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@ecofriendlymaniac
A must-see TEDx Talk by Jim Simon, head of the largest international conservation program dedicated to protecting the worlds oceans. Mr. Simon goes on to explain the emerging relationships between conserving ecosystems and producing food, and in doing so, explains this mutualistic relationship through wild fish. The rest? Watch and find out.
Make a difference. Be the change.
Great hammerhead sharks are amazing, beautiful, and globally endangered. Learn more about them at sharktagging.com. Original comic is on my site here.
Hammerhead sharks are among the highest species to be endangered. Save these beautiful creatures and ensure their longevity. Why? Here are 3 cool facts of Hammerhead sharks:
1. They possess group of sensory organs, called the ampullae of Lorenzini, which allows them to detect the electrical fields created by prey animals.
2. The hammerhead shark is identified as the largest of the 9 species of sharks.
3. Hammerhead sharks are actually surprisingly harmless to humans, although they do bite.
Sources:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/hammerhead-shark/
The head of Ocean Conservancy says a burgeoning middle class and low recycling rates could lead to not-even-remotely-acceptable levels of trash washed out to sea.
Yikes! How scary is that? Everybody can make little changes in their daily lives to reduce the amount of plastic they use. Here are a few tips that I’ve covered on the blog:
- What YOU can do to reduce the use of plastic, and that includes recycling, bringing reusable totes and produce bags to the store, drinking from a reusable water bottle, and participate in beach clean-ups!
- Avoid purchasing products that contain microplastics. Microplastic particles and microbeads are most often made of Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and Nylon. PE and PP are the most common found in cosmetics and bath products.
- Avoid releasing plastic balloons and lanterns
- Feature on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and what is being done about it
What I want to know is, where is all this trash coming from? How does it get from the consumer, who throws it away, to the ocean?
Hey there! That’s an excellent question. There are multiple ways plastic gets into the ocean. The three most common are: swept from land, boaters, and beachgoers.
One of the most common ways that marine debris travels from land to water is by being swept through storm drains. Small pieces of trash that are tossed into the street are often washed into storm drains during rain storms, which deposit the water – and the trash – into the sea. Rivers and other waterways can also wash trash into our bays and oceans. Small pieces of plastic and plastic bags are often swept away by winds too.
Beachgoers and picnickers also play a part. Sometimes, the tiniest items may be the most devastating. Several bottle caps, soda tabs, plastic utensils, or food wrappers may not seem so bad at first, but cumulatively their environmental impact can be enormous.
But some people are just nasty and hey don’t feel any guilt about littering. I see so much plastic trash coming from the Miami River when the tide is running out, it’s heartbreaking. Boaters may not often be respectful as well, and will discard many things overboard. Massive shipping containers carrying millions of plastic items washed overboard during severe storms; litter from pleasure boats, or illegal dumping of unwanted goods are also part of the problem.
Great, insightful tips on how to clean the oceans! Make a difference. Be the change.
The European Union has approved new rules to curb the use of flimsy plastic bags that are hazardous for the environment. EU countries are permitted to introduce extra taxes or even ban single-use plastic bags.
"Member states are required to reduce the use of flimsy plastic bags by 80 percent by 2025. However, they are given a choice on how to achieve that goal."
Such an important decision! Many supermarkets in France have already stopped giving out plastic bags years ago, and I am glad that the whole of European Union is now implementing some more rules.
FINALLY! Let’s catch up to the AMAZING changes European Union is making. Plastic left behind in the oceans kills millions of species every year. Be more mindful next time, and if you ever see something hazardous in the ocean, TAKE IT OUT! Make a change. Be the difference.
Google the image lion fish:
Pretty, isn’t it?
Well, think again. This is an image of a lionfish, one of the most invasive species known to dwell the earth’s oceans. In fact, nearly 84% of the worlds costal ecoregions, which feed into the ocean, have been infiltrated by atlas one or MORE invasive specie. Now, on the surface, this lion fish may seem beautiful and complex, but the detrimental effects of fish, such as this, cause a variety of problems to our world’s oceans.
So, how do these “invasive species” come to be about in our body’s of water?
Well...
Majority of the invasive species found in an area were transported there via the bottom of a ship (private, commercial, governmental, etc.)
Then, canals that were designed to connect with previously isolated bodies of water can easily transport invasive species to new areas. For example, the Suez Canal.
So, by now, you might be thinking. Why should I care so much? I will most likely never come in contact with that fish!
WRONG! Think again!
Invasive species, such as this fish, can not only be detrimental to the coastal habitats of oceans, but they can also displace the native species there due to increased competition.
If one invasive specie is introduced to a designated area, it can displace native plants and animals because of the lack of competition, disrupt and permanently alter food chains and webs, and change environmental process, as well as damaging the economy of local fisheries. You see? One small invasive specie can have many detrimental effects to not only the environment, but also our society.
So, what can we do?
YOU CAN PREVENT INVASIVE SPECIES FROM BEING INTRODUCED! Policies are already being developed to provide for the safety of our ocean’s water and to prevent the livelihood of our ecosystems, but you can make a difference now. Research up on invasive species close to your surroundings, and if you see any, get rid of them! More often then not, your local health county will have instructions to safely dispose of the specie, and you might be returned with some compensation in doing so! Want to learn more about invasive species and their effects in the ocean?
Click Here! http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/5-invasive-species-you-should-know Sources:
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/oceanscoasts/threatsimpacts/what-we-do-q.xml
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/5-invasive-species-you-should-know
A new study says a mass extinction event could happen soon in our oceans, and humans are to blame.
Interesting article and a must read regarding the extinction of species in the ocean BECAUSE OF HUMANS! Human impacts in the ocean have been slow, but massive. With oil spills, recreational activities, and overfishing, just to name a few, the ocean ecosystems are extremely in danger. Read up on this fascinating article to learn more about what YOU can do locally, and maybe. globally. Make a difference. Be the change.
Food for thought:
So, imagine this.
The farmer that grows your food obviously uses pesticides and insecticides. But then one day, it rains terrible, and the pesticide/insecticide that has built up in the soil is washed away with the rain into the nearby river. This nutrient river is then transported throughout the ocean, often allowing for eutrophication to occur (leachate runoff in which the depletion of oxygen occurs). Sooner of later, the fertilizers are transported to an opening in the ocean, and of course, it affects millions of ecosystems within. Now imagine this, this is not just the effect of one farmer’s farm. This happens to almost ALL farmlands, and is one of the major reasons of nutrient pollution in the ocean.
Don’t believe me?
Well, in 1980, North Carolina’s Pamlico River saw a rise excessive levels of nutrients in water, such as phosphorous and other elements abundant in fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. This led to depleted oxygen, many sickly species, dead fish, and algal bloom. When tested for, it was found that row crops and erodible soil had leached dangerous chemicals into the water, and thus created the rapid proliferation of nutrient depleted organisms. Now, this may still seem minute. However, when actual HUMANS depend on these water resources for food, recreational activities, and even water, IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT. So, what can you do? Well for one thing, you can become more informed. In North Carolina, at least, many farmers have reduced the amount of fertilizer used and have began to approach conservational tilling methods. This will allow for chemicals to NOT enter into sources of water, which will then stay its way out of the oceans and affect even more ecosystems.
On a global scale, Obama passed the National Ocean Policy in 2010 that allows for a group of mandated governmental organizations to provide for the upkeep and laws governing ocean bodies, including the agricultural relationships.
What else can you do?
Prompt state action. If you live in an area that is somewhat rural and suburban, chances are that your local farmers may NOT be abiding by federal regulations governing bodies of water. It’s up to you to take these charges against your health and human services board to align them with the national standard.
Make a difference. Be the change.
Sources:
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/nc_tar.cfm
http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/policy.asp
"I said that the oceans were sick but they're not going to die. There is no death possible in the oceans — there will always be life — but they're getting sicker every year."
Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
Couldn’t have said it any better. The ocean, everyday, is constantly being depleted of resources, is being tarnished by oil spills and recreational activities, and now, the emerging carbon pollution. We, as a world, need to step up and make a difference. Be the change.
Did you know that the livelihood of ocean ecosystems not only depends on the ocean itself, but also the job stability, food chain and recreational activities as well?
You may not think of it, but many of our everyday, common fish, such as cod and tuna, are actually depleted in the ocean, yet, we still continue to overfish them everyday! In fact, more than one-half of the global fish population is overexploited or has already collapsed! Yes, there has been a HUGE economic boost in the seafood industry, but at what cost!? The overfishing has depleted the oceans of a much needed source of vitality and productivity. So, what can we do? Here’s what:
1. Ensure that catch limits are in effect for certain fishes and make sure we do NOT overexploit the fish population!
2. Eat sustainability caught seafood! Do not eat the commercialized stuff! Be eco-friendly.
3. Voice your opinion on fishing laws and make sure that you, along with fisherman, abide by ALL of the fishing laws.
If the fishing industry does not change the way it is treating the environment now, then the earth’s oceans are doomed of instability in ecosystems. Make a difference. Be the change.
Sources:
http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/conserving-fisheries/economy.asp
