Blanca Bañuelos

Pollution: the action of polluting especially by environmental contamination with man-made waste.

How it Affects Sea Life

Sea creatures such as sea turtles often mistake plastic for jellyfish and consume it. This causes them so become ill and eventually die. Creatures get stuck in bags and other confined plastic objects. Fishing causes lots of waste to be dumped into the ocean. An example of such waste is fishing nets.

The equipment used for fishing can also cause damage to the ecosystem, "Gears that drag across the seafloor, like trawls and dredges, can destroy delicate habitats that provide shelter, food and breeding grounds for fish and other species." (seafoodwatch.org)

Bycatch: the portion of a commercial fishing catch that consists of marine animals caught unintentionally. "As many as 200,000 loggerhead sea turtles and 50,000 leatherback sea turtles are caught annually. Fishing also kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds when they become entangled in gillnets", (seafoodwatch.org). These animals die and become extinct. Extinction causes an imbalance in the ecosystem. When ecosystems start failing, global warming occurs which affects everyone in the world; human and non-human animals.

 




Overfishing: to fish excessively; to exhaust the supple of usable fish.
The fish in the area being fished can not reproduce fast enough which leads to extinction of species. Because fishing is so common and overfishing is a problem all over the world, studies have proven that we could see fishless oceans by the year 2048! https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2006/11/seafood-biodiversity

How to Help 

There are countless ways we can help. Simple switches like reusable cups, straws and utensils make a huge impact every time you dine out. People often think that they won’t make an impact because they are simply one person. One person can aways make a difference by striking up conversation with others about their new found knowledge on helping the environment. By educating others, you can encourage them to make conscious choices. 

Reusable Items

Reducing single-use plastic can make an impact. If you do not absolutely need single use products, replace them with more sustainable products. When grocery shopping, remember to carry reusable bags with you or use paper bags. Some grocery stores even offer a 10% discount when you bring in your own bag. Dining out is something most people do. When dining out, carry your own reusable utensil kits. Purchasing one will help you in the long-run! Same goes for straws and cups. Coffee shops such as Starbucks offer a 10% discount when you bring in your own cup. You can purchase a “venti” sized cup and straw set from Starbucks stores for as little as $3.19. You can enjoy your favorite drink while saving the planet and saving money in the long run!

Recycle

Always recycle when single use plastic items are a must. Even clothes can be recycled. Most people tend to dispose of it when an alternative to that can be donating to thrift stores, organizations that gives clothes to those in need, or you can drop off garments at H&M where they will recycle it and in turn give you a discount on your next purchase. 

Hands On

Find a local beach and group that hosts a beach clean up day. Volunteers are aways needed for these activities. An alternative to this is for you and some friends to get together and hit the beach and clean it yourselves! Remember to have a separate bag for recyclable items.

Conscious Food Choices

Reducing the amount of seafood you eat or completely cutting it out of your diet reduce the amount of sea life caught. This saves the lives of not just the fish you would typically eat but also the lives of the sea creatures that are not used for food (bycatch). We live in a time where there are food alternatives that taste just like the real thing but are actually healthier. Brands like Gardein have meatless options that can fool anyone! 

How Others Help 
 "As someone who is vegan, I find that educating people about these kinds of topics really makes a difference. It helps others realize whats going on around them. To help this cause, I make conscious choices in terms of plastic use. I carry my reusable utensils, cup, and straws with me. I also prefer to invest in reusable grocery bags. My diet is completely plant based therefore I do not eat any seafood at all. I don’t only do it for the sake of the environment, I do it for ethical reasons as well. Fish feel pain just like me and you. They don’t want to die."-Erika G., 21

"I became vegan after my best friend educated me on what goes on when we consume animals and animal by products. She also helped me find alternatives to single-use products. When grocery shopping, I always make sure to bring my own bags. I believe we should share our knowledge with everyone and that way we can get more people involved in the movement." -Vanessa A., 21

"Recently I have made small conscious choices that I know will make a difference in the long run. I now bring my own reusable cup and straw to Starbucks and carry a reusable bag with me. Giving up seafood is not something I can see myself doing but I have cutback on consumption as best I can. Thanks to education through social media, I now know that small changes make a huge difference in the end." -Janessa N., 24