Environment

People are extremely unaware of the effects of pollution in the ocean. Even just throwing the smallest candy wrapper on the ground can make its way to the waterways some way or another. Being more aware of how you can prevent these harmful effects can help the oceans a little more every day.

Here are some tips to help reduce ocean pollution:

1. Use less plastic or if you use a lot, make sure you recycle it properly.

For example, if you get a pack of coca cola that is held together by the plastic rings, before you dispose of it make sure you cut all of the circles so animals can't get stuck in them as easily if they happen to somehow find their way into the ocean.

2. Don't litter.

3. Use reusable shopping bags instead of always using plastic bags.

4. Volunteer to clean up a beach if you live nearby!

EVERY LITTLE BIT GOES A LONG WAY!

I maintain a good balance when using social media. Even though I have multiple social media outlets, I am not glued to them 24/7. I use it when I feel necessary and I share posts that I feel are relatable or inspiring.

Check out this link to find out more about my social media personality!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QV7C8z4elyQFauUNxCBItrJpCHcUQIqLqhKoJQkZaxI/edit?usp=sharing

How do you define ocean pollution?

"any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded,

disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment"

Here are some facts on ocean pollution:

• Since 2002 the amount of litter on the ocean floor has increased each year
• Litter has increased because of more human activity on the ocean
• An estimated 6.4 million tons of litter enter the ocean each year
• Plastic is the most commonly found pollutant in the ocean
• Marine animals mistake litter for food which harms them
• Over one million seabirds are killed by ocean pollution each year
• Three hundred thousand dolphins and porpoises die each year as a result of becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets
• One hundred thousand sea mammals are killed by pollution each year

With every piece of trash not being disposed of properly, it finds its way into our waterways and is hurting the marine organisms. We need to be more cautious to dispose of trash properly to help save our ocean wildlife!

"Environmental Science: Litter Bugs Leave Arctic Legacy." Nature 491.7423 (2012): 163. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.

Pham, Christopher K., et al. "Marine Litter Distribution And Density In European Seas, From The Shelves To Deep Basins." Plos ONE 9.4 (2014): 1-13. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.