Tuesday, June 8, 2021, is National World Ocean Day. World Ocean Day was proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit. They wanted to bring awareness to the plastic that people casually release every day and end up swimming with the fishes, literally. We now celebrate World Ocean Day to help remind us to be mindful of our trash and take extra precautions to dispose of litter properly. The ocean has a significant role in our everyday life; some may say it's the lungs of our planet. Beaches from coast to coast provide us with most of our oxygen.
Go outside and take a moment to experience being by the ocean and take in the beauty that it gives to our land, the sense of wealth. For many, the waterways have provided value to our lives over time with family memories that you will treasure forever. Make a promise today that you will move forward, consciously protecting our oceans.
If you wonder how you can celebrate the ocean, Author Brian Hutchinson, Oceanic Society's vice president of outreach, co-founder of the State of the World's Sea Turtles Program, and program officer of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group said it best. He wrote a recent article listing these five ideas to help show your appreciation on World's Ocean Day:
1. Join a World Oceans Day Activity or Event: There are hundreds of events planned worldwide for World Oceans Day and after. These include talks, happy hours, film screenings, beach cleanups, and more. Find an event near you at http://www.worldoceansday.org/events_list and get inspired by joining your fellow ocean lovers!
2. Skip the Seafood (and Meat): Give the ocean a break today by avoiding seafood. While there are many well-managed and sustainable fisheries (that can actually support healthy oceans), there is no question that many fisheries are poorly managed and that humans put enormous pressure on marine ecosystems through resource extraction. According to the FAO, 89.5% of fish stocks worldwide are either fully fished (58.1%) or overfished (31.4%). Meat consumption is also considered a significant contributor to climate change, so try going vegetarian for the day.
3. Gather Friends and Watch an Ocean Film: Staying informed about ocean conservation issues and sharing knowledge with your friends and family is an integral part of becoming a better supporter of ocean conservation. One easy way to learn and share information is by watching one of the many excellent documentaries that showcase ocean wildlife and conservation issues. These include Mission Blue, The Blue Planet, Sharkwater, The Cove, Disney nature: Oceans, A Plastic Ocean, and many more.
4. Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. There are many ways that you can help reduce ocean plastic pollution, but one of the easiest is to avoid single-use plastic. Help support cleaner oceans by avoiding single-use plastic items, including disposable water bottles, straws, cups, lids, utensils, and bags.
5. Breathe Deep, Appreciate the Ocean: Take time today to appreciate your connection to the ocean and to consider the many benefits that a healthy ocean provides. One of our most profound links to the ocean is through the air we breathe—more than half of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is produced by marine plants. So breathe deep, reflect on your connection to the ocean, and stay inspired to continue working for healthier oceans.
Keep Liberty Beautiful geared up in gloves, our custom made Keep Liberty Beautiful volunteer shirts, a handy dandy mask, and visited every fishing dock in our county from Riceboro to Sunbury (Jones Creek Recreation Area, Riceboro Boat Ramp, Riceboro Pavilion, Half Moon Marina Area, and Sunbury Boat Ramp). We handed out litter prevention information, after the storm brochures, and how to be a good mate brochure to all the community members out enjoying the day. We even passed out biodegradable igloo coolers to all the fishermen on the docks. We gave out these to ensure we provided what the people of Liberty County needed to keep our waterways clear of any Styrofoam.
You're probably wondering why we need to remove all Styrofoam from the water. I'm glad you asked; while yes, Styrofoam will break down into small particles over time, it's still hazardous to sea creatures. Once Styrofoam breaks down, it leaks dangerous toxins into the water, harming many sea animals that ingest the foul chemical. But with special thanks to Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, we will not have that problem here in Liberty County.
To find out ways that you can help keep our waterways clean and free of litter, check out our website: www.keeplibertybeautiful.org. You can also contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.