Today, Thursday 8 June, is World Oceans Day - a day to celebrate the oceans of the world and how we can better protect them. We are becoming increasingly aware of the impact human actions are having on the oceans and the detrimental effects this could have for our planet. The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of earth’s biodiversity. Also, the ocean is a huge part of our economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean-based industries by 2030. With 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, the time to act is now. Luckily, there are lots of simple steps we can all take to help prevent the loss of our most beautiful natural resource.
Make sustainable food choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing to leave seafood off your plate or by making more sustainable choices such as only eating locally caught fish.
Reduce your plastic usage
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and kill tens of thousands of marine animals every year. Some easy ways to reduce your impact is to use a reusable water bottle, bring your own reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
Be an ocean-friendly pet owner
When choosing food for your pet, always read the food labels and consider the sustainability of the seafood used. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life, make sure you dispose of it safely. You should also avoid buying wild-caught saltwater fish to keep in a fish tank, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean as it can introduce non-native species that can be detrimental to native populations.
Take care of the beach
We all enjoy spending our time at the beach, but it is so important to make sure you keep the beaches clean and tidy. Always dispose of your litter or take it home. If you explore the ocean, do so without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. You can also participate in local beach cleans to help combat littering.
Avoid harmful products
There are many products directly linked to harming endangered or threatened species, unsustainable fishing methods and pollution. Avoid products such as cosmetics that contain shark squalene or ambergris from whales, jewellery and accessories made of coral or sea turtle shell, souvenir shells and other sea animals like starfish.
We hope you will join us in celebrating World Oceans Day and take the steps we all need to take in order to protect our oceans. You can shop our ocean inspired products here.