Tristyn Thomas, San Diego, CA
Living right next to the Pacific Ocean, I have seen the adverse effects of ocean pollution, or marine pollution, first hand. Whether it is stepping my feet into water and being quickly met by trash or seeing more and more marine animals wash up on shore, my experiences have motivated me to fight to minimize the damage our fast paced world has on the ocean around us.
Luckily, it isn’t too late to save our ocean, and I’ve been implemented eight changes to my everyday life that I encourage everyone to do:
Conserve water: Use less water so excess runoff and waste water will not flow into the ocean.
Reduce pollutants: Choose nontoxic chemicals and dispose herbicides, pesticides, and cleaning products properly.
Reduce waste: Cut down on what you throw away.
Shop wisely: Choose sustainable seafood. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable bag.
Reduce vehicle pollution: Use fuel efficient vehicles, carpool or ride a bike.
Use less energy: Choose energy efficient light bulbs and don’t overset your thermostat.
Respect Habitat: Treat the ocean with care.
Volunteer: Volunteer for cleanups at the beach and in your community.
Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean/help-our-ocean.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-pollution/