What You Can Do

No matter where you live in California you can impact the ocean... for better or worse. Rivers, streams, and wetlands make their way to the sea, carrying pollutants with them. Keeping our inland areas clean is just as vital as a clean seashore. There are actions we all take every day that can help to keep our ocean a healthy and thriving place. These are examples of small steps that you can take to do your part in ocean conservation and reduce energy consumption. It can be your way to say "Thank you ocean".

© Joseph Dougherty, M.D. -- ecology.org

Marine Photobank/SeaWeb

© Charles Webber, California

Marine Photobank/SeaWeb

© Charles Webber, California

Marine Photobank/SeaWeb

Dr. Robert Thomas and Margaret Orr © California Academy of Sciences

Marc Hoshovsky

• Take our pledge to stop using disposable cups to help reduce marine debris!
• Never return an aquarium fish or other marine creature into oceans, rivers, or estuaries. They can introduce new illnesses to native fish species.
• Watch documentaries like "The Blue Planet: A Natural History of the Oceans" and “Planet Earth”.
• Conserve energy. Turn off lights, radio, or TV when you are not in the room.
• Keep trash and chemicals out of storm drains. This includes pet waste. Storm drains flow into the sea and can pollute the water and cause beach closures.
• If you own your home install a water-saving toilet as seen in high-efficiency toilets (HET). California has a water supply shortage and conserving every drop counts.
• To save water (and cut down on expensive bills) take shorter showers and install low-flow shower fittings, like EPA’s WaterSense products.
• To save water and energy (and cut down on expensive bills) only run a full dishwasher and air-dry your dishes.
• For your baby’s health and the environments use diapers that are biodegradable and chemical-free.
• Hot out? Save energy by using fans instead of the air conditioner, keep your curtains closed to block out sunlight. If you must use the a/c set the thermostat to a higher temperature like 81 degrees instead of 75 degrees.
• Cold out? Save energy by using a space heater sparingly, set your thermostat to a lower temperature, and bundle up in sweater and extra blankets to stay warmer!
• Change your ordinary bulb to a compact fluorescent bulb. These bulbs last longer and use less energy.
• Never flush your out of date prescriptions or kitty litter down the toilet—they can end up in the ocean and kill marine life.
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly. Household cleaning products, paint, pesticides, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries pose a threat to water quality. Find more information about free collection centers at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/hhw/

In the garden

• Plant an organic garden. Pesticides from lawns and gardens can wash into the ocean and contribute to harmful algal blooms (HAB’s) like red tides and other polluting water quality issues.
• Don’t water your lawn everyday; water in the morning or evening when the water won’t evaporate as quickly. This can help you save water.
• Avoid use of chemical fertilizers (which causes pollution, and helps create excessive algae blooms in the ocean such as red tides) or peat moss (which comes from ancient bogs that cannot regenerate), instead make your own mulch and use organic fertilizers only when needed.
• Plant a native plant garden. Native plants are tolerant to the soil and water supply of your area helping you reduce the use of water and fertilizers.
• Keep trash and chemicals out of storm drains. This includes pet waste. Stormwater from storm drains flows into the sea carrying pollutants which can lead to beach closures.
• Gather grass and tree cuttings and dispose of as green waste or compost your yard trimmings. Keep our beaches clean by not putting waste in the gutter and down the storm drain!

While traveling and dining

• Help keep roads cleaner from motor oil and our air cleaner! Carpool, walk, ride a bike, or take public transit. Even one day a week can make a difference!
• Choose only environmentally responsible cruise ships for your next cruise vacation
• Choose the seafood you eat responsibly; check the latest sustainable choices at www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch and carry this guide in your wallet.
• Check your car for oil leaks, and get them fixed. Oil from roads end up in the ocean harming wildlife.
• Never eat shark fin soup. The collection of sharks for this product is reducing the population of shark species world wide.
• Eat lower on the marine food chain. Save large predators – tuna, shark and swordfish - for luxury meals to decrease the pressure on these fisheries.

At school

• Bring your own reusable cup for your study time coffee or latte, because disposable cups can end up as marine debris
• Use reusable containers for your lunch items and carry them in your own cloth bag or lunchbox.
• Save trees and produce less trash at the same time! Use both sides of the paper when writing or printing. On your printer put settings on “duplexing” to use both sides. You can also set the printer to reduce the size of copies, putting two sheets of paper on one side together.
• Buy notebooks, folders, notepads, and pencils from recycled materials.

At work

• Don’t buy live saltwater fish caught in the wild for your aquarium. Be sure to choose marine life that are acquired safely, and sustainably.
• Bring your own reusable cup for your morning coffee or latte, because disposable cups can end up as marine debris. You can also leave a mug and glass at work for you to use for your personal beverages.
• Use reusable containers and utensils for your lunch items and carry them in your own cloth bag or lunchbox.
• Use both sides of the paper when writing or printing. On your printer put settings on “duplexing” to use both sides. You can also set the printer to reduce the size of copies, putting two sheets of paper on one side together.
• Buy recycled paper for your office machines.
• We all love the look of our nice clothes fresh from the dry cleaners. But harsh chemicals can harm the environment. Try hand-washing in cold water or find a cleaning company that is less polluting by re-using hangers and garment bags.

On the water

• Get out and enjoy the beautiful sea! Get lessons on surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, or SCUBA diving or take a whale watching cruise.
• Keep our beaches clean! Get involved in Coastal Clean up day in September of each year.
• “Leave only bubbles” When snorkeling or SCUBA diving gently observe animals and do not feed them. Do not remove shells, rocks, or wildlife.
• Going on a boat? Bring your trash back to the dock with you and secure your items so nothing goes overboard.
• Each trip to the river or beach you can help the ocean. Clean up and properly dispose of items in trash and recycling cans …even if it is not yours please pick it up!

While shopping

• Stop using plastic bags. Carry your own cloth bag to the store. Plastics cause choking or entanglement hazards to marine wildlife.
• Avoid products with excess packaging. Buy fresh and local. Buy from bulk bins and avoid packages with individually wrapped items. Reducing excess packaging and plastics reduces marine debris!
• Don’t purchase items that exploit marine resources unnecessarily such as coral jewelry and supplements such as coral calcium and shark cartilage. The nutrients these supplements allegedly provide are easily obtained from other food sources such as green leafy vegetables.
• Invest in a reusable water bottle instead of using plastic one-use bottles.
• Cut up plastic 6-pack rings before you recycle, or choose to buy items that are not packaged with 6 pack rings.

In your town

• Learn more about California’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and the Central Coast Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that went into effect on Friday Sept. 21st. The MPA designation significantly increases the protection of California's living marine resources and their habitats while also allowing for recreational and commercial fishing.
• Donate your time and/or income to conservation organizations.
• Teach children to respect nature and the environment. Take them on hikes, beach exploring, or camping. Help them plant a tree, pick up litter, or learn about the ocean. Be a good example and role model.
• Support, restore and protect local wetlands and sand dunes, as they protect us from storm surge and flooding.
• Vote for those that protect the ocean and coast.
• Remember that one person can make a difference. Small accomplishments add up quicker then you might think. So volunteer with an organization or conduct your own solo beach clean-up!
• Visit your local aquarium to see ocean life close-up.
• Join a marine mammal rescue center and volunteer your time.
• Tell others about what they can do to help the sea and spread the word about cleaning up our oceans.