There are as many reasons as human beings to take care of the oceans, they are the lungs of the planet since most of the oxygen we breathe is produced through photosynthesis by marine organisms, phytoplankton, and plants: all of which come from the ocean.
Did you know…
- The ocean makes up 71% of the earth’s surface
- 97% of the planet’s water is in the ocean and much of the fresh water we consume comes from here
- 90% of the species of this planet depend on the ocean, including human beings
- Only 1% of the ocean surface is protected
- Around 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the seas and, as a result, there is now an island called “Landfill Island” located in what is now known as “The Sixth Continent”
- It is estimated that by 2023, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea
- Fish are poisoned by feeding on microplastic waste
How can you care for the oceans?
Our human habits harm the marine ecosystems, that is why we offer the following tips to take care of the oceans:
- Reduce your energy consumption: leave your car at home whenever you can and reduce energy use at home and at work.
- Limit your impact: recycle whenever you can, store your food in reusable containers, take and use reusable bags when going shopping, etc.
- Take care of the beaches: after each activity you do on the beach, clean up your waste, do not interfere with the wildlife of the ocean, or remove rocks or corals and take 3 pieces of rubbish when you leave the beach, waterway or anywhere. Also, encourage others to respect the environment and participate in local activities such as beach cleanups.
- Buy sustainable products: some products contribute to the damage of coral reefs and marine populations. Do no buy coral jewelry or products made from shark or turtle.
- Buy your pet’s food thinking about marine sustainability: read the labels, do not throw waste in the toilet, etc. Also, do not release aquarium fish or other bodies at sea since they can be nonnative species and therefore harmful to the local ecosystem.
- Find out about the oceans and marine life: if you are aware of the problems facing the sea, you will want to ensure its survival and welfare.
A couple of years ago, a scientific team from the Kyoto Institute of Technology (Japan) discovered a bacterium unknown before that is capable of digesting and assimilating plastic. That is, it can live by feeding on PET (polyethylene terephthalate), one of the most used plastics by the food industry. Thus, this bacteria is becoming an important ally in cleaning the planet.
Remember that most plastic ends up in the ocean, so reduce your use and consumption of plastic to a minimum, and continue to look for solutions together with us to take care of the oceans.
At Nutty Scientists, we have different workshops on sustainable development, recycling, and climate change which teach children in a fun and interactive way about the importance of taking care of the planet.
An example of one of these activities is the Lipasam Challenge Campaign that Sevilla’s Nutty Scientists team performs with little ones.
Resources:
Discovery of a bacterium that eats plastic, an ally for cleaning the planet.
