Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash
Over 70% of the Earth's surface is water. Our oceans contain life, regulate our climate, and are vital to our ecosystem. The ocean’s shores and beaches are some of the most popular tourist destinations across the world.
Growing up, I learned how vast the ocean is, the travelers who sailed it, and about deep sea ocean life. But there is some practical ocean knowledge that I am still learning and some that I wish I had known sooner.
Here are a few “fun” facts that can help protect our oceans:
1. Sunscreen is vital to protecting against skin cancer but has recently been shown to be detrimental to ocean life, especially the coral reef system. Some regions such as Hawaii have banned the use of particular sunscreens.
How we can help: Look for all-natural sunscreens or “reef-safe” sunscreens if you’re planning to swim in the ocean. These are better for the ocean and likely better for your skin as well.
2. Starfish absorb oxygen through the water, and removing them from the water could lead to suffocation. Sunscreen and other natural oils on our hands can also harm them.
How we can help: When it comes to starfish, it's best to look but not touch!
3. Plastic is still the top ocean pollutant. This affects the lifespan of ocean life and contaminates the food we eat.
How we can help: Minimize overall plastic usage. I have also seen forums where people encourage the idea of “1:1”, every person visiting a beach picks up one piece of garbage to dispose of. Imagine how this could affect our footprint.
There are many ways we can contribute to bettering our environment if we take the time to learn and share constructive ideas. The next time you are visiting a body of water, consider researching how you can contribute to keeping the area safe and clean so we can continue sharing our waters.
Written by: Emily Onheiser, Senior Search Consultant at Hunter Crown, LLC
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