There are so many reasons why we need to protect our ocean. The ocean is an important part of the biosphere, it produces oxygen and absorbs the majority of carbon dioxide, it regulates our climate and weather patterns. Over 3 billion people depend on the ocean for their livelihood. It not only provides seafood but also medicinal ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, heart disease etc. There are many more and countless benefits provided to our planet by the ocean. You can do your bit to save the ocean with the following practices.
1.Reduce Carbon Emissions
Oceans play an important role in keeping the earth’s carbon cycle in balance. The more the amount of carbon dioxide increases, the more is the absorption of carbon dioxide by the ocean. The CO2 reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid and causes more acidity in the seawater. The increase in acidity is harming marine life, making it hard for shellfish to build shells or corals to build skeletons for protection. Corals, in fact, is a home for many sea creatures. You can cut the carbon footprint at home by switching off lights, plugging off electronic gadgets when not in use, carpool, walk or ride a cycle to work.
2.Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Did you know that 8.8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year? Single-use plastic such as non-reusable water bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers etc. mostly end up in the ocean and environment. These plastics, in turn, pollute our ocean and can destroy the ecosystem posing danger to marine life. Swirling patch of microplastic waste in the Pacific Ocean spread out over an area is bigger than France, Germany and Spain combined. Avoid using single-use plastic as much as possible and switch to sustainable choices.
3.Reduce Pollutants
Humans have been using chemicals to treat weeds and pests and it is found that a majority of chemical waste is both from industrial and agricultural processes. At least, two-third of aquatic life is considered to be endangered because of improper disposal of chemical waste. These chemicals are washed into rivers & streams and end up in the ocean. This kills the sea mammals, corals, fishes. It can also adversely affect us through the food chain. Chemical should be disposed off through Hazardous waste disposal companies. Choose non-toxic chemicals, pesticides for agriculture and farming.
4.Sustainable Fishing
The demand for seafood and advances in technology have led to fishing practices that are depleting fish and shellfish populations around the world. Fishers remove more than 77 billion kilograms (170 billion pounds) of wildlife from the sea each year. At this rate, scientists feel that it will collapse the world’s fisheries. Sustainable fishing like fishing practices that simultaneously harvest and maintain fish populations will help save marine life. Fishing of certain species only during certain times of the year or fishing only for the requirement. At your end, you can take a break from eating seafood.
5.Don’t litter at the beach
Litter such as cigarette butts, food wrappers, and plastic bottles can simply be left behind by beachgoers and travellers. This habit is affecting sea wildlife, we shouldn’t forget beaches are also home to some animals, including sea turtles and birds, they use beaches as nesting areas. Other animals may use sand dunes for both food and nesting areas. The litters are also swept into the ocean causing danger to many species and adversely us. Always disposed-off the waste in a receptacle. You can go for a beach cleaning drive.
Small practices for saving the ocean will make a lot of difference. While you consider these practices, here are some fun facts about the oceans for you as a bonus.
- The Pacific ocean is wider than the moon.
- Oceans have their own trenches, mountain, volcanoes, rivers and lakes.
- 94% of life on earth is aquatic which means those of us living on land is just 6%
- Water at the bottom of the sea is super hot
- The pressure at the bottom of the ocean can crush you like an ant.
- The loudest ocean sound is from an icequake
- You can’t drink seawater but you can drink sea ice.
- About 70% of the atmosphere’s oxygen comes from the ocean
- There are 3 million shipwrecks in the ocean including the Titanic
- The ocean has more artefacts than all of the world’s museums combined.
Let’s be inclusive, the planet is not just for us.