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Take Action: Start A Sea Change

The solutions to marine debris include everyone - business, government, community groups and individuals - all working together. Picking up trash at the International Coastal Cleanup on one day each year is not the whole answer, because trash in our ocean and waterways is an on-going, year-round problem. Working together, we can change behaviors that lead to trash in our ocean, we can change laws to better govern litter and ocean dumping, and we can change to more ocean-friendly products through new technologies.

Action begins with each of us.

	Volunteer for Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup on September 19. Already planning to attend a Cleanup? Ask a friend to join you!
	Put trash in a secure, lidded receptacle - most marine debris starts out on land.
	Properly recycle everything you can in your area.
	When boating, bring your trash back to shore, and ask your marina to handle waste properly.
	Less is more: Don't buy stuff you don't need, and choose items that use less packaging.
	Inform and inspire your friends and co-workers to help stop marine debris at the source.
	Bring your own containers for picnics instead of using disposables. Take your own reusable bags whenever you go shopping.
	Write to companies or visit local businesses and encourage them to reuse, recycle, and generate less packaging.
	Put cigarette butts in ashtrays, not on streets, sidewalks, or beaches.
	Write to your elected officials and ask them to support policies that protect our ocean.

Pier Walkers

If you are in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, come out and join Ocean Conservancy's pier walkers, volunteers who help educate fishermen about the dangers of discarded monofiliment fishing line and collect line for recycling.

Good Mate: Waterway Conservation for Boaters

As a boater, you're in a unique position to be a true steward of our oceans, lakes, and waterways.

Recreational boating means enjoying the beauty of the water - but stop and think for a minute, and you'll realize that the very nature of boating makes it a potential source for the most damaging types of water pollution: oil and fuel, sewage, chemicals, solid waste, and debris. Boaters can all-too-easily introduce these harmful pollutants into the environment through their everyday activities.

The good news is that even small changes in the way we maintain and operate our boats can make a big difference for aquatic environments and the amazing variety of animals and plants making their homes in the water. To help keep waterways and the ocean clean, Ocean Conservancy's Good Mate program raises awareness, and promotes environmentally responsible boating as well as responsible marina operations.

Read more about the Good Mate program and what you can do to help keep the ocean and waterways clean »

Visit www.oceanconservancy.org/contactus for regional office addresses and email information.

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The Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup and Ocean Action Network are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy.

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