We think every day should be Oceans Day. Such a special place that gives us so much, think of all the great times you have had at the beach, it costs you nothing and gives you memories you'll never forget, right? But with so many problems, over fishing, coral bleaching, ocean trash, the sheer vastness of the oceans, it sometimes seems rather daunting. What can YOU do to help?
Direct Experience
Share your love for our oceans and beaches. In the end we only conserve what we love and we only love what we understand and have been taught. There is no better way to help conserve our oceans than to get more people experiencing and falling in love with our coastline. Take you children, your office staff, your friends, spend time at the beach, explore the rock pools, learn to surf, snorkel or scuba dive. There is nothing that can replace direct experience as a tool for conservation. It's very difficult to expect someone to conserve something they do not know or have not experienced themselves. Share the love!
There is nothing that can replace direct experience as a tool for conservation. It's very difficult to expect someone to conserve something they do not know or have not experienced themselves. Share the love!
Learn More
Learn more about the many issues our oceans and marine life are facing and what you can do to help. Watch documentaries on the oceans, Google things, understanding the real problems and moral dilemma we have on our hands really helps. This sort of research helps you remain informed and make better decisions about your consumer habits and the real complexity of our challenges. The oceans need a lot more informed people to make a real difference.
Watch your plate
Do not eat fish, if you must, keep it to a minimum, you are not eating a farmed animal like cows and chicken, fish are wildlife. It is not only fish but also fishing methods that are causing huge destruction of our coastal resources. All the illegal fishing you hear about, well it ends up on our plates. Check the side of your tuna can next time, it all comes from the same place. Global fish stocks are plummeting, the numbers are bleak....we're eating it, every can of tuna, every fishy take away meal ....it's all coming out of our oceans by the ton. Never mind the by-catch impacts. Every time you buy, you're helping fund this.
Global fish stocks are plummeting, the numbers are bleak....we're eating it, every can of tuna, every fishy take away meal....it's all coming out of our oceans by the ton. Never mind the by-catch impacts. Every time you buy, you're helping fund this.
Be nice to marine life
Fish and marine life in general are overlooked from an animal cruelty perspective, fish have long memories, they feel pain and they have complex social systems. Treat fish and marine animals with the same respect you would treat birds or other animals on land. We are not you must go vegan. Just saying, we should apply the same levels of empathy for marine life as we do for land animals. Think of fish as the birds of the sea.
Commit to treating our coastline like a nature reserve
Less than half a percent, yes, that's right only 0,5% of our oceans are conserved in South Africa. Considering our oceans and coastal goods and services contribute more than 35% of our GDP, one would expect better. But something doesn't need a fence and signs to be looked after. Make a commitment to treat our beaches and ocean the same way you would a nature reserve. Don't litter, explore and be amazed by nature, don't touch or remove anything, respect our coast for what it is, home to an amazing diversity of life and central to our own survival.
Don't litter, explore and be amazed by nature, don't touch or remove anything, respect our coast for what it is, home to an amazing diversity of life and central to our own survival.
Plastics Plastics Plastics
Ditching the straw helps, but it is akin to putting out a fire in a high rise building with a tea cup. We need to go much further than that! Our modern lifestyles make it very difficult to get by without using plastic BUT there are so many better alternatives. Support restaurants that use recyclable or compostable packaging. Be selective what you purchase, opt for the peanut butter in a glass jar rather than the plastic jar. Use refills. Buy local. Carry reusable shopping bags with you. Get your fruit and veg from local farmers markets. If you go to the beach, take some trash away with you. Be conscious of your choices.
Most important bit, get in the water, put on a mask and snorkel, once you see the living world down there, it's a lot tougher to ignore.
