This World Oceans Day, we present to you a few ways you can have a whale of a time AND be eco-friendly at your next beach holiday!
1. Lather on that sunscreen (just make sure it’s marine friendly first)
We all know SPF is an essential part of our beauty regime. But here’s a #truthbomb for you - your sunscreen is probably damaging the planet. Marine biologists have found certain chemicals present in sun lotions that could lead to the bleaching of coral reefs in our oceans and severely impacting entire ecosystems and putting the reefs at risk. In fact, research suggests an astonishing 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ends up in our seas annually. (Oops!)
Due to these findings, popular tourist destinations such as Hawaii, Palau and the US Virgin Islands announced bans on certain sunscreens in an attempt to protect their coral reefs. Although, (humans being as adaptable as we are) a number of brands are now creating ocean-safe and reef-safe sunscreens, making sure that while we’re protecting our skin, we’re also looking out for our environment.
Do: Opt for mineral sunscreens instead.
Choose a lotion over a mist.
Make sure you check for “ocean-safe” “reef safe” labels. Oh, and don’t forget the packaging is important too!
2. Fill up any man-made holes and karate chop those sandcastles. (Hiiiiya!)
Digging holes, and building sandcastles are a primary occupation when we visit the beach (I know). However, there’s always a danger that sea turtle mothers and babies will get stuck in the obstacle course we’ve unknowingly created for them. It’s routine for mothers to lay their eggs on the beach, and of utmost importance for the hatchlings to make it safely to the ocean without losing their way.
3. Keep your hands where we can see them! (And off any animals or their homes: crab holes, shells, anemones, coral)
Touching marine life harms not just the animals, but their ecosystems too.
Did you know that corals are actually animals? They can eat small fish and invertebrates by stinging and trapping them, and they are evolutionary relatives of jellyfish!
Their bright colors come from a symbiont that lives inside the coral polyps called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae aids their food intake, photosynthesis, nutrient intake, and so much more. Coral polyps protect themselves from infection with the help of a mucus layer that is home to a rich microbiome, just like your own skin or gut! By touching coral, either directly or accidentally, you immediately damage this protective layer. This often triggers a stress response that leads them to eject their zooxanthellae. This event is called “bleaching’’ (yep, that word scares us too). Without the pigmented zooxanthellae, the coral polyps lose their color and become white. Sometimes, the damage is minimal and the coral polyps eventually recover their zooxanthellae. Although, if the damage is too severe, the polyps will die.
Yup, we’ll just leave that there...
4. Eat local.
Fishing, unfortunately, will always leave a mark on an ecosystem. However, all agriculture systems alter ecosystems, and hence it is beneficial to look at the relative impacts of the food we eat and to try to consume food that minimizes the effect on the environment. It’s important to find individuals and companies who are fishing or farming fish responsibly, and support their work.
Opting to eat fish seasonally, also steers people away from supporting the large industrial fishing fleets, which seafood guides generally recommend avoiding anyway.
Do: Concern yourself with where your fish comes from, and opt for seasonal seafood.
Make connections with local fishermen and support upcoming local fisheries.
5. Share your food with your fellow humans! (not our feathery and finned friends)
It’s bad to feed wild animals. Here’s why: teaching wild animals to associate humans with handouts can lead to problems. The most common is - Stalker alert! (Yeah, animals stalk humans too) And the danger is not just to humans. Supplemental feeding can cause digestive problems for some animals and alter their normal behaviors. This is problematic on so many levels. So yes, we get that you’re just trying to be nice, but you’re probably doing more damage than good.
6. Make sure you take all your stuff back with you! (Trust me, the fish won’t use it)
You might think plastic does little damage, but turtles often confuse plastic bags with jellyfish and can die when they try to eat it.
Do: Carry a garbage bag with you to collect all your rubbish and take it home with you!
Use products from responsible and eco-friendly companies who care about their impact on the environment!
Use Reusable straws instead of Plastic Straws.
Countless number of straws are still floating out there in the oceans. Our Stainless steel straws are sustainable and is one of the ways to opt for sustainable lifestyle.
Don’t: Use any chemicals on the beach or near the water.
And don’t leave anything behind!
