How You Can Help

Some of my favorites can be found on the Organizations page. 

• Donate to Their Cause 
• Volunteer Your Time
• Buy Their Products 
• Spread Their Message in Person and on Social Media
• Participate in Local Activities like Beach Clean-ups

• Share what you’re learned with friends, family and neighbors — help to engage others!
• Keep yourself updated with current ocean news and events
• Host a viewing party for documentaries related to ocean issues. 
• Use social media to spread awareness about the ocean and its advocates
• Teach your kids about a sustainable lifestyle and making choices with the planet in mind
• Share painful truths as well as success stories. We cannot afford to hide from the truth but we also need to hold onto hope.
• Travel to the ocean and learn more about the wonders it contains

• Reducing is the most effective way to prevent new plastic from entering the ocean
• Buy products that can be reused many times
• Bring your own bags, straw, cups or mugs, utensils, and take-away containers
• Refuse single-use plastics when offered – Say no to single use plastics such as straws, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, water bottles, plastic bags, balloons, plastic-wrapped produce and take-out food containers.
• Reuse clothing — go to thrift stores or clothing swaps

• Buy local produce and seafood where possible. When you buy local and in season, it saves energy for transport or greenhouses. 
• Support small-scale and artisanal farmers, fishers, and ranchers when possible
• Ask restaurants and supermarkets how their fish was imported or caught to ensure that it is sustainably-caught wild seafood from well-managed wild fisheries. (You can find sustainable seafood guides for many regions online)
• Follow local catch-limits when fishing
• Ask yourself: Is this item reusable? Where was it produced? Is it made with recycled materials? Is it sustainable? 
• Choose glass jars over plastic containers as a more sustainable alternative 
• Purchase clothing made of cotton, a renewable resource which doesn’t include plastics

• Less water means less wastewater and runoff into the ocean
• Use a bowl in the sink when washing produce or dishes; use the waste water to water your plants.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge for when you want a cool drink.
• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth. 
• Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine or your dishwasher. 
• Take a quick shower instead of a bath. 
• Use a watering can in the garden instead of a sprinkler or a hose. 
• Collect rainwater off your roof. Using rainwater reduces the amount of treated water you use.
• Check regularly for leaks on your internal plumbing

• Learn about existing Marine Protected Areas and any proposed ones
• Visit Marine Protected Areas when possible
• Support the creation of new MPA’s with politicians
• Follow all conservation rules when you’re in a protected area
• Don’t be shy to speak up to those around you to ensure they also follow conservation guidelines

• All water is connected. Even if you’re not near the ocean, your runoff ends up there. 
• Reduce the use of chemicals in your home and on your property.
• Dispose of toxic household items properly: batteries, kitchen oils, medicines, etc.
• Look at the ingredients in your cleaning products and cosmetics.
• Use non-toxic cleaning products and low phosphate detergents. You can clean your home with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. Click Consumer Reports Greener Choices (https://www.greenerchoices.org/) for more information. 
• Avoid products (face wash, body scrub, toothpaste) with microbeads. If you’re not sure, click here for products containing microbeads: (https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/product-lists/)
• Use as little fertilizer as possible in your yard; grow plants suited to local conditioans, they won’t need fertilizer
• Buy produce grown without pesticidesa

• Buy in bulk when you can
• Buy products with less packaging
• Bring reusable bags to the store and reusable cups to get coffee
• Bring your own takeaway container when dining out
• Refuse straws, napkins, seasoning packets, and utensils with deliveries
• Never litter; be sure that the waste you generate is disposed of properly 
• Compost in your home. You can utilize food waste for gardening
• Donate gently used clothing, furniture, and other household items

• Respect all forms of life on Earth, be it plant or animal
• Plant more trees and grow more plants
• Don’t litter and clean up others’ waste when necessary
• Keep your distance from sea birds, mammals and ocean wildlife
• Tread lightly on coastal habitats
• Don’t remove rocks, seashells, or corals from their environment
• Don’t touch or feed wildlife

• Buy only ocean-friendly souvenirs; avoid shells, marine animals, coral, tortoiseshell or shark products
• Leave no litter or trash on beach visits or in the water. Clean up what others have left
• Make sure that others are also responsible tourists. Don’t be afraid to speak up if the hotel, taxi driver, tour guide, etc. isn’t being eco-friendly
• Be respectful of marine life and habitats: coral reefs, seagrass beds, nesting sea turtle sites, etc.
• Always use coral friendly sunscreen and personal products when entering the water
• When walking on sand dunes or near tidepools, be careful not to trample on fragile plant and animal species or their homes. 
• When snorkeling or diving, never touch the reef! Corals and other animals are fragile and easily killed by a grasping hand or careless flipper. 
• Never feed or handle marine animals; nor patronize businesses that do.
• Be careful where you anchor and ensure the companies you support are also conscious of the environment. Where permanent mooring lines are provided, use them. 
• Don’t throw trash into the water or allow waste fuel or oil to spill. 
• Be careful with fishing lines and nets to ensure they aren’t released.

• Think about what is in your pet food; make sure it is sustainably sourced
• If purchasing pets for an aquarium, enquire about how the animals were collected. Avoid wild caught marine life – many aquarium items come from fragile ocean ecosystems
• Don’t release unwanted marine pets into the ocean as this may not be their natural habitat

• Dry laundry on a clothesline, instead of dryer
• Replace old light bulbs and appliances with newer more energy efficient models
• Turn off lights when you leave a room
• Look for alternative energy sources available in your area
• Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator
• Replace existing windows with energy efficient models
• Use solar outdoor lighting instead of traditional electricity
• Open the windows instead of using air conditioning
• Unplug electronics when not in use
• Carpool, ride a bike, walk, even if only a few times a week, or use public transportation
• Combine trips in the car
• Use fuel efficient vehicles
• Watch your thermostat settings
• Purchase Carbon Offsets. These offsets support conservation activities that naturally store or remove carbon from the atmosphere.

• Many of these issues require leadership from governments and businesses. We must demand action from them and hold them accountable.
• Research the ocean politics of government officials before you vote
• Talk to restaurants and grocers to request local or sustainable products
• Directly contact public representatives and lawmakers to discuss these issues
• Urge companies to provide consumers with plastic-free alternatives 
• Support adoption of bans on single use plastic in your community
• Speak up, make your priorities known, and apply pressure. 
• Stay Informed. Educate yourself and pay attention to what’s happening in your community

• Support investment plans that reduce CO2 emissions. Support a transition to a zero carbon economy and eliminate the use of plastic 
• Support regulation to protect the ocean, marine life, and marine ecosystems
• Demand increased enforcement of conservation laws on corporations 
• Support a global ban on activities that harm the ocean; especially in the unregulated deep sea
• Seek a system that holds corporations accountable for their actions, and responsible for damaged ecosystems
• Insist on an plan to recover the health of the ocean