TAKE ACTION TODAY

Small Changes

TO THE WAY you LIVE

CAN MAKE a HUGE

IMPACT ON

ocean HEALTH

connect

Remind yourself that you are connected to our blue planet. The ocean is your life support system, it’s responsible for every second breath you take.

Experience it

Go for a beach walk, jump in for a swim or snorkel, or explore a marine park. Search…

  • Beach walks near me or
  • Marine parks near me

Fish Responsibly

Remember to check your local fishing rules and only catch what you need. Search…

  • Fishing rules

Find out something new

Dive into ocean documentaries, podcasts and books.
Follow an ocean hashtag:

#marinelife

#saveouroceans

#oceanconservation

#sustainablefishing

Change

Small changes in your shopping habits can greatly reduce the impact of shipping and waste on our ocean.

Buy locally sourced and sustainable seafood

Keep an eye out for any independent sustainability certification on the seafood you buy.

Visit the Australian Sustainable Seafood Guide to help you with your next trip to the supermarket.

Did you know that 65% of the seafood sold in Australia is imported? The imported seafood doesn’t even have to meet the same traceability standards as locally caught seafood.

buy less, consume less, throw away less

Think twice when shopping: Avoid single-use plastic and consider if you really need it. Look out for companies that are exploring eco-friendly transportation options for their products.

Consider gifting experiences instead of physical objects.

In 2019, less than 10% of the plastic waste generated globally was recycled! In the same year, 1.7 million metric tonnes of plastic waste ended in our ocean… we can do better!

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

buy reef-safe sunscreen

The products we put on our skin wash off when we enter the water. These substances can be harmful to marine life and corals.

To find reef-safe sunscreen look for:

  • Mineral sunscreens made from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide without nano particles (labelled as “non-nano”)
  • Sunscreens labelled “water-resistant” to avoid washing off in the water.
  • Remember to wait 10 mins to let it absorb into your skin.

advocate

The world beneath the waves is out of sight and out of mind for many. You can help by lending your voice and spreading the word.

Talk to friends and family

Overfishing endangers ocean ecosystems and the billions of people who rely on seafood as a key source of protein.

How can you find out if your seafood is sustainable?

A marine protected area (MPA) is a section of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activities to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem health.

What do you think about creating more MPA’s?

Join or support

Join or support an organisation that is working to protect and restore important marine environments.
Search…

  • marine campaigns for change, or
  • coastal volunteers.

Photo Credits

Man Snorkelling –  Orjan F. Ellingvag/Corbis Historical via Getty Images

Grandmother and granddaughter fishing – Jaimi Joy via Getty Images

Backpacker walking on the beach – John Crux Photography via Getty Images

Fish on ice – Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Adult applying sunscreen to child – MediaNews Group/The Riverside Press-Enterprise via Getty Images 

Woman browsing clothing rack – SolStock via Getty Images

Woman pouring nuts into paper bag – Westend61 via Getty Images

Three women walking on a beach – SB Arts Media via Getty Images

Two humpback whales – Philip Thurston via Getty Images