movement that grew into a nation-wide, active environmental charity, SAS is dedicated to protecting oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife across the UK.
The movement started as a response by the surfing community to the dire state of beaches in the UK, who would encounter raw sewage when they entered their local beaches and sea. While the focus remains on sewage and water quality issues, the organisation also tackles plastic pollution as it has become clear that plastic is the biggest threat to our ocean. They run beach cleans through their Million Mile Clean initiative, so always good to keep an eye out if you want to join!
Sea Shepherd (International)
Sea Shepherd is an international organisation that aims to protect, defend and conserve marine ecosystems. Their campaigns target unsustainable fishing, poaching, and habitat destruction caused by pollution.
Sea Shepherd also works with law enforcement agencies worldwide (such as INTERPOL) to help bring poachers to justice, and partners with national governments around the world to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in their sovereign waters.
The organisation currently has 12 vessels worldwide as well as smaller boats that are used in direct-action campaigns to protect wildlife.
For their US page click here, for all other locations (across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America) click here
Parley for the Oceans (US)
An organisation that unites creators, leaders and thinkers from creative and artistic backgrounds to focus on ways to stop ocean pollution. They approach plastic pollution through their AIR strategy:
Avoid plastic wherever possible
Intercept plastic waste
Redesign the material itself
The whole concept lies on the mission to stop production of new, virgin plastic by creating a sustainable alternative, and in the meantime deal with the existing plastic pollution problem by intercepting it and redesigning it. They have collections with brands such as Adidas, as well as their limited edition collections with artists.
https://www.parley.tv/#fortheoceans
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