Earth Day Every Day: Little Things You Can Do to Help Keep the Oceans Clean

Our oceans are both stunning and extraordinary. Bringing life, energy, and beauty to our planet, they remind us of the remarkable earth we live on. Their vast and gorgeous waters are filled with incredible inhabitants and ecosystems that leave us humbled and grateful.

Although the world beneath the surface is astonishing, alive, and awe-inspiring, there is an astounding number of pollutants and problems that wreak havoc on this underwater world of wonder. From plastic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, and whale entanglement, the need to discover more ways to prevent ocean pollution are increasing.

As a dolphin and whale watching company in the Dana Harbor of Dana Point, California, we spend a large majority of our time near the marine environment connecting with the sea life, while being first-hand witnesses of these problems. These problems lead us to implement sustainable living tips in an effort to find ways to prevent ocean pollution.

From our experience with the oceans and marine life during our whale watching in Southern California, we have come to discover several ways to prevent ocean pollution, and strive to spread the word with you in an effort to stop ocean pollution. The health and well-being of our ocean is an important issue to be aware of, and we hope that our insight will inspire you in your own ways to prevent ocean pollution.

One of the most important sustainable living tips to stop ocean pollution has much to do with the products we use in our daily lives. These products include plastics, which end up in our oceans. With an estimated 12 million metric tons of plastic entering our oceans each year, this plastic pandemic affects both marine animals and the environments in which they live.

While we look for ways to prevent ocean pollution, one of the most important sustainable living tips includes cutting back on plastic use, most especially single-use plastic like plastic bags and plastic straws.

Switching to more eco-friendly options while implementing ways to prevent ocean pollution is a great start. Sustainable living tips include using a reusable water bottle, reusable bags, and replacing household plastic items such as toothbrushes and containers to more sustainable materials such as bamboo and glass. Disposing of trash and plastics in the appropriate bins, (especially recyclables,) while helping and teaching your loved ones to do the same, is also one of the best ways to prevent ocean pollution.

While cutting back on plastic and switching to more eco-friendly options is one of the most important sustainable living tips when looking for ways to prevent ocean pollution, there are several more noteworthy things we can do to keep our oceans clean.

One of the additional ways to prevent ocean pollution is to be wise about water use. Water is a necessity among all life forms on the planet and a substance we use in countless ways. From cleansing, hydrating, and aiding in personal hygiene, water is an element that we simply cannot live without. It is the main element of the earth’s hydrosphere, and with over 70% of the earth made up of ocean, it has an incredible impact on our planet’s health.

Making wiser choices regarding water use is one of the best ways to prevent ocean pollution.

As we make better decisions regarding the water we use daily, it has a ripple effect on how we treat our oceans. These choices include being more aware of how much time is spent in the shower and cutting back on excess water use, fixing leaky pipes, and switching to alternative sprinkler and low-flow/low-water systems.

Simply being more aware, conscious, and cutting back on our water use choices is a wonderful way to help, and will be more economically sound for your monthly water bill and budget Most importantly, conserving water eliminates excess wastewater from flowing into our oceans and causing pollution.

With the importance of plastic pollution and responsible water use at the top of our list, another simple thing we can do is to connect with nature and recognize it is an integral and important part of our daily lives. How does this simple step tie into keeping our oceans clean?

As we connect with nature in various ways; from hikes, walks, surfing, sailing, and so many more, we begin to feel a deeper sense of appreciation for our planet. This appreciation leads to better choices that help us be more aware of what impact we each have on the earth.

From consuming less, recycling more, shopping locally, eating seasonally, taking an afternoon to plant a tree, and being wise about energy consumption by choosing solar or switching to energy-saving light bulbs, the list goes on for ways many can make simple changes to express love and appreciation for the planet. While doing so, you can reduce your carbon footprint and aid in eliminating carbon dioxide which has a negative impact on the oceans by increasing the acidity in the water, thus harming the plant and animal life within it.

While the list of simple ways to go green continues to grow, one more significant way to keep our oceans clean and healthy is to switch to sustainable seafood. An extraordinary number of marine wildlife are being harmed and killed due to overfishing and entanglement.

Nearly 300,000 dolphins and whales die each year worldwide due to entanglement in fishing gear, wreaking havoc in the oceans. Being more aware, spreading this news, and choosing sustainable seafood options in your community, helps to support those who are striving to assist and save the marine environment.

So whether you choose to make a pact with a pal to cut out plastic or plant a tree at your neighborhood park, we wish you the best and appreciate all of your efforts to make our oceans a little cleaner. Every effort counts!

All the best,

Your Friends at Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari