TURNING THE TIDE
You don't need to wait around for World Ocean Day every year to take action! No matter if you live landlocked or beachfront there's lots of ways to help our Oceans.
Feeling like you don't know where to start? Here are some ways that you can impact change for people + planet right now.
GET INVOLVED:
Join a Beach Clean Up effort or organize your own! You can start one at your favorite location by the water or just around town. Grab a few friends, make it a family activity, start a clean up day with your class or school, you could even begin a town wide event.
If you are ready to jump in, volunteering your time to do clean ups are usually the quickest way to take direct action in aiding wildlife that can become entangled or injured by discarded trash. Plus, it's a great place to meet new people and build community!
Check out these pages to learn more & volunteer:
YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Use it locally to create change. Take your activism further by writing/urging your local representatives (city council, mayor, governor, congress member, etc.) to pass legislation that prohibits littering or create other related policies that protect habitat and wildlife in your area. Even advocating for your city to provide waste receptacles goes a long way in keeping local waterways cleaner and wildlife a bit safer.
STAY UP TO DATE ON CAMPAIGNS:
It's important to know what's going on in the world of course, however it's also vital to be aware of things happening in your community. So get (and stay) involved in your area!
Find out your local environmental regulations, search your specific city/state/national representatives and know who to contact/hold accountable for establishing or protecting your community and environmental causes.
Help support organizations' campaigns- linked below as a start; you can also check out our ACTION HQ webpage for more:
SUPPORT HABITAT RESTORATION:
Learn about the areas in need of critical aid- from mangroves to coral reefs, wetlands to your favorite lake- every aquatic habitat matters!
Donate to or volunteer with restoration efforts as much as possible. Learn more and find opportunities below:
SeaTrees
FOLLOW ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS:
Stop doomscrolling and find likeminded folks working to change the world for the better!
While social media can be great for connection it can also trap people in thinking that simply commenting or sharing a post is enough. Be mindful that your activism doesn't stay on social media platforms.
Remember there's no "perfect activist", just like there's not a perfect person. We all have things to learn and unlearn- that's growth and that's important!
Everyone brings different skills and perspectives needed to tackle the challenges ahead. Lean into learning and exploring topics or ways of thinking you aren't as comfortable with. ask questions and check in with yourself to ensure you haven't lost the why of whatever action you're taking.
Reading this far means you're passionate about bringing about a better world for sharks as well as people- and we think that makes you pretty friggin' special! So welcome aboard our HammerCrew and we'll leave you a few pages to start with:
MORE RESOURCES:
From tips and tricks with day to day routines to more major action steps in helping our planet- check out these resources:
