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How to Protect Marine Life From Hazardous Waste

Oceans cover 71 percent of the earth's surface and support nearly 50 percent of the species of plants and animals on earth. Twenty percent of animal protein used in human diets comes from ocean sources. As environmental studies have proceeded, the vulnerability of the ocean and marine life to hazardous wastes has become clear. Hazardous wastes come from many sources, such as runoff from the land, incorrect waste disposal, and oil and chemical spills.

Instructions

Keep Hazardous Materials From the Oceans
- 1
  Recycle materials that are potentially hazardous to marine life, especially plastics. Use reusable rather than disposable items.
- 2
  Organize beach cleanups and roadside cleanups in coastal areas, and promote proper waste disposal by individuals and organizations. Marine debris, especially plastics, release toxic pollutants into the water, and 80 percent comes from trash and plastic litter in urban runoff.
- 3
  Identify manufacturers and distributors that use packaging that does not contain materials hazardous to marine life. Give them your business. Write letters or send emails to companies that need to improve in this area, informing them of your decision not to purchase their products and why.
- 4
  Discard hazardous materials that can enter runoff into the ocean in a proper manner. Recycle motor oil. Follow proper disposal procedures for your municipality regarding solvents, paints, insecticides, herbicides and toxic materials. Organize a neighborhood effort to take materials to hazardous waste centers.
Education
- 5
  Read articles in newspapers, magazines, and web sites to become informed on developments involving hazardous materials.
- 6
  Take part in outreach efforts to educate others. Join organizations that present workshops and fairs to the public on ways to reduce marine hazards.
- 7
  Organize field trips to coastal areas to teach children proper conservation techniques and to help them appreciate and want to care for our ocean and its resources.
- 8
  Promote clean boating programs and education. In Connecticut, runoff from marinas is twice as toxic as that from metal industries and ten times more toxic than runoff from other industrial sources, such as plastic, rubber and oil manufacturers. Give presentations at marinas and distribute printed educational materials on clean boating.
Become Involved in Decision-Making
- 9
  Write to state and federal legislators in support of legislation that helps keep hazardous materials from entering the ocean.
- 10
  Vote for candidates for local, state and federal positions that support conservation of our oceans.
- 11
  Donate to organizations that help preserve and study marine life.
- 12
  Read about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and learn what you can do to support their programs and to help to continue their monitoring and research activities that prevent and reduce hazardous wastes in marine environments.

Nature