Make a Difference
Learn How YOU Can Help Protect Marine Resources
Beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, and surrounding waters provide homes for millions of species. Nearly 50 percent of the bird species in North America rely upon wetlands for some aspect of their nesting or feeding. Coral reefs are home to more than 25 percent of all marine species. Beaches and coastal habitats are a popular destination for people to take vacations and enjoy watching a variety of marine wildlife. Many of these places are threatened by development, introduced species, pollution, and various human activities.
Here are some ways YOU can make a difference:
SHARE THE BEACH
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Tip-toe in the sand: To you it may simply look like miles and miles of sand. But to millions of tiny crustaceans, reptiles, birds, and insects, it's home sweet home. So please, watch where you walk.
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Pack it up: Be sure to clean up your site. Contrary to popular belief, the beach will not simply be wiped clean after high tide. Pack out food wrappers, empty beverage containers, and other seaside accoutrements when you leave. Sea turtles have evolved to eat anything in the oceans, but when turtles and other marine life eat plastics and other garbage, they risk fatal blockage of their digestive tracts. Trash also can cover coral reefs and block the sunlight they need to survive.
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Use a leash: Not just on your surfboard either—keep your dog on a leash at all times. Even if it is your best friend, your pet may be a nuisance to other beach-goers and may also disturb nesting birds and other marine mammals.
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Beach blanket bingo: If you spot a nesting habitat—whether it be sea turtles or wood storks—give it some consideration. Moving your beach blanket 20 or 30 yards down the beach will allow the wildlife ample room to breathe.
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Stay on the road: Avoid driving all-terrain vehicles on the beach. They don't belong on the beach, and the damage they do is often irreparable. Nest sites for birds, turtles, and other wildlife are often hidden beneath the sand's surface.
RESPECT MARINE RESOURCES
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Don't Touch: Coral reefs may take hundreds, even thousands, of years to form. Today, most reefs are between 5,000 and 10,000 years old. But just a touch from your finger can devastate coral. When diving or snorkeling near coral reefs, do not touch, stand or walk on, kick, or collect coral. Make sure none of your equipment bumps into the coral. Read some snorkeling tips.
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Take only your memories with you: Although they may be beautiful, do not purchase items made from coral or other threatened marine life. Avoid coral jewelry or other marine souvenirs unless you are certain that they were farmed or produced in aquaculture operations.
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Finding Nemo: If you own a tropical aquarium, demand that your aquarium store purchase only fish that have been certified "cyanide free." In many areas of the world, tropical fish are collected from coral reefs by releasing cyanide poison into the water, which kills the reef and many other marine species and stuns valuable fish for easy collection. Don't purchase coral pieces or "live rock" for your tank unless there is proof they were not removed from the wild.
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Conserve water: Turn the water off when scrubbing dishes or brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and water your lawn in the early morning or late evening.
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Choose Wisely: Avoid restaurant meals of turtle, shark, or other threatened wildlife. Your choice lowers the demand for these creatures and sends a message that you respect sea life. Keep in mind that, when commercial operators collect shrimp, billions of pounds of fish, sharks, and seabirds die after being caught accidentally. Download a pocket guide to help you choose wisely the next time you dine out.
PRACTICE BOAT SAFETY
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Anchor away: If you operate a boat, navigate carefully to avoid contact with coral reefs, and never drop anchor onto a reef.
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Don't be shallow: Don't power up your boat in shallow water where you will cause damage to the seagrass below. Wait until you're in deeper water and be sure to use the trim on your engine.
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Wear cool shades: Wear polarized sunglasses to help you read the changes in the water. Being able to detect subtle changes in the water can mean the difference between running aground and having a fun afternoon of boating. If you own a depth-finder, check it frequently.
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Keep clean: Make sure garbage and belongings are stowed before powering up the boat. Plastic bags that blow overboard can choke turtles and other marine life. Never dump trash or sewage into the water.
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Like a fish out of water: When fishing, remember that catch and release helps ensure you will have fish for tomorrow's trip! When landing a fish, bring the fish in quickly so as to avoid overstressing it. Try not to handle the fish if possible (or else use wet hands or a wet towel), and make picture taking a quick process so the fish isn't out of the water for more than 30 seconds. Before letting a fish go, revive it by gently pushing it back and forth under the water to get water moving over its gills.
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Play it safe: Before going out on the boat, always check the weather for impending storms, and be sure you have the necessary safety equipment on board such as a marine radio and/or cell phone, life vests, and flares in case of an emergency.
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Join the crew! We're looking for a few good men and women to join our crew of volunteers in and around the waters of the Florida Bay. If you live in southern Florida and would like to get involved, please contact the suncoast office at suncoast@npca.org.
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