Surrounding us is many vital warning signs that we all need to take action on, to protect the only Ocean we have. However, at Starboard Blue we understand how overwhelming this can be. For this reason, we are sharing with you how you can take action to protect the Ocean through the 30 x 30 movement.
What is the 30 x 30 movement?
As water lovers, we know it’s everywhere. Scientifically, it covers 70% of the planet’s surface, but only less than 3% of it is protected. 30 x 30 calls for action from Governments and World Leaders to rapidly increase the amount of marine protected areas. Importantly the campaign demands that at least 30 % of the world’s ocean to covered by protection by the year 2030. Being able to protect at least 30% of the ocean will lead to;
Reversing adverse ecologic impacts.
Preservation of fish populations.
Increasing resilience to climate change.
Sustaining long-term ocean health.
Oxygen
I think all of us are quite happy with the amount of Oxygen we breathe daily. Without healthy Oceans, we would struggle as it’s our largest Oxygen source and is one of the planet’s biggest carbon dioxide sink! Take a peek at this article by WeForum to understand what may happen to the planet without 30 x 30 protection concerning planetary warming from Greenhouse Gases.
How can protecting the Ocean help with Climate Change?
Each of us loves to discover or revisit areas where nature thrives, whether it’s watching kelp swish around in the sea or birds swooshing down to the ocean water to grab a little snack! Marine protected areas create havens for biodiversity to flourish. Providing a safeguard for the health of the Oceans. Allowing for the continuous purification of the air, ongoing sequestration of carbon and maintaining ecosystem resilience. Resulting in reduced effects of climate change.
The BluePrint for Ocean Protection created by Greenpeace, The University of Oxford and The University of York has shared an in-depth report on why the Ocean’s health is detrimental to our Planets health.
The Ocean is important to human life for many reasons! Page 38 of the report shares a summary of the services the Ocean provides to human life, created by Rogers et all (2014).
How can I help?
Significantly, the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) needs to increase and decreases need to be seen in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. To help this you can….
- Reduce or eliminate your intake of fish in your diet.
- Get clued up on the Marine Protected Areas near you and find out how you can help locally.
- Check out local planting or propagating projects such as coral, seagrass, oysters, kelp or mangrove forests that you can support in your local area.
- Pick up litter when you are next outside! No matter where you are, all pathways will lead to the sea. Meaning that piece of plastic you pick up and either recycle or place in a bin will be saved from reaching the ocean, yay!
- Join World Ocean Day for Schools on June 8th.
- Support charities like Sea Shepherd who are actively protecting marine environments from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
- Finally, something we can all do right now is sign petitions to increase marine protected areas near you. Head to change.org to see what you can find!
UNEP is leading Earth Day this year with the theme Only One Earth. Most importantly… get out there and enjoy it!
