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How can children help the ocean
STEVE AND RILEY HATHAWAY OF YOUNG OCEAN EXPLORERS SHARE HOW REDUCING OUR USE OF PLASTIC CAN HELP OUR OCEANS.
Did you know that by the year 2050, scientists think there that will be more plastic than fish in the sea? Around the world, we're making more than 300 million tonnes of plastic every year, and eight million tonnes of this ends up in our oceans. That's about one rubbish truck being dumped into the ocean every minute. In 2050, it could be up to four loads per minute.
Some plastic comes from boats, but 80% of all the plastic comes from the land and gets into the ocean through drains or by blowing off the land. Almost all plastics are made out of oil and can't break down like food does in a compost bin. They just keep wearing down into smaller and smaller pieces. The plastic is then eaten by animals, which can make them sick and even kill them.
A salp, a type of animal that turtles love to eat, looks a lot like plastic. So turtles eat plastic thinking it's salp, and get very sick. Even really big animals like sperm whales and beaked whales will eat plastic bags because their echolocation* can't tell the difference between a plastic bag and a squid, which is one of their favourite foods. Discarded fishing line and plastic ties can look like sea grass. And a lot of marine animals have been found entangled in marine rubbish.
Did you know that we're making 20 times more plastic than we were when your grandparents were born, and only 5% of our plastics are recycled? Recycling is the last step; we should be reducing our use of plastics. Write down every time you use a piece of plastic for a whole day, and then add it up. Have you ever thought about how much plastic you touch in a single day, like plastic bags, food containers, drink bottles, and plastic packaging? Every child can make a difference. If every child picked up at least one piece of plastic a day, around 750,000 pieces would be removed from the environment.
93% of New Zealand is ocean (only a tiny bit of NZ is land) and about 80% of our native species live in the ocean. Our ocean and marine life are just as special as our Kiwis,Kea and Kauri Trees
HOW CAN CHILDREN HELP THE OCEAN?
An important way children can help the ocean is by using less plastic in their lunch boxes, and helping to make sure we keep our streets clean. One of Young Ocean Explorers’ messages to schools and communities is this: Clean communities equals clean oceans. What this means is that if there is no plastic in our streets or communities, then there is no plastic from our communities getting into the ocean – which makes a big difference.
Use reusable, recyclable, and safe biodegradable packaging – better yet, don’t use any packaging at all!
Invest in “nude food” lunch boxes which have compartments to put food in, so there’s no need for plastic wrap or packaging.
What we do on the land can make a big difference in the ocean! All drains lead to the ocean, so if we drop plastic on the ground it will eventually make its way to the sea.
ABOUT YOUNG OCEAN EXPLORERS
Since 2012, Young Ocean Explorers has inspired kids to love our ocean. We want to capture children’s imaginations through great storytelling, bringing the beauty, awe, and fascination of the ocean and its inhabitants alive; create generational change by connecting hearts and minds with the importance of enjoying and caring for our oceans; and give them tools to make a better future.
Read more about Young Ocean Explorers: https://www.youngoceanexplorers.com/