How Can I Help the Oceans?

Fish trapped in a pull tab
from Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources

  1. One of the biggest, yet simplest things you can do is to snip your six-pack rings! Six-pack rings should be cut apart before putting them into the garbage (even if you don't live near the ocean). This is because they may be dumped into waterways with other garbage, or swept into the ocean by wind from landfills. Once underwater, these rings are invisible, and many animals can't avoid them until it's too late. You can protect marine inhabitants (including some that are endangered or threatened) by taking an action that requires less than 30 seconds of your time. If you find any on the beach or in the water, pick them up and snip them before disposing of them properly.
    Sea Turtle with half-swallowed plastic bag
    Turtles eat jelly fish and often mistake plastic bags for them
  2. Avoid taking disposable plastics on your boat or to the beach ESPECIALLY plastic bags. Plastic bags in the water resemble jellyfish - the preferred diet of many marine animals. Needless to say, the ingestion of plastic bags often results in death. According to "50 Simple Things you can do to Save the Earth", "A U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey of albatross babies found 90% with plastic in their digestive systems." Balloons are devastating to marine animals if ingested. It has been shown theat even balloons released in the midwest will, in a matter of days, find their way to the ocean. Don't let go of your balloons and speak up if you know of a plan for a balloon release!
  3. Do NOT throw cigarette butts in the water. Marine birds or fish may eat them and they do NOT break down.
  4. Pick up any litter that you may find in the water or along the shoreline and then dispose of it properly.
    Seal trapped in fishnet
    from "A Citizens Guide to Plastics in the Ocean"
  5. Request that beaches and other oceanside areas offer garbage and recycling containers.
  6. Volunteer for local beach cleanups. Every September, the Center for Marine Conservation sponsors a nationwide beach clean-up. For more information on participating or organizing a clean-up in your area, visit the above website.
  7. Educate yourself on issues affecting the oceans.
  8. Do not buy seafood that is being overfished. Refer to our Seafood Guide.
  9. Speak up in stores and restaurants. Ask where the fish comes from. Does the fishery it was purchased from have a high level of bycatch?
  10. Dispose of toxic materials such as waste oil, weed killers or paint strippers in the proper way. You will find many disposal procedures listed in our Chemical Page. Please do not simply dump materials of this type down your drains. Many communities offer pick up services. If your community doesn't, you may want to organize such a service. Using non toxic alternatives is also an excellent choice.
    Syringes found on New York's Coney Island
    from "Our Changing Earth"
    by National Geographic Society
  11. Support the establishment of marine reserves.
  12. Join organizations dedicated to protecting the oceans. See our Important Links page.
  13. Speak out about your concerns with others.
  14. Write letters to elected officials. See our Activist section.


    If you own a boat:

  15. Keep a trash can on board (and use it).
  16. DO NOT put left over fishing line in the water.
  17. DO NOT use phosphate detergent to clean boat.
  18. DO NOT use toxic paints on your boat.
  19. Never discharge wastes (especially from the toilet) into the water.
  20. Have the boat motor serviced so that gas or oil do not leak into water.

Sea urchins graze on dead staghorn coral
from National Geographic magazine



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