Saving Our Oceans
Never will you meet so many sea experts and amateur meteorologists and as you do in the line-up at a surf break. Tracking weather patterns, predictions, history and anomalies, surfers are quick to admit that their awareness has developed in several scientific areas from surfing. Tide knowledge, weather tracking and ocean conservancy have become second nature for those of us in the water.
By catching waves on a consistent basis along our pristine Atlantic coastline, we have also become stronger advocates of clean water and ocean preservation. Beyond the surfers in our community, we should all take steps to promote awareness and increase sea saving behavior.
If we increase our awareness and make small changes, we can help protect our water and environment.
When shopping for fish, opt for sustainable seafood, sending a signal to purveyors so consumer demand will have an impact on the industry’s use of sustainable fishing methods. Removing trash from our beaches through a beach cleanup or when you are on a walk keeps trash out of the water. Wildlife can ingest or become tangled in whatever we leave behind, including fishing line, lures and gear.
Reusable packaging reduces the amount of waste in our overflowing garbage bins, generating less trash to be managed. If you have been to Ditch on a typical summer day you have seen the overflow of garbage onto our precious beaches. Protect oil, gas and sewage from spilling into the ocean while you are boating, and try to reduce your carbon footprint on land by riding your bike or carpooling more often. Even when getting gas, avoid topping off so you can avoid spilling oil.
When home, avoid fertilizers and pesticides on your lawn as these easily become contaminated runoff polluting our waters. And if you are washing the car, try to do so on grass so there is a buffer of soil before it can reach the water. In general if we use less water, the amount of water that needs to be treated with chemicals is reduced.
Little steps become bigger habits. What may seem minor, little changes in our behavior can have a major impact on our environment. Even if you’re not a surfer.
