Living Your Best Life While Improving The World Around You

Healthy oceans are essential to all life on Earth. Covering more than 70% of our planet's surface.  They provide oxygen, regulate our climate, support countless species, and feed millions of people around the world. Protecting them is one of the most important things we can do for future generations.

This topic is deeply personal to me because I spent my entire life living along the coast. I was born and raised in the Ocean State of Rhode Island, where the beauty and power of the ocean became part of who I am.

In the early 1970s, a group of concerned Rhode Island residents came together to form Save The Bay. Their goal was to stop an oil company from building a refinery in Tiverton, RI on Narragansett Bay. Their grassroots effort was successful, protecting the bay from future pollution and oil spills while proving that ordinary people working together can create extraordinary change.

I'd like to help people learn about easy ways they can get involved in the mission of protecting our oceans.  Let's look at practical ways you can contribute.

Let's look at practical ways you can contribute.

No one person can save the oceans alone. It is small everyday actions that can make a difference. From reducing plastics to supporting sustainable practices, everyone can contribute and prevent further damage from pollution in the oceans.

Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean. That's equivalent to a garbage truck dumping a full load of plastic into the ocean every minute. The good news is that each of us can help change that.

What can we do you ask? Switching to reuseable bags, bottles and straws is an easy fix to a big problem. Taking a cue from other communities that have banned single-use plastics, we can ensure our beaches are cleaner and the ecosystems are healthier.

Participating in beach cleanups are an active way to help. Join local events or run an event yourself. International Coastal Cleanup Day is held annually on September 20th. It encourages millions of volunteers worldwide.

Support sustainable seafood. Overfishing is one of the leading causes of damage to marine ecosystems and ocean habitats. Opt for sustainable seafood by looking for stickers such as "Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

Another way to reduce ocean pollution is by conserving water in general. Excessive water usage can contribute to wastewater discharge that carries pollutants like chemicals, nutrients, and debris that harm marine environments when untreated.

Choose ocean-friendly products such as sunscreens that do not have chemicals like oxybenzone which bleaches coral reefs. Avoid products containing microbeads like exfoliating scrubs. They go into the ocean and get ingested by marine animals. To safeguard the ocean, lessen your carbon footprint by using energy-efficient appliances, use renewable energy sources.

In my opinion, one of the most powerful things you can do is spread awareness. Educate your children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors about ocean conservation. Inspire them to take action. Share articles, join discussions, or use social media—as I'm doing with you now. Non-governmental agencies dedicated to ocean conservation need your support. Donating, volunteering or sharing their work brings light to the efforts.

Proper waste management is crucial in preventing plastic, chemicals, and batteries from entering our oceans. Recycling and composting of these items can significantly reduce pollution in our waters.

Saving the ocean should not be the sole responsibility of the government. We can all contribute to marine conservation by reducing plastic, saving water and ensuring sustainable seafood.

Protecting our oceans isn't just the responsibility of governments or environmental organizations—it's the responsibility of all of us. Every reusable bottle, every beach cleanup, every piece of properly recycled plastic, and every conversation about conservation makes a difference. Small actions, repeated by millions of people, create lasting change. Together, we can leave healthier oceans for future generations. What first step will you take today?