How to help save oceans and seas: Three ways to prevent pollution

Oceans and seas help fight climate change by absorbing more than 90% of the heat and 30% of the CO2 produced by pollution, according to the Ocean Conservancy. Yet the ocean can absorb less and less of these harmful greenhouse gases, meaning climate change is becoming a real problem. If we don't take action now to protect our oceans and seas, the damage to one of the most diverse and mysterious ecosystems,then our world's fish populations could be threatened. If you're looking for ways to get involved, here are three actionable ways you can help protect the carbon footprint of our oceans and seas and prevent pollution.

Facts about ocean and marine pollution

The oceans and seas have become increasingly polluted in recent years due to the effects of human activity. It is not only solid waste and plastics that are a problem, but also harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases. Here are five key facts you need to know about ocean and marine pollution:

- Wondering how much plastic is in the ocean? More than 150 million metric tons of plastic are in our waters, with another eight million metric tons added every year - the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic and waste being dumped every minute.
- The plastics polluting our oceans, seas and beaches harm fish life, killing over 100,000 sea turtles and ocean mammals each year, in addition to over one million birds and fish.
- Global sea levels have risen nearly 10 inches since 1900, with two of those increases occurring in the last ten years. This is after more than 2,000 years of little to no sea level change.
- Climate change will help our oceans too. Harmful algal blooms are the result of rising ocean temperatures and CO2 carbon footprint concentrations, causing dead zones in the aquatic ecosystem for fish and severe illness in human life.
- Ocean acidification resulting from excess CO2 threatens the entire marine food chain: plankton, shellfish and coral reefs cannot live in water that is too acidic.

Solutions to ocean and marine pollution

If you're wondering how to help the ocean and marine life, there are lots of fun and unique ways to find solutions to ocean and marine pollution, from raising money for environmental charities to volunteering. Discover the organizations that help protect and restore the world's oceans, and make sure you take advantage of the three ways you can get involved in saving the environment listed below.

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1. Support marine and ocean conservation projects through volunteering

If you live near a coastal area, there is probably a marine conservation project near you. Even if you live inland, you can always get involved and start fundraising to support marine conservation projects wherever they are. You can even start fundraising to volunteer abroad to help cover your program fees and travel expenses.

Here are a few examples of volunteer conservation programs that support marine life:

- Participate in sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Help build hatcheries for turtle eggs, ensure nesting habitats remain safe and clean, and work with locals to develop sustainable egg protection programs.
- Volunteer at one of the National Marine Sanctuaries managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Volunteer duties may include beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, and helping to identify whales.
- Help protect Bali's sea by building artificial reef structures that provide refuge for aquatic life.

2. Raise money for non-profit organizations or crowdfunding for seas and oceans

Raising money for environmental charities can be as simple as telling your story and sharing it on social media. This is especially true when you're crowdfunding for a nonprofit, because connecting with your donors and reaching a wide audience are key factors in successful fundraising. A few fun fundraising ideas for nonprofits include starting a "week without" type challenge - collecting donations instead of everyday luxuries, talking about sustainable seafood or even having a fancy coffee - and hosting a charity yard sale.

There is a lot of research out there about marine life and how best to protect it. Scientists estimate that at least 95% of the ocean has not been explored and still don't know the exact number of unique ocean species - though it may exceed one million. Starting a fundraiser for an ocean nonprofit is a great way to help promote marine conservation and environmental protection.

3. Start a recycling initiative

The more materials we reuse and recycle, such as plastics and other cleaning products, the less waste ends up in landfills and in our oceans and seas. You can help at home or abroad to promote recycling and reduce marine pollution. Start a recycling program in your city or among your friends by working with your local government, or by bringing recycling bins to your workplace and educating co-workers about what types of materials can be recycled.

Another idea is to start a fundraiser to raise money to support new or existing recycling programs in developing countries. Recycling programmes are crucial in beach and coastal areas where recyclable plastic materials end up as litter in the ocean.

You can help protect the ocean and the sea today!

One of the most amazing resources on the planet is under threat and we need to take action right now to protect our fish, ocean mammals and reduce further damage. Continuing efforts to reduce our impact on this precious marine ecosystem is the responsibility of all of us, and there are many ways you can help. Start fundraising to support your favorite ocean conservation organizations and see what you can do to keep our oceans and seas clean for generations to come. Contact me to consider and launch your campaign now.