A Part of The Solution, Not the Problem

Preserving the ocean and all of its living creatures is one of my strongest passions, so my goal is to get more people to understand the importance of this. It is crucial that action takes place before its too late; otherwise, populations will be wiped out by overfishing, pollution will continue to threaten marine life, and acidification of the ocean through carbon dioxide will continue as well.

But what can be done to stop these things?

To be honest, a massive change must take place if these issues are going to be solved. But like I always say, no contribution is too small, and we can always start somewhere. 

Overfishing

1. Make sure the fish you're buying isn’t on the Overexploited List below

• Alaska Pollock
• Atlantic Cod or Scrod
• Atlantic Halibut (US and Canadian)
• Atlantic Salmon (wild and farmed)
• Atlantic Sea Scallop
• Bluefin tuna
• Big Eye Tuna
• Chilean Sea Bass (Patagonia Toothfish)
• Greenland Halibut (Black halibut, Atlantic turbot, Arrowhead flounder)
• Grouper (imported to the U.S.)
• Hoki (Blue Grenadier)
• Monkfish
• Ocean Quahog
• Orange Roughy
• Red Snapper
• Redfish (Ocean Perch)
• Sharks
• Skates and Rays
• South Atlantic Albacore Tuna
• Swordfish
• Tropical Shrimp (wild and farmed)
• Yellowfin Tuna

      2. Buy fish that came from local small-scale fisheries
      3. Ask your restaurants if their fish is sustainable

      4. Avoid eating farmed-fish; go with a wild catch instead

Pollution

1. Reduce your plastic intake as much as possible
2. Avoid one-use items (straws, bottles, bags)
3. Reuse as much as possible
4. Ditch the plastic shopping bags and use paper/fabric ones instead
5. Don’t litter
6. Pick up trash if you see it, walking past it is just as bad as
7. Recycle

   

   Do not buy produce that is unnecessarily packaged like
   this onion. Instead, ask your local grocers for a paper
   bag to put fresh produce in rather than a plastic bag. 

Carbon Footprint

1. Carpool when possible
2. Make your home energy efficient
3. Buy from your local farmers market to avoid processed foods
4. Reduce your water usage
5. Don’t let your car run if you’re not driving
   

Keep these things in mind the next time you go to the grocery store or even when you take a trip to the beach. Be cautious of the items you buy and throw away because plastic pollution continues to threaten wildlife every day. Be aware of your everyday activities that might need to be adjusted to reduce your carbon footprint, and remember that no contribution is too small and together we can "make a wave".

( Overexploited List from https://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/so-much-for-fish-chips-greenpeace-list-of-most-over-fished-species.html )