10 Ways to Help Our Ocean

Around Home

1. Conserve Water

   Use less water so excess runoff and wastewater will not flow into the ocean.

2. Reduce Pollutants

   Choose nontoxic chemicals and dispose of herbicides, pesticides, and cleaning products properly.

3. Reduce Waste

   Cut down on what you throw away.

Around Town

1. Shop Wisely

   choose sustainable seafood. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable bag.

2. Reduce Vehicle Pollution

   Use fuel efficient vehicles, carpool or ride a bike.

3. Use Less Energy

   Choose energy efficient light bulbs and don't overset your thermostat.

On the Water

1. Fish Responsibly

   Follow "catch and release" practices and keep more fish alive.

2. Practice Safe Boating

   Anchor in sandy areas far from coral and sea grasses. Adhere to "no wake" zones.

3. Respect Habitat

   Healthy habitat and survival go hand in hand. Treat with care.

Anytime, Anywhere

1. Volunteer

   Volunteer for cleanups at the beach and in your community. You can get involved in protecting your watershed too!

The flow of plastics into our environment has reached crisis proportions, and the evidence is most clearly on display in our oceans. It is estimated that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our ocean each year.

Our oceans are slowly turning into a plastic soup, and the effects on ocean life are chilling. Discarded plastic fishing lines entangle turtles and seabirds, and plastic pieces of all sizes choke and clog the stomachs of creatures who mistake it for food, from tiny zooplankton to whales. Plastic is now entering every level of the ocean food chain and is even ending up in the seafood on our plates.

Our planet can no longer tolerate a culture of throw-away plastics. Single-use plastics are filling up our landfills, choking our rivers, and contaminating our oceans. For far too long, corporations have put the onus on all of us to deal with their own failed design problem. We have been told that the individual should simply recycle away the billions of tons of plastics corporations produce and that it will make the difference needed to sustain our planet.

Here are more individual actions you can take on a daily basis to help solve this problem:

• Refuse plastic whenever possible. Say no to straws, lids, plastic bags, and plastic takeaway containers. Carry your own utensils or a wooden spork and avoid using plastic utensils.
• Review restaurants and cafes and recognize them when they avoid straws and plastic packaging – and let them know you want them to do better when they don’t.
• Use reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and bags. Some retailers will even give you a discount for doing so!
• If you forget your reusable coffee mug at a coffee shop, ask to have your coffee “for here” in a real mug and drink it there. Many coffee shops have ceramic mugs for customers, but they only use them upon request.
• Tell your local supermarket that you won’t buy produce wrapped in plastic. Purchase loose fruits and vegetables or shop at the farmers market.
• Bring your own glass container or mesh baggies and buy grains, nuts, and other items in the bulk section.
• Avoid items wrapped in excess plastic.
• Replace plastic items at home with alternatives made from natural materials (bamboo toothbrushes, glass jars, wooden toys).
• Whenever you see plastic in nature, collect it and recycle it if possible or put it in the trash can.
• Talk trash with your friends, family, and colleagues! Share this website with them and show them photos and videos about plastic pollution on social media to help spread awareness about this global problem.