4 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW to Be More Ocean-Friendly
Do you love our oceans and beaches?
Many people will probably say YES, but my question is… are you living an ocean-friendly life too? Being ocean-friendly means more than loving the ocean (but that’s a big part of it!) and in this blog, I’ll be sharing the top 4 things you can do RIGHT NOW to be more ocean-friendly in your day-to-day life to elevate your consciousness about our connection to the ocean.
1) Eat Sustainable Seafood
Did you know that overfishing is one of the biggest threat facing our oceans today? Over one billion people depend on seafood as their primary source of protein, but decades of overfishing and poor management might lead to the loss of species as well as entire ecosystems.
In fact, the UN FAO’s biannual State of the World’s Fisheries Report says overexploitation of the planet’s fish has more than tripled since the 1970s with 40% of popular species like tuna now being caught unsustainably.
Eating sustainable seafood is one way YOU can help make sure we don’t risk losing a valuable food source. One of the best ways to help save our oceans is to do your research before you eat out. Useful tools like the Seafood Watch app can help you find local restaurants that serve sustainable seafood. Next time you’re thinking of going out for some salmon or surf and turf, do a quick Google search first and find a sustainable seafood restaurant.
2) Say No to Single Use
When you throw something in the trash, it’s easy to forget about it. But the unfortunate truth is that so much of our trash is not actually “thrown away”. It ends up in our oceans. You can help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans by saying no to single use products. Why use something once like plastic bags, straws, beverage cups, and food containers when you could buy a product once and reuse it, helping both our environment and our oceans!
Invest in great quality reusable items to reduce the amount of trash you create. Check out some of my favorite ocean-friendly brands:
For your Eco-Lunch
Stainless steel, plastic-free, non-toxic lunchboxes from ECOlunchbox is a great way to bring your lunch to work or school instead of using plastic containers. Plus, there are some great lunchboxes there were even inspired by the sea in their Blue Water Bento collection!
Forget that Plastic Bottle!
Instead of picking up that plastic water bottle, instead choose a reusable stainless steel water bottle. There are some options out there like the eco-chic ones from EarthLust that are naturally safe, unlined, and coated with non-toxic paint. Plus there are a variety of cute designs perfect for any ocean-lover.
Say No to Plastic Bags
So many plastic bags end up in our oceans and we can help reduce that number by simply saying no to singe use plastic bags. Check out EcoBags and their reusable bags made from recycled or recyclable materials in a variety of shapes and sizes!
3) Clean Up the Trash
Because so much of our trash unfortunately ends up in our oceans that also means so much trash ends up on our beaches. It’s not uncommon to see plastic everywhere on the beach from plastic bags to plastic product packaging to plastic straws.
One of the easiest ways you can be more ocean-friendly right now is to help clean up the trash. Find a beach clean up event happening near you or host an event yourself! Next time you’re headed to the beach, spend 10 minutes picking up trash while you’re there. Take 3 for the Sea is a great non-profit that encourages everyone to simple take 3 pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway, or anywhere! Join the movement and help keep our beaches cleaner.
4) Become an Ocean Ambassador
The most important thing you can do to be more ocean-friendly is learning more about our seas and how YOU can make a difference. No matter what age, race, or walk of life you come from, YOU can make a difference today for our oceans. Read and learn more about the oceans and what you can do today. Share your knowledge with friends and family and encourage them to be more ocean-friendly. There are so many ways you can become an ambassador for our oceans!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
You can join a local ocean conservation initiative or become a volunteer for a local ocean non-profit in your area.
No matter what path you decide to choose to become an ocean ambassador, you’ll be taking one step further to becoming more ocean-friendly and our oceans will thank you for it! Join in on the ocean conservation conversation with me online on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.