GREEN LIVING
Ways to Help Oceans, Even If You Don't Live Near One
By Bria Zegarelli
June 10, 2025
World Oceans Day on June 8th, which is an international celebration of the earth’s oceans, is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the protection of marine life! You may feel like your options are limited if you don’t live near an ocean or coastline, but rest assured, you can still help out our oceans even if you don’t live near them.
With the following 10 tips, you can help marine life “just keep swimming,” as Dory from Finding Nemo would say!
Use less plastic and recycle correctly
One of the easiest ways to contribute to the protection of our oceans without living near them is to limit your plastic usage and to recycle correctly. Plastic often ends up in the ocean and negatively impacts marine life, so it’s imperative that we prioritize recycling and reusing, rather than wasting, plastic.
Buy from ocean-friendly brands and use reef-safe sunscreen
Buying from environmentally- and marine-friendly brands can also be a great way to help our oceans even if you don’t live near one. Before making a purchase, take a look on the brand’s website to see their sustainability policy and if they prioritize recycling and the ocean. This is especially important when buying sunscreen in the summer; because sunscreen comes off in the ocean when swimming, it’s essential to make sure the brand you are using is reef-friendly. This will often be indicated on the packaging, but in general, reef-friendly sunscreens are more typically mineral-based rather than chemical-based.
Educate younger generations
If you are a teacher, babysitter, or just work with children in general, consider making a lesson plan or activity related to World Oceans Day. Educating younger generations about environmental issues is crucial for future environmental success, and World Oceans Day is a wonderful opportunity to do so! Even simply talking to children about the issue can foster productive discussions and curiosity within younger generations.
Vacation responsibly
Even if you don’t live near an ocean, you may be visiting one for vacation this summer. It’s important, however, to be responsible during your travels: thoroughly research the area you’re thinking of visiting, don’t litter on beaches (and in general), wear reef-safe sunscreen, don’t touch or disrupt marine life, gather souvenirs responsibly and ethically, and research any marine activities you’re doing to make sure they’re ethical.
Donate to ocean organizations
Donating to organizations that work to protect the ocean can be a great and easy way to give support from afar. You can always donate to national and international organizations (such as the Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, or The Ocean Cleanup), but if you’re vacationing near an ocean, see if there are any local organizations that you could support or volunteer for.
Avoid microbeads
When buying hygiene products, avoid ones that have microbeads, which are tiny plastic beads used for exfoliation in skincare, body wash, and toothpaste. These inevitably end up down the drain and are very hard to dissolve, leading to more microplastics in our oceans.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Carbon footprints—the release of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) into the air from using energy sources—are significantly linked to global warming and ocean acidification, which are harmful for marine life due to the fact that they create an unideal living environment for animals and plants that live in the ocean. Switching to more sustainable energy sources (such as carpooling, biking, using LED lights, reducing your everyday waste, etc.) can decrease your carbon footprint and therefore positively impact the ocean.
Buy sustainable seafood
When buying seafood, check the packaging for certification labels to see if the product has been caught or farmed ethically. For example, for wild-caught seafood, you may see the Marine Stewardship Council blue tick, which indicates that the product is from a sustainable fishery. For farmed seafood, look for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council label.
Research your saltwater fish
If you’re thinking of buying saltwater fish as pets, thoroughly research the company you’re purchasing from and ask many questions about how the fish were collected (sometimes wild-caught fish are collected by using harmful chemicals). The store should be able to answer these questions, and you should also make sure to do thorough research into the fish breeds you’re considering and what specific living conditions they need. These steps can help ensure that your purchase is contributing to the safety of marine life and also to the welfare of your future pets.
Become a member of your local zoo/aquarium
Becoming a member of your local aquarium (in Pittsburgh’s case, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium) can help keep you informed on local, national, and international marine issues and events. A membership also brings in money that the aquarium can use toward conservation efforts.
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