You Have the Power to Save Ocean Wildlife

Photo credit: Laura Kasa

You would be hard pressed to meet an individual who was not a proponent of taking care of our oceans and the wildlife that call it home. Often we recognize the delicate ecosystem that exists between humans, animals and their natural habitats. We want to preserve these resources for future generations. The challenge lies in how we individually harness our power to work together and make a meaningful impact for ocean animals and their future. It is not as difficult as it may seem. You can ensure that the ocean and its inhabitants will exist for future generations by caring for the animals you encounter, promoting responsible stewardship and decreasing your personal mark on the environment.

Provide care for the animals you encounter

Respect the beaches, tide pools and the sea life that live there. . Practice safe boating by not disturbing the animals around you. Avoid sensitive habitats by being careful of the habitat on the bottom before anchoring. Keep your eyes open for whales, dolphins, turtles when you are out in the ocean so as not to disturb them. Keep your distance and protect sea life when fishing. Should you encounter an injured animal provide space, as to not appear threatening, and report the injured animal immediately. It is also important to report dead animals as well so that they can be removed and studied by scientists in order to gain valuable insight as to what may have happened to bring harm to them. In this way we can provide protection for them in the future. You can report an animal sighting here, and please note the time, date, location, type of animal, condition, and any visible features. If possible, please upload a photo to enhance your description.

Share your interest in and appreciation for the ocean

Encourage family, friends and children to appreciate ocean wildlife. Plan an early morning visit to the tide pools to explore. Take long walks on the beach while checking in on protected marine areas. Make sure to just use your eyes to see and do not remove or disturb any creatures living in these protected areas. Scout the beaches for trash and plastic and pick up what you can to keep our beaches clean.
We naturally take care of those things that we value. Model responsible behavior as your actions will speak volumes to others. Teach others what it means to care for the ocean and its animals. Connect with an organization that provides volunteer opportunities. Raise awareness through activism and petition signing. Take advantage of opportunities for group projects promoting company and coworkers involvement all while building morale and fostering teamwork. Be a leader and create a movement within your own social community.

Decrease your environmental footprint

If you want to help ocean wildlife, you can make choices that will be kinder to the environment that these animals call home. Consume less, travel wisely and use environmentally-safe products. Conserve resources such as water and electricity. Recycle and reuse whenever possible. Avoid relying on single use items and disposable plastics. Reduce travel and driving by increasing alternate forms of transportation like biking and walking. This will improve your health as well as the health of others. You can calculate your carbon footprint using the Environmental Protection Agency’s tool at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
Consider replacing toxic cleaners and hormone disrupting chemicals for ecologically safe substitutes. Clean items and wash your clothes when necessary using non-toxic cleaning products. When gardening select plants that thrive in your climate thereby reducing the need for fertilizers and chemicals. Be conscious of items that can end up in our oceans due to runoff through storm drains. Recycle your used medications at a participating pharmacy such as Sav-On or Walmart instead of flushing them down the toilet. When flushed the harmful chemicals are not removed by sewage treatment plants and end up out in the ocean, impacting the health of the animals. Support those companies that have sustainable fishing practices. According to the Smithsonian at ocean.si.edu, scientists estimate that since humans have practiced heavy fishing the large fish populations of the world’s ocean have decreased by 90%.
Small change creates a big impact. By adopting just a few of these practices we can work together in Saving Ocean Wildlife!

FREE Ocean wildlife guide!

Click here for your free guide to learn about the animals and find out which are endangered.

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