5 Ways Families Can Help Save Oceans Ahead of World Ocean Day

With World Ocean Day coming up on June 8, Pacific Whale Foundation is sharing a series of tips for how family travelers can play a role in saving the world’s oceans.

Rethink Single-Use Plastic

As plastic never truly biodegrades, single-use plastics are a big contributor to the dilemma since they play a role in nearly every facet of life and serve only one purpose. PWF research shows 70–90 percent of all debris around Maui is plastic. Find alternatives to everyday single-use plastics and help save marine life.

© Pacific Whale Foundation

Pledge to Minimize Vessel Collisions with Marine Animals

PWF identified vessel collisions with marine animals as a major threat endangering ocean life, and the threat increases as demand for global goods and services increases with about 50,000 commercial vessels daily navigating the world’s seas. That doesn’t include recreational and unlicensed vessels. Pledge to shop locally when possible, book excursions on or operate boats following official recommended guidelines for boater and marine wildlife safety, and support organizations developing and implementing marine wildlife conservation tools.

Help Slow the Effects of Climate Change

Human activity has accelerated the rate of climate change and PWF helped devise mitigation strategies, fight for change at the policy level and inform the public on ways to reduce their own impact. Families can help combat climate change by reducing dependence on fossil-fuel burning vehicles, supporting legislation that fights for more renewable energy weaning society off oil dependency, generate as little waste as possible when traveling, and becoming a member or donating to PWF.

© Pacific Whale Foundation

Become Community Scientists with PWF’s Adopt a Beach Program

“Adopt” some shoreline in Maui and PWF conducts monthly clean-ups to record the amount and type of marine debris found. Adoption allows PWF to increase the number of beaches regularly monitored.

Adopt a Whale

Whales keep the oceans’ food distribution stable and allow other marine life to survive. For $80, adopt a whale and receive an information packet on your animal, certificate of adoption, a reusable tote bag and more.