Guardians of the sea

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Sometimes we are not conscious that, although we live far from the sea and nature, our actions can still affect it. You can help to conserve the sea taking a few simple steps. Here are a few examples, be sure to add your own.

In your daily life

Eat sustainable seafood. Overfishing is one of the main threats that affect our oceans. Sustainable seafood is defined as species that are farmed or caught with techniques that can assure the long-term stability of that species as well as its ecosystem. Avoid eating or buying endangered species.

Reuse your water bottle. Did you know that 50% to 80% of ocean debris is plastic? Each year around 1 000 000 plastic bottles are found during international beach clean-up events. The best way to reduce plastics in the ocean is to reduce its use — using reusable water bottles and shopping bags is one way to protect our oceans. Even, you can replace plastic products by other materials, like glass or metal bottles, cotton bags. Remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle all your waste.

Bike more and drive less. Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home. Being conscious of your energy use at home and work is also important! A few daily tips: Public transport and biking to work are good ways of minding your carbon footprint. At home you could switch to long-lasting light bulbs, take the stairs and put an extra layer on or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

Flush for wildlife. Think before flushing something down the toilet. Some things should never be flushed, like cigarette buds, wipes, cotton bud sticks, medication, plasters, etc.

Short showers. Did you know that an average shower of 8 minutes could use up to 136L of water? Simple things like taking shorter showers (4 minutes) with water efficient showerheads could reduce water consumption up to 32L! This, combined with other small changes like not letting the water running while brushing your teeth and not putting the dishwasher on if it is not completely full, already makes a positive difference. Besides saving water, this will also help you save money at the end of the month!

Look for ocean-friendly products. Many substances come from marine organisms. Certain of these contribute to the harming of marine life, like jewelry and other products coming from corals or pearl oysters. Avoid purchasing items like shark liver oil (labeled as well as squalane or squalene) which can be found in moisturizers, lipsticks, deodorants but also sold in capsules from health stores as a remedy for some diseases. The alternative is to buy synthetically produced squalene or from vegetable sources.

Choose green detergents and household cleaners (or make your own). Besides being better for your own health, these products are safer for the environment since what goes down the drain can end up in our oceans. Click here if you would like to have more information on how to replace toxic cleaners with more environmentally–friendly ones.

Avoid using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Even if you do not live close by the coast, these products are filtered and pollute the soil and surface water. Once they are in the water system, they can finish up in the ocean. Try to find alternatives such as organic or ecological fertilizers. It will also be better for your own health! Help companies doing that, choosing products with no pesticides or with green label that guarantee you that they have not used it near water points.

Get hands on with a coastal clean-up event. In these events, the garbage is removed by the volunteers for a more responsible and healthier disposal and, where possible, recycling or reuse of the material fetched is encouraged.

Educate yourself about marine life and spread the word! All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you share what you know, the more people will become conscious about the problem and how they can contribute to protect our oceans! Share that knowledge to educate and inspire others. Talk to your friends, your kids, etc. Every person in your environment can make a change if they are conscious about the effect we have with our daily activities and how we can improve it.

Campaigning: Support initiatives protecting marine environment. Be active in protecting your local coast by supporting local actions or organisations and lobbying your local authorities and politicians.

Enjoying wildlife responsibly

Do not alter natural places. Avoid leaving the beaten path and stepping the sensitive areas, as dunes and small wetlands.

Leave everything where it was (including rocks, plants, animals, eggs…). If you want to remember that day, you can take a picture.

Do not disturb the animals. Do not touch or feed them. Avoid loud noises. If you observe marine animals from your ship, let security distance said by international and national regulation and good practice codes, especially with sea mammals.

Be careful of aliens! Do not release or plant aliens, nor through away the rest of them. If you visit some wetlands in the same day, clean your shoes in order to avoid transporting microorganism.

Responsible driving and boating. Reduce the speed in places where animals are. With your car, avoid dust in paths and park in marked areas.

Keep nature clean. Do not leave garbage or residues. Do not pour pollutant liquids (petrol, paint, solvents…), especially near rivers, wetlands and the sea. Maintain the engine and the tanks of your boat in good condition, avoiding spills.

If you sail with your boat, do not anchor in fragile sea communities. If you dive, do not touch anything and avoid skim or hit underwater communities.

If you see illegal actions, tell it to the authorities: it is illegal to hunt or fish using forbidden methods or in out-of- bounds places. Illegal discharges or dumping could affect Nature.

This Project has been funded by the Erasmus Plus Programme, with support from the European Commission

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