Saving the Ocean: Tips for Pollution Prevention

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| 8 min read Crowdfunding

Oceans help combat climate change by absorbing over 90% of the heat and 30% of the CO2 produced by pollution. Yet the ocean can absorb less and less of these harmful greenhouse gasses as it heats up—meaning climate change is becoming a real problem. If we don’t take action now to help protect our oceans, the damage to one of our world’s most diverse and mysterious ecosystems and fish populations could become permanent. If you’re on the search for ways to get involved now,  we have discovered three actionable ways you can help protect the ocean carbon footprint and prevent pollution.

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10 facts about ocean pollution

The ocean has become increasingly polluted in recent years due to the effects of human activity. It is not only solid waste and plastics that are a concern, but also harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses as well. Here are ten key ocean pollution facts you need to know:

  1. Wondering how much plastic is in the ocean? Over 150 million metric tons of plastic products are in our waters, with an additional eight million metric tons added each year—the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic and waste every minute.
  2. Plastics pollute our oceans, killing 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds every year.
  3. 8 million pieces of plastic pollution make their way into the ocean every day (OSPAR, 2009) and 5.25 trillion macro and microplastics may now be floating in the open ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes
  4. Garbage patches can be the size of a whole state. There is an Ocean Garbage Patch Twice the Size of Texas just off the coast of California known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Garbage patches are caused by ocean currents creating a continuous vortex which accumulates litter.
  5. It takes more than 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down. Over time it will slowly fragment into smaller and smaller pieces but will never truly disappear. That means every piece of plastic ever made is still around.
  6. The amount of plastic that exists in the ocean could Cover the Earth 400 Times. To put that into perspective, earth has a radius of 6317 kilometers. Picture that and multiple it by 400.
  7. Global sea levels have risen nearly 10 inches since 1900, with two of those inches happening in the past ten years. This is after more than 2,000 years of little to no change in sea level.
  8. Helping climate change will help our oceans, too. Harmful algal blooms are the result of rising ocean temperature and CO2 carbon footprint concentration, causing dead zones in the aquatic fish ecosystem, and severe illnesses that can affect humans.
  9. Ocean acidification, a result of excess CO2, threatens the entire marine food chain: plankton, shellfish, and coral reefs are unable to live in water that is too acidic.
  10. You may think ocean pollution is caused from fishing and other water based activity but in reality 80% of ocean trash is caused by on land activity such as garbage disposal, littering and food industries.

Ocean pollution solutions

If you’re wondering how to help the ocean and marine life, there are many fun and unique ways to find ocean pollution solutions, from raising money for environmental charities to volunteering your time. Discover the organizations that are helping protect and restore the world’s oceans, and make sure you learn three ways you can take part in saving the environment.

1. Support marine conservation projects through volunteer work

If you live near a coastal area, there is likely a marine conservation project underway near you. Even if you live inland, you can always get involved and start a fundraiser to support marine conservation projects, no matter where they are. You can even start a fundraiser for volunteering abroad, to help cover the program fees and your 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, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Volunteer duties may include saving beaches with cleaning products, monitoring water quality, and helping to identify whales.
  • The Nature Conservancy offers a variety of volunteer opportunities related to marine conservation and environmental protection, internationally and in all 50 states.
  • Help with marine conservation in Bali, by building artificial reef structures that provide a sanctuary for aquatic life.

2. Raise money for nonprofits

Raising money for environmental charities can be as simple as telling your story and sharing on social media. This is especially true when crowdfunding for nonprofits, as connecting with your donors and reaching a wide audience are both keys to a successful fundraiser. A couple of fun fundraising ideas for nonprofits include starting a “week without” challenge—collecting donations in lieu of everyday luxuries, talking about sustainable seafood or even like fancy coffee—and hosting a charity yard sale.

There is still much research to be done on 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 could be well over one million. Starting a fundraiser for an ocean nonprofit is a great way to help promote marine conservation, and protect the environment in the process.

3. Start a recycling initiative

The more material we reuse and repurpose, such as plastic and other cleaning products, the less waste ends up in landfills and in our oceans. You can help either at home or abroad to promote recycling and help reduce marine pollution. Start a recycling program in your community by working with your local government, or bring recycling bins to your workplace and educate coworkers on what types of material can be recycled.

Another idea is to start a fundraiser to raise money to support new or existing recycling programs in developing countries. Recycling programs are of extra importance in beach and coastal areas, where plastic materials that could be recycled end up as trash in the ocean instead.

How can we help stop the ocean from warming

There is no quick fix to cooling down our oceans and it requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are three ways you can help as an individual.

  1. Reduce Carbon Footprint
    • Become energy efficient: Where possible, use energy-efficient appliances, switch to LED lighting, and improve home insulation to reduce energy consumption. You can also consider installing solar panels if feasible.
    • Put the car keys down: Reduce car use by walking, biking, carpooling, or using public transportation.  You could even switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle if possible.
    • Conserve Water: Use water-saving fixtures and reduce water waste, as water treatment and heating consume energy.
  2. Adopt Sustainable Practices
    • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Minimize waste by reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials. Properly dispose of electronic waste and avoid single-use plastics.
    • Lay off meat: Reduce meat consumption, particularly beef and lamb, which have high carbon footprints. Opt for plant-based meals and support sustainable, locally sourced food options.
    • Energy-Saving Habits: Turn off lights, electronics, and appliances when not in use. Use programmable thermostats to optimize heating and cooling.
  3. Support Renewable Energy
    • Green Energy Options: If available, choose a green energy plan from your utility provider that sources electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar.
    • Advocate for Renewables: Support policies and initiatives that promote renewable energy development in your community and beyond.

Fundraisers to help the ocean

Many people have turned to crowdfunding as a way to make a positive impact and help save the fish and ocean. Take a look at a couple of examples of how others are using fundraising to support marine conservation.

Help the turtles

Staff at Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire have decided to swim around Klein Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean in order to raise funds to carry out sea turtle research in the area where they are based called Lac. Lac Bay is Bonnaire’s most important green turtle foraging ground in Bonaire. In recent years the STCB team have noticed that turtle growth rates in Lac Bay have been decreasing. The have raised $8,000 to carry out their research to find out why.

Help preserve endangered wildlife areas

The south end of Topsail Island, fondly known as The Point, is one of the last undeveloped tracts of a barrier island in North Carolina. This 150 acre property is home to endangered wildlife and beloved by thousands of residents and visitors. Unfortunately the beloved area is in danger of being developed, but The NC Coastal Land Trust is doing everything in their power to stop this. They need to raise $8 million by March 2025 to purchase the land to turn it into a conservation area. They have set a community funding target of $2 million and have raised more than $800,000 so far.

You can help ocean conservation efforts today

One of the planet’s most amazing resources is in jeopardy, and we must 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 us all, and there are many ways you can search for help. Start a fundraiser to support your favorite ocean conservation efforts, and see what you can do to preserve our oceans for generations to come. GoFundMe is available to answer any crowdfunding questions you may have and to show you how it works.

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Written by GoFundMe