Pollution, declining fish populations, the destruction of coral reefs... Take action to preserve our oceans! Here are 8 eco-friendly things you can do every day to help preserve marine environments.
Removing any waste you find during your water activities is easy as (fish) pie! It's just a question of habit. Always bring along a mesh bag during your snorkelling or scuba diving sessions, or a rubbish bag when going to the beach. See some rubbish? Don't just look at it and huff, do something: pick it up! This small, environmentally responsible action is the best way to stop seeing waste in marine environments.
Respect the environment around you... During your diving training, you likely learned that respecting marine life comes down to one simple rule: never disturb marine animals. Don't chase them to take a photo, don't force them out of hiding, don't mistreat them. Take in the beauty of the coral under water, but never remove any as a souvenir! Be mindful too of the degradation of the sea floor: avoid knocking into animals attached to rocks or coral, and be extra careful with your fins. When diving, your excursion should have just as little impact as your air bubbles...
Experts estimate the amount of plastic in our oceans to be around 300,000 million tons. Why not change your habits now by replacing plastic at the source and replacing it with recyclable or durable materials? This simple act allows each of us to contribute to the preservation of the oceans. Here are a few easy-to-implement eco-friendly actions:~
Do you regularly consume seafood products? Be aware of what types of ocean-based products you're consuming! Make sure they come from reliable sources and sustainable fishing. Over-fishing, irresponsible fishing, and accidental fishing strongly contribute to declining fish populations. You should also avoid consuming certain species, such as bluefin tuna, which is highly sought-after and facing extinction. In the same vein, skip the shark fin soup, which is believed to be the cause of 100 million shark deaths every year.
There are many ways to get involved in the preservation of the environment. The first is at the individual level by modifying your own daily habits. But why not get even more involved by volunteering for beach and reef clean-ups, for example? Signing petitions and donating to recognised foundations for the protection of marine ecosystems is yet another way to get involved in the preservation of the underwater world.
Your behaviour speaks volumes. Why not set an example rather than droning on about ecology and protecting the oceans? It's the best way to convince those around you, your friends, family, and colleagues. Kids will immediately want to help. There's no better way to teach future generations respect for the world around them. Use social media to circulate images and videos and encourage people to get involved in preserving the environment.
Having a carbon footprint of 0 is impossible these days. But each person reducing their footprint as much as possible is decidedly the best way to reduce the impacts of climate change on our oceans. That's because rising sea levels and the acidification of the oceans is directly linked to greenhouse gas emissions. Have you tried reducing your energy usage? Opting for walking, cycling, or getting a fuel-efficient vehicle? Choosing local products that don't travel thousands of kilometres in a truck? All of these small, daily actions will have far-reaching repercussions on our oceans!
Keep a close eye on the products you buy, particularly luxury products. Some are made from endangered marine species like coral, or turtle or Nautilus shells, for example.
Wwf oceans conservation works
Hong Kong has rich marine biodiversity but our oceans are facing various threats, including coastal development, overfishing, plastic pollution and many more. Our precious marine life is in danger and we must act now to safeguard our marine habitats. Support us to fight for 30% Marine Protected Areas (MPA) by 2030!
Choose sustainable seafood
94% of the global wild fish stock are overfished or fully-fished. As a city that relies heavily on imports, Hong Kongers’ seafood choices are significant to support sustainable fisheries. Check out our Seafood Guide before making any purchases. By choosing sustainable seafood, we can restore depleted local fish stock as well as those regionally and globally!
Give room to chinese white dolphins!
Local dolphin number has dropped by over 80% in the past 17 years, threatened by habitat loss and degradation, as well as dwindling fisheries, marine traffic and other human threats. Support us to call for a “Development-free Dolphin Conservation Area”.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR OCEANS CONTINUE TO AMAZE US!
READY TO START ACTING TO SHOW THEM YOUR GRATITUDE? DON'T HESITATE TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS ON BECOMING MORE ECO-FRIENDLY IN THE COMMENTS.
