Kid's Artwork
Ocean Treasures: Kids' Creative Corner
Celebrating the Wonders of the Sea Through Young Artists' Eyes
Heroes
Our Ocean Heroes
Honoring the Champions Protecting Marine Life and Coastal Communities
Letters
Letters from the Heart
Heartfelt Messages and Hopes for Protecting Marine Life and Our Planet
Fundraising
Join Our Mission to Protect the Ocean
Support Our Fundraising Efforts to Safeguard Marine Life and Habitats
Memoriam's
In Loving Memory
Honoring Those Who Cherished and Protected Our Oceans
10 Ways You Can Help Marine Life Every Day
You don’t have to live near the ocean to make a difference for marine life. Every small action adds up when it comes to protecting whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine creatures.
1Volunteer with local community groups to stencil storm drains, Adopt A Beach, or monitor the water quality of local watersheds.
Organize your classroom, school club, or organization to clean litter from rivers, creeks, estuaries, and beaches.Did you know? Storm water pollution (urban runoff) is one of the leading cause of water pollution nationwide.Pollutants such as motor oil, antifreeze, detergents, litter, paint, pesticides, pet waste, and copper (from brake pads) are flushed off streets and into storm drains which lead straight to rivers, creeks, and the oceans.
3Cut up plastic six-pac rings before recycling or disposing them in the garbage.
Thousands of birds, fish, and other marine creatures die needlessly from entanglement.
4Pick up trash while walking in your neighborhoods.
Participate in National Coastal Clean Up Day (September) www.coastforyou.org to prevent pollution in watersheds and storm drains. Did you know that? One of the most common sources of beach pollution is cigarette butts. They can take up to seven years to breakdown. Last year, over one million cigarette butts were removed by volunteers during National Coastal Clean Up Day.
5Never release balloons outside as they can travel hundreds of miles and land in rivers, creeks, and oceans.
Whales, dolphins and turtles can be killed by ingesting balloons mistaken for jellyfish. See Save The Whales “Balloon Alert” flyer in English and Spanish. Educate your schools or community businesses not to participate in balloon releases. A 60 foot sperm whale washed up dead from ingesting a balloon which blocked its stomach and caused it to starve.
6Keep your car well maintained to prevent leaks onto roadways and driveways which cause water pollution.
Carpool when possible, or ride a bike. Recycle used motor oil for free. Take hazardous waste such as paint, pesticides, and antifreeze to a hazardous waste site. Call 1-800-CLEAN-UP (in English and Spanish) or visit www.earth911.com for the free drop off location near you.
7Never discard used fishing line and hooks in the water.
This can entangle birds, fish, turtles, seals, and otters and cause the death of these animals.
8Never dump anything in the street.
Never dump anything in the street as it goes into the storm drains which travel straight to rivers, creeks, and ultimately the oceans without being cleaned. Did you know that? One quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of water. A drop of oil the size of a dime stuck on a sea otter can kill them. They die from hypothermia (freezing to death).
9Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.
Landfills across the nation are filling up with discarded items and refuse. Hazardous waste thrown in the garbage, ends up in landfills where it leeches into the soil and ground water causing contamination. Reduce your refuse by recycling, reusing and composting. Plant an organic garden free of pesticides.
10Buy local and sustainable products which helps protect whales from deadly ship strikes.
Choose products that are environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced to reduce your impact on the planet. Support organic farming practices, which avoid harmful chemicals and pesticides, protect soil health, and preserve ecosystems. By making mindful purchasing decisions, you can contribute to a healthier environment for marine life and future generations. Every choice matters when it comes to protecting our oceans and the planet.
Help the Vaquita Porpoise
Spreading the word about these beautiful little porpoises is the first step in saving them from extinction.
Jose Hernàndez has been performing with his five brothers since he was three years old. In 1981, he created his own musical group, Mariachi Sol de Mexico. He founded The Mariachi Heritage Society and employs highly qualified mariachi instructors to deliver the highest quality musical education to over 700 children throughout the Los Angeles area.
How Your Action Helps
Last year, we had a petition on our website to prevent a marina in the Turks & Caicos Islands that would have impacted the humpback whales during their migration.
Thank you for taking action.
Maris Sidenstecker I, Co-Founder - Save The Whales
