The ocean is the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious place on earth. It’s also under threat from climate change and human impact, so it’s up to us to protect it as best we can. There are many ways to protect the ocean while traveling and reduce your impact.
- Skip the straw, plastic bag, and bottled water.
While you’re traveling, there are a few things you can do to help out the ocean. Probably the biggest impact you can have is reducing the amount of waste you create. Specifically, the amount of single-use, disposable plastic waste that you create! Focusing on this alone can really make a difference.
Straws are one of the most common items found in beach cleanups around the world. When they get discarded into the ocean, they can harm sea turtles and other marine life who mistake them for food or become entangled in them while swimming. If you must use a straw while traveling (or even at home), opt for paper instead of plastic. It’s better for both your health and the environment!
Additionally, if you want to avoid using plastic bags altogether when shopping or packing snacks for your trip, consider getting yourself an eco-friendly bag made from recycled materials like hemp or canvas instead.
Lastly: don’t buy bottled water! Instead, bring reusable bottles *if possible so that everyone can stay hydrated without contributing unnecessarily harmful waste into our oceans’ ecosystems.
- Avoid sunscreen with harmful chemicals.
When you’re traveling, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun. But that doesn’t mean you have to use harmful products. These days, many sunscreens are marked as “reef-safe.” Look for those!
Instead of using regular sunscreen with chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are known endocrine disruptors, look for products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead. These minerals act as physical barriers against UV rays and don’t contain any harmful ingredients. The toxic alternative can harm human health, as well as the health of coral reefs and fish.
Sunscreen sprays are another thing worth avoiding while traveling; the chemicals in aerosol cans aren’t great for the environment either. If possible, choose a cream-based formula instead.
- Don’t buy seafood without knowing its origin.
Overfishing, bycatch, and unsustainable seafood procurement can seriously harm the health of the ocean. Avoid contributing to the problem by spending your dollars on sustainable seafood only.
If you’re not sure where your seafood was caught, ask. If the waiter or fishmonger doesn’t know, find another place to buy your dinner. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Use local resources for transportation.
Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation are contributing to ocean acidification. Use public transportation whenever you are traveling if possible. Try walking or taking the public bus to see and enjoy more of the sights. If you’re flying into town and renting a car for your stay, consider renting an electric vehicle instead of a gas-powered one. You can avoid emissions-heavy transport by doing things like opting for a train ride over a plane ride.
- What to do if you see trash in the ocean?
If you see trash in the ocean, don’t just stand there and stare. Pick it up! It’s simple: use the safe and proper methods of picking up trash, then dispose of it properly. Don’t contribute to the problem by littering or using disposable plastic items like straws, cups, and bags. If you can’t do anything about it at that moment, then don’t worry about it– just remember that every piece of trash has an impact on our oceans and wildlife when left behind.
Read: 3 Great Reasons To Do Beach Cleanups
You can protect the ocean while you are traveling.
The ocean is a beautiful and delicate ecosystem, but it’s also one of the most threatened environments on Earth. The average person can do a lot to protect the oceans by making small changes to their daily lives, such as choosing sustainable seafood or buying products made from recycled materials.
When traveling, you can make an extra effort to be environmentally friendly by avoiding single-use plastics like plastic bottles and straws. You should also opt for reusable water bottles instead of buying new ones every day at restaurants or hotels– this will help reduce your carbon footprint while protecting marine life!
The ocean is an important part of our planet and we need to do what we can to protect it. Traveling is one way that you can help the ocean while you are away from home. If you follow these tips, your trip will be more sustainable and less harmful for marine life.