Seas the Day!

Celebrate Our Ocean

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea- whether it is to sail or to watch it- we are going back from whence we came”

– John F. Kennedy

Our collective consumption patterns have a huge impact on resources around the globe. When it comes to ocean resources, your seafood selection really can make a difference! In one recent national survey the National Marine Fisheries Service estimated our per capita fish consumption at 16.6 pounds annually, and rising. The quantity and type of fish you eat is under your control at the market and at restaurants - become informed so that you can make the best decisions to conserve our ocean resources. Be sure to check out our Eat for the Earth page for lots more great information and links.

Celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8!

Join us in celebrating World Ocean Day on June 8! Here are some fun ideas for your World Ocean Day celebration:

Join the fun! World Ocean Day is truly an international event with great activities going on all over the world.

Turn off the television and tune in to the outdoor world - Get a carpool together and take your friends or family to the beach -- or a river, stream or lake if that is closer to home -- and discover a diversity of plant and animal life.

Start an ocean “life list”- Create a paper or online journal (or blog), complete with photographs, of the places you visit, and the aquatic plants and animals that you see.

Go to your local aquarium or zoo in your area - Go for a visit, and also consider volunteering to spend some time feeding or caring for some cool aquatic critters.

Travel Wisely

Planning on taking a trip to the ocean this summer? Here are some tips eco-savvy travelers use to help the ocean.

Test Your “Green Travel IQ” – Take this quirky quiz from the publishers of The Guardian
Think about your impact and take steps to reduce or offset it - On vacation, think about what might be left behind. Plastic bottles? Polluted air? Greenhouse gas emissions? Lessen the impact by reducing the amount of waste, and offsetting the carbon impact.
Memories make the best souvenir of all. Avoid souvenirs made of shells and other ocean resources, and instead take lots of photos and share them digitally.

starfish

TRAVEL TIPS

Simple ways to help the ocean when going away

Reduce energy use and waste at home:

Turn the AC, heat and water heater to the lowest safe setting

Stop the newspaper - and why not get rid of all that junkmail, too

Unplug the “energy vampires” Many small appliances, such as phones and VCRs, have transformer-type power supplies that consume between 2 and 10 watts of electricity even when the appliance is not in use

On the way:

Try the train – it’s one of the most energy-efficient forms of travel Carpool! Use as few vehicles as possible Fly greener! Offset your travel carbon emissions

At your destination:

Take walking or biking tours rather than renting cars

Let your hotel know not to change your sheets and towels every day

Buy lasting souvenirs…or just create memories

Make a financial contribution to a local conservation organization that protects the environmental quality of their home and your vacation destination

Visit
The Ocean Project
Web Site