How to Protect Ocean Life — Top 10 Amazing Tips

Life thrives in all areas of the ocean, from deep, cavernous trenches to shallow intertidal zones.

This watery world is home to animals and plants of all types, sizes, and species, with some ecosystems, such as kelp forests, supporting up to 1,000 different species.

Many of these species are vital to both ocean environments and human survival.

Many of our daily items, such as toothpaste and ice cream, would not be possible without alga such as kelp.

Understanding, tracking, and preserving these remarkable animals, from the tiniest plankton to the world’s largest mammal, the blue whale, is an important part of the National Park Service’s mission.

Since the ocean is downstream of everything, our activities have an effect on the ocean and the marine life it harbors, regardless of where we live.

Oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface and are home to essential organisms and habitats that we rely on for food, livelihoods, climate control, and other purposes.

However, the oceans need our assistance.

Saving the oceans can seem daunting at times, but if we all work together, we can make a huge difference.

Here are Top 10 Lifestyle options that will help preserve and rebuild our oceans & Ocean Life for future generations if they are embraced.

Table of Contents

1) Use fewer Plastics and Disposables

That’s the name given to the massive quantities of plastic and other marine waste floating around in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, one of the world’s five largest ocean gyres. Regrettably, each gyre appears to have its own garbage patch.

Plastic, which can last for hundreds of years and leaches toxins into the water, poses a threat to wildlife.

Reduce the amount of plastic you use.

Whenever possible, buy products with less packaging, avoid using disposable items, and use reusable bags instead of plastic bags.

2) Stop the Problem of Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification, also known as “the other global warming issue,” has become a hot topic in the ocean world as a result of global warming.

If ocean acidity rises, it will have disastrous consequences for marine organisms, including plankton, corals, and shellfish, as well as the animals that consume them.

However, you may take immediate action to address this issue. Reduce global warming by taking easy measures that will save you money in the long run: drive less, walk more, use less energy and water, and so on.

Reduced “carbon footprint” would support marine organisms thousands of miles away.

While the prospect of an acidic ocean is frightening, we can improve the health of the oceans by making a few simple changes in our actions.

3) Eat Sustainable Seafood

The world’s fisheries are on the brink of extinction.

Three-quarters of the world’s fisheries are either overexploited, completely exploited, substantially depleted, or recovering from overexploitation, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Ask your seafood restaurant or fish market to buy from sustainable fisheries if you have a sustainable seafood card.

4) Buy Ocean-Friendly Products

Avoid goods that are made in an unhealthy or environmentally damaging way. Stop shark squalene-containing cosmetics and jewellery made of coral or sea turtle shells, for example.

These goods are directly related to unsustainable fishing practices and habitat degradation.

5) Participate in a Cleanup

The trash in the atmosphere will endanger both marine life and humans! Clean up a nearby beach, park, or highway to prevent litter from entering the marine environment.

And garbage that is hundreds of miles away from the ocean has the potential to float or blow into it.

One way to contribute is to engage in the International Coastal Cleanup. This is a cleaning that takes place every September.

You may also check with your local coastal zone management office or environmental protection agency to see if any cleanups are scheduled.

6) Use Reusable Plastic Products

Plastic pollution in the ocean harms aquatic ecosystems and kills many marine species.

When aquatic birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals eat floating plastic that looks like food, their digestive tracts get clogged, causing them to choke or starve.

Using plastic shopping bags and reusable water bottles to help avoid these premature deaths.

7) Properly Dispose of Hazardous Materials

Since motor oil and other dangerous materials are not properly disposed of, they often wash into coastal areas.

This pollutes the water and jeopardizes the sustainability of our oceans as a whole. Make sure the hazardous waste is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

8) Use Less Fertilizer

Excess fertilizer used in gardening and cultivation inevitably makes its way into the ocean.

During the spring and summer, the Gulf of Mexico experiences a “dead zone” — an region with extremely low oxygen levels in the water — the size of New Jersey.

Since all aquatic life, including fish and shrimp, need oxygen to survive, they must leave the region or perish. Many other coastal regions are in jeopardy as well.

So, go easy on the fertilizer and note that more isn’t always better.

9) Reduce Energy Use

Our oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fossil fuels.

The disappearance of corals on a global scale may be one of the consequences, as the rising acidity of the water weakens their calcium skeletons. You can save energy in a number of ways that are both easy and efficient.

In your house, use high-efficiency appliances.

When appliances aren’t in service, switch them off. In the summer, turn the thermostat up a few degrees, and in the winter, turn it down a few degrees.

In your home, use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

10) Increase your ocean IQ

You’ll be better positioned to inspire change — and to help others do the same — if you learn more about the ocean.

Fortunately, there are many resources available to educate yourself about the ocean and the problems it faces, including books, films, websites, museums, art exhibitions, and more.

If you’re a teacher, WWF’s Wild Classroom, an online library of specially built resources to help you bring ocean conservation to your classroom, is a great place to start.