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Showing posts from April, 2022

The Magic of TikTok for the Ocean

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TikTok is a video-focused social networking service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. heard. Short user videos of various genres ranging from 15 seconds to 10 minutes are possible, including pranks, stunts, tricks, jokes, dance and entertainment. By using this platform, there are many influential people who have worked to make a difference and make the world a better place. Whether it's gender equality or the protection of the sea, it's all important. "From August 26 to September 9, TikTok users can apply an ocean effect that lets them virtually “clean plastic” out of the ocean. For every video uploaded with the hashtag #SaveOurOceans, TikTok will donate $2 to Conservation International to help save 3,000 square kilometers of ocean (up to $100,000)."( TikTok , 2019).  Even the slightest effort can depend on monumental change. Elizabeth Sheer from New York posted a video on TikTok to encourage others to remove cigarette butts and bottles from the beach but di

Seals v. Debris and Pollution

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  While the image pictured above may seem cute and loveable, there are so many different instances where the plastic and debris cause so much more harm than just a pair of goggles. Marine plastic debris is one of the most pressing environmental problems facing the world today. However, the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Center agrees that the most tragic consequences of  plastic pollution in the ocean are animal entanglements. However, this is not a sustainable solution. Ghost gear makes up an estimated 10% of the plastic waste in our oceans." (Krynauw, 2020) The peak breeding season for cape fur seals is  November and December. These very young puppies are often ill or injured and require veterinary care and special feeding. Organizations all over the world are working to create better living environments for the seals within the ocean. Small pieces of plastic appear in seal dropping that feed other fish, showing how contaminants from the ocean move through the food chain. In recent years,

World on the Turtle's Back

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From the flat seagrass beds of the Indian Ocean to the colorful coral reefs of the Coral Triangle to the sandy beaches of the East Pacific, seven species of sea turtles gracefully decorate our oceans. These highly mobile species land regularly to sunbathe and nest, but sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean. Research on WWF sea turtles focuses on these five species. Hawksville Sea Turtles, Hawksville Sea Turtles, Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Leatherback Sea Turtles, Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. “Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation.” (WWF, 2022) WWF is working to stop the decline of sea turtles and restore species. Sea turtles are endangered due to human irresponsibility and the fact that they are too good to use biodegradable and paper products. Plastic is harmful not only to the environment but also to the lives in it. For example, a floating plastic bag may resemble a jellyfish, algae, or other species that ma

Marine Debris

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Marine pollution in our oceans is something that is causing so much harm to the ocean itself and the sea life within it. "Marine debris is a persistent pollution problem that reaches throughout the entire ocean and Great Lakes. Our ocean and waterways are polluted with a wide variety of marine debris, ranging from tiny microplastics, smaller than 5 mm, to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels." ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , 2020). Marine debris can also interfere with navigation safety and potentially pose a threat to human health. Local, national, and international efforts are needed to address this environmental problem. The Save our Seas Act of 2018 amends and reauthorizes the Marine Debris Act to promote international action, authorize cleanup and response actions, and increase coordination among federal agencies on this topic. Debris Free Waters -  Through ingestion, entanglement, and interaction; marine debris affects the natural functioning