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Life Below Water
What’s the Goal? Conserve and efficiently and sustainably use the ocean and its marine resources! Believe it or not our ocean contributes to many aspects of our lives! Rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, as well as the oxygen in the air we breathe are all provided by the sea. So, while we’re thinking about how to live a more sustainable future, it is important we take care of this essential global resource and make sure we reduce: Overfishing: Removing a species of fish from a body of water at a rate that the species cannot replenish. This will result in that specific species becoming underpopulated in that area! Marine Pollution: When chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste enter the ocean it causes marine pollution and is extremely harmful to our life underwater! Ocean Acidification: Mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the earth’s oceans which is caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
29 Green Zine 2021
Written by Hester Johnson-Cadwell Illustration by Beth Hammond
Fun Fact! The drastic reduction in human activity brought about by COVID-19 may be a chance for oceans to recuperate.
What can you do? Try and make ocean-friendly choices when shopping! To do this we should eliminate the use of plastic as much as possible, if you’re confused as to how to do this, small ways are remembering to carry around a water bottle, this will prevent having to buy plastic ones! Instead of getting plastic shopping bags, simply use bags you already own! Another way to help is by avoiding dropping litter and picking up litter wherever you are - especially on our beaches!
Good News! 97 countries came together to sign the Agreement on Port State Measures which prevents, deters and eliminates illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Sustainable Development Goals