How to really thank the ocean
How to Really Thank the Ocean
My parents taught me to always say “please” and “thank you” at the appropriate times.
They also taught me that it is never too late to share a heartfelt thank you. Even if the thanking refers back days, weeks, even years.
I once returned to my grade school, as an adult, to say “thank you” to my excellent teachers. Even after two decades of silence those two words were deeply appreciated—evidenced by moist eyes, smiles, hugs and many recalled memories.
Today our California governor has declared June 8th Thank You Ocean Day, coinciding with World Ocean Day.
We have much to thank the ocean for: our climate, food, air and even our economy. And judging by the current state of the ocean a heartfelt “thank you” AND a very big “we’re sorry” are overdue.
We’ve dumped so much into the ocean in the form of runoff and waste, plastics and chemicals, not to mention ocean warming, acidification and a surplus of noise pollution beneath the waves. Once, the ocean could just take what we threw in it—it was big and we were small in number and had yet to invent plastic or put so many greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere. But that’s all changed.
Further, we’ve taken far too much out of the ocean. Species by species, we’ve eaten the ocean to death. First it was the whales, turtles and sharks…then the big fish like tuna and swordfish, down to cod, halibut and salmon. Most of our fisheries are now in trouble. And those such as bottom trawling for fast growing shrimp are also a disaster, not due to overfishing of the shrimp populations, rather because they destroy the sea floor and other species like sea turtles, rays and snapper by dragging nets on the bottom and discarding the majority of what they catch. We euphemistically call that bycatch: destruction of the ocean as a mere by-product of the catching of seafood.
Most of this habitat destruction occurs along the edge, both on land and at sea. The edgy places, the borders and margins, are where life is most rich and abundant. It’s also where we want to live, fish, farm and recreate. And the edge of the sea—our coastlands, coastal waters, wetlands, estuaries, reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves—are either wiped out or stressed out. In California of our 1,200 miles of coast, only 28 miles is still roadless wilderness. And that’s better than most coastal states.
Out of this comes a clear call to action. To protect what remains intact of the ocean, we must put LESS IN, take LESS OUT, and PROTECT the EDGE.
Thanking our ocean, as you would thank your friend for dinner, is not enough. Needless to say the ocean wouldn’t hear it anyhow. Thanking the ocean is an action. To thank the ocean, let’s live it.
Consider that the choices we make about what we eat, what we buy, how we vacation and play, and how we vote can be among the best ways to really thank the ocean.
Here are what I consider the “low hanging fruit” of ocean-friendly living, easy stuff that shouldn’t hurt much to do, but will directly thank the ocean:
2. Cut way down on plastic: put stuff in your pockets, bring a cup or bag, take a pass on poorly made plastic items.
3. Vacation and recreate where it counts: pick a sea turtle conservation project for your next beach getaway or take an afternoon and walk the coast picking up trash.
4. Drive a vehicle that’s ocean friendly or don’t drive at all. Climate change is at its heart an ocean issue. It’s a major threat to the health of our ocean. Ever little cut in emissions will help.
5. Vote for the bluest candidates. Many states are looking at new ocean and coastal legislation. Find out who the ocean champions are and back them up.
Pick one thing off of this list and vow to follow it through. It’s the best way to thank the ocean. A loud and clear “thank you ocean” is deserved and appropriate today.
Better late than never.
-WJN
PS Be sure to check out the 1st Annual Carnival of the Blue Blogfest
June 8, 2007