Take Action Every Day

Help save the seas! You can make a difference.

Here are some ideas for how you can help (from WWF-International)... though we certainly don't have all of them listed here! Have we missed a tip you have for how to protect oceans? E-mail us at info@marinemysteries.ca and we'll add it to the list.

For everyone:

Shop Wisely

Organic Produce: Whenever possible, look for organic produce that doesn't rely upon chemically enhanced pesticides and fertilizers – and don't use these on your garden or lawn. Besides the risk to your own health, and although you may live thousands of kilometres from the ocean, pesticides and fertilizers eventually end up in the water cycle and in turn, in the oceans where they do damage. These chemicals even create dead zones.

Eco-Clean: Wherever possible, choose environmentally friendly cleaning products that biodegrade quickly when washed down the drain. This ensures fewer harmful chemicals end up in the water where they pollute and affect marine species.

Disposal: Dispose of household chemical products and waste oil safely; your local council should have disposal facilities. Don't pour them down the drain or flush them down the toilet.

Eat Wisely: Check out WWF's Interactive Seafood Menu to learn more about the destruction and waste behind some of today's most popular dishes. You can help by choosing to support sustainable seafood.

Litter Alert: Don't leave waste on the beach; chances are it will end up in the sea. If you spot litter while on the shoreline, pick it up and dispose of it properly.

Endangered Species: Don't buy products made from any endangered species, including tortoise-shell or coral - they could be illegal.

Collecting: Don't collect shells, corals, or other items that may be endangered. They are critical parts of the ecosystem and belong in the sea, not in your collection.

Anchors Up: If you find yourself in a boat, make sure it doesn't anchor on a reef.

Diving: If you dive or snorkel, don't touch reefs or marine animals! Keep yourself and your scuba gear off coral reefs. And try to stay off the bottom: stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.

Watch Out: If you go whale watching, or watching other marine mammals and birds, ensure the tour operator stays a respectable distance from the animals. When you are out exploring, be considerate of sea life – don't disturb bird, seals or other creatures.

Carbon Footprint

Carbon Footprint: Reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and protect marine habitats from climate change. Want to find out how to take steps to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions? Visit WWF's Good Life.

Donations: Support a conservation organization that works on marine protection. Please consider a Donation to Save the Seas.

Get Involved: Volunteer and stewardship activities are an important way each of us can contribute to marine conservation. Find a local streamkeepers group in your community or join the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

Knowledge: Learn more about the marine environment. The more you know, the more you can share your knowledge and love of the ocean with others. Read a book (our Oceans Book Club is a great place to start!), join a local stewardship group, take a walk by the sea or surf the net where many websites, like Google Ocean, provide information about our oceans and what you can do to become involved.

Inspire: Spread the message and communicate your own enthusiasm about our oceans and their importance to our local economies, communities, and the well-being of the world's species, including our own.

Celebrate: Celebrate our oceans. Share your enthusiasm for protecting the marine environment with others.

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