How You Can Protect Our Oceans This Oceans Day
At this point, I have am a bit of a sucker for international observances days. In the past few months, I have learned a lot from them and World Ocean Day is not exception.
What is World Ocean Day?
In 1992, the United Nations established the first World Ocean Day following the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. As with many of the other international observance days I have written about recently, World Ocean Day is about humanity recognising their important role in our lives. It is a day that reminds us how reliant we are on our oceans to survive and of course, thrive too.
Each year, the UN chooses a theme to base the celebrations around and the day is marked with a series of events- which this year has been taking place online.
Find out more.
10 facts about Oceans this Oceans Day
- Oceans cover 70% of the planet and produces at least 50% of the world’s oxygen
- Main source of protein for 1 billion people
- 40 million people will be employed in ocean-based industries by 2030
- Oceans absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans
- Less than 5% of our oceans have been explored
- 94% of the earth’s living species live within the oceans
- The Pacific is the world’s largest ocean, containing 25,000 islands (at it’s widests from Indonesia to Colombia it is wider than the. moon
- The planet’s longest mountain range is underwater and is 10 times longer than the Andes
- There are 3 million shipwrecks in the ocean
- If all the ice melted in the arctic, the sea level would rise by the height of a 26 story building
Sources: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Best Life , Trafalgar , United Nations
How can I continue to support ocean conservation after today?
Looking at these facts and seeing how vast and impressive our oceans really are, you’ll be forgiven for question how any one person can make a difference. But I’m here to tell you just that. In fact, there are decisions that you can make right this second that will go a long way in doing so- if we’re in it together that is.
1. Reduce your carbon footprint
I know you’ve been meaning to- we all have — but where to start right? Instead of taking the car: walk, cycle or go by public transport. Have a shower, not a bath. Turn the lights off when you leave the room. These tiny decisions in our everyday lives might seem insignificant but it means that change is actually in your reach. In an ideal world, you would go even further than this so here are some ideas and get started. Don’t think that you’re part of the problem? Humour me and calculate your carbon footprint for me. I dare you.
2. Stop using single-use plastic
By now, you should that plastic is the kryptonite to our planet and oceans. We have gotten pretty used to the tax on plastic bags. Most of us are more than comfortable bringing our water bottles and zero-waste shops are springing up on every other street corner. All signs point to a cultural wave that will clear the oceans of the discarded waste of our daily lives. But a wave isn’t a tsunami and change is not coming fast enough. At the moment, 17.6 billion pounds of plastic are leaking into the ocean every year. Plastic that is not only harmful to marine life but fosters unsustainable fishing, causing further strain on our resources and is even harmful to our own health.
3. Buy sustainably caught fish
Making a change to our diet is one of the biggest changes that we can do to support our environment. Becoming a vegan or a vegetarian undoubtedly has a positive impact in the fight against climate change. However, it can be a big change all at once. Personally, I limit my land-based protein consumption as much as I can, describing myself as a “flexitarian”. I see it as a go-between until I make the transition permanent. This in itself can make a considerable difference. At the end of the day, it’s about making decisions that are rooted in the understanding of where our food comes from and how it is produced. Buying fresh fish that is sustainably sourced is one way of doing that. Fish does not give off the same amount of carbon dioxide as some land-based protein sources like Beef does, making it an agreeable alternative. How do you know that it is sustainably sourced? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Use a consumer guide like Seafood Watch to keep you well informed.
4. Avoid cosmetics that use shark squalene and jewellery made of coral or sea turtle shells
In the next couple of months, I am imagine that I will be revisiting this topic because, in my research, I have opened a wormhole that I don’t see myself escaping. For a long time, I have blindly trusted that the cosmetics I buy are cruelty-free. I would brush the thought away like a stray hair off my face. However, I realise now that I’ve been burying my head in the sand for long enough. At the moment, 90% of squalene ( oil found in a sharks liver) is being sued in the cosmetics industry since it acts as an effective moisturiser and is more affordable than any plant-based alternatives. This is the point where I highlight how fundamentally wrong that is and how you can do something about it. Look for products that state that they are “100% vegetable derived or based” or vegan. Be aware of the brands that you are purchasing and whether or not they have publicly promised not to source products that include shark-based squalene for instance. Some examples of these companies include: Ponds, Boots, Dove, Sunsilk, Vaseline, L’Oreal, Lancome, Soft & Dri, Clarins, Sisley and La Mer.
Source: Women In Ocean Science
5. Leave only your footprints
This phrase really makes my skin crawl. I can’t handle the cringe but it makes an important point. We are about to head into a long-awaited summer. Or of you’re in Scotland, we have two weeks of it left…With most of us opting for staycations over international travel this year, our coastlines are likely to come under threat with the influx of domestic tourists exploring their own country as they finally emerge from a year of Lockdowns. If you are planning on heading to the beach ( or anywhere really) in the coming months, remember to take your rubbish with you or dispose of it responsibly in public bins. We can’t wait to explore the world around us again but we need to protect it when we do.
6. Attend virtual dives, expeditions and events
I read somewhere today that we are more likely to fight for the things we love. Excuse me for not remembering where. However, I couldn't shake the sentiment of how true this is. If you want to protect the ocean, learn about it. We are living in an unparalleled age of resources and we have still only explored 5% of what our oceans have to offer. There is still an abundance for us to learn and we can be part of that experience. Organisations like the UN Environment Programme and the National Geographic are incredible places to start.
7. Read, subscribe and share climate action resources and journalism
Although, I might mention this approach a lot it’s because it works. Our media is driven by consumers and clicks. If you want to see more content about climate action and ocean prevention, go out and get it. Support smaller, less mainstream platforms by reading their articles, subscribing to their newsletters and sharing with the people in your life. Platforms like Footprint Magazine, Tortoise Media, Unearthed as well as newsletters like Heated and Hot Take need your support to change the tide on not only global warming but the entire conversation.
8. Make a donation of climate-based NGOs and charities
I am always reluctant to include a financial option because it’s an approach that isn’t always achievable for everyday people. That being said, as much as giving a financial donation is part of the goal, knowing and understanding the work that is being done all over the world is powerful too. You can choose to make one-off donations or become a member to a variety of different groups including: Oceana and the Ocean Preservation Trust. Not to mention to smaller projects that also need attention and that are fighting for an intersectional and inclusive approach to marine conservation like: Minorities in Shark Sciences, Mission Blue, Diveheart and Diving with a Purpose. Looking at some of these organisations, I was completely blown away by the number of people doing incredible things that go almost completely unnoticed. So, even if you don’t have the money to donate- you do have the power to change that.
