World Ocean Day is held on June 8 every year. The concept was proposed in 1992 at the International Center for Marine Development in Canada, during the Earth Summit – United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In this day we should focus on conservative actions to grow the community to protect our precious oceans. Most of the waste plastics and polythene regardless of the place of the disposal end up in the oceans. I observed this more closely while Independence Day beach cleanup meetup hosted by @ravindus . Most waste in the sea is not just thrown directly to the sea but brought by the rivers. Therefore even if we not live in coastal areas all of us have responsibility for protecting oceans ensure healthy home for great number of living species including great blue whales.
Every adventure starts small. The same is true for saving our ocean. One person can make a difference and that person is you.
How to be an Ocean Hero being at Home
Our seas and coasts affect us all-even us who do not live near the coastline.
Therefore your choice is important no matter where you live, because marine health is closely related to human health and determines the climate of our planet and even the quality of the foods we eat.
Try to reduce your carbon foot print by choosing more seasonal fruits and veggies, walk or ride a bicycle instead of driving, change to electric vehicles, use public transportation and so on.
Eliminate toxic chemicals by organic farming, reduce using chemicals at home for cleaning etc.
Say No to plastic and try to find alternatives which Eco-friendly. Stop using single use plastic cups and straws, use refillable water bottle and carry where ever you go, try to re use plastics and recycle.
Be a leader in your community
You may not think of yourself as a leader. But as a Local guide you have the experience and the exposure most people haven’t. As a open water licensed diver and my passion for the underwater world I can say that together we can inspire others to follow our footsteps. We all have the power to make a difference.
Protect the ocean and your local beaches by clean up the beaches and remove any trash left behind by others.
Be a volunteer for beach cleanups and coral restoration projects, Never remove corals, rocks or shells from sea and do not interfere with marine life.
Be a role model to others and ditch the disposable lifestyle and be a voice for the ocean
Be a sustainable shopper. Try to buy up-cycled products whenever possible.
@kasunaaa This is a wonderful post to make awareness on protecting our underwater earth on Oceans day 2020. As you correctly mentioned each and everyone has their own role in protecting Oceans. if everyone can contribute even in a little way, we could together make a huge difference.
I missed diving and visiting our underwater friends during last few months due to the COVID lockdown. I saw photos of a lot of used masks floating on the sea. The sudden increase in mask use and improper disposal of the used mask is the cause of this.
Guys please dispose of your used masks properly. Don’t let them end up in the waterways
Hi @kasunaaa I can offer another ocean saving tip, one that I’m all too familiar with working in the water industry.
Make sure you bin your rubbish/trash - don’t just drop it on the ground. All that waste eventually makes its way to the ocean because that is where all water goes and the water will carry it there. Even waste that goes into treatment plants makes it out the other side, especially plastics as the plant beats them into fragments that get flushed out to sea with the clear water.
@ravindus Very true that used masks without proper disposition will be a new issue which will increase the pollution specially single use masks. One solution may be a reusable masks which can use longer.
@PaulPavlinovich The most waste ins the sea has come through waterways to the sea and we have to make sure proper disposal of waste especially plastics. Many people don’t realize that garbage that dumps along roadside may end up in the ocean threatening living species in the sea.
Hey @kasunaaa , this is amazing thanks for sharing this. The beach clean-up is a great initiative undertaken by you guys. Also the underwater photos are magical and I appreciate your passion regarding the same. Thank you again. Take care.
I went down to the ocean this morning @kasunaaa - I got there about 6.30am and stayed until about 11.30am making photos around the area and picking up some rubbish.
@PaulPavlinovich great way to celebrate oceans day. Thank you for sharing nice picture. Have you used shutter priority in order to get this shot or is it fully manual?
@kasunaaa first of all, Thanks for tagging me in your wonderful post. I think it’s a great guide line too, for the people who loves mother nature and our beautiful planet.
I m agree with your all points.
And want to share one the small effort which we to create awareness for Pollution Free Oceans.
@kasunaaa – thanks for tagging me. Happy World Oceans Day to you and @ravindus !
The following photos were taken in March, yes, March of this year! After visiting this Hawaiian island, Kauai, now 10 times, I saw this Hawaiian Sea Green turtle, which unfortunately is getting rarer and rarer to see this close.
Fortunate to see this beach and all of the beaches around this island is clean. People pick up after themselves. There are trash and recycling containers all along the beach.
@KarenVChin Wow wonderful photos and thank you for sharing those. You are lucky to see such a big sea turtle so close and it is good that public is not allows reach him.
You re so fortunate to be in a such nice beach during this pandemic time while we are not allowed yet.
Thanks for sharing this great initiative with us! We really need to take care and protect our beautiful planet in any possible way, whether is raising awareness, cleaning up, reducing our footprint, sharing good practices or increasing green and sustainable activities.
For anyone interested in reading more stories on the same topic, I suggest the following posts:
This was less than 3 weeks before the lockdown. Kauai was the first of the Hawaiian Islands to set up mandatory curfew from 9 pm to 5 am March 20. No one can leave their homes, except for essential workers during those hours.
This island has a population of 70,000+ and one hospital for the island. The mayor did want tourists to visit. He imposed a 14 day self quarantine if you flew in, tourists and locals (from the other islands or if you flew in from the Mainland) before any of the other islands. NOTE: Tourism is Hawaii’s Number 1 industry.
That is why this turtle photo is even more special to me because the world changed. How we can travel. Be in public and in crowds. Last time we will visit family. This is the last Hawaii trip for us until there is a vaccine.
What beautiful photos @ErmesT ! Care for the Ocean is a huge concern in our days. In school we have different projects related to the Ocean. My kid is in the marine scouts. And I also must mention an artist from Portugal that have sculptures made from trash all around the world Bordalo II. Thanks for your great post @kasunaaa !
I am not living there, @kasunaaa , I live in Italy. We don’t have the Ocean here, that’s why I decided to use some photos I took in Portugal years ago. The Ocean is absolutely amazing in there.
Thanks @Patriciapraca , but my photos are only representing the beauty of the area (North of Sintra), so I only had to click
Take care.
Bhai
