Recent headlines have been a stark reminder that we're not just dealing with a little bit of plastic in the ocean; we are dealing with an ocean plastic pollution crisis. From some of the most remote islands in the Indian Ocean to the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean, ocean plastic has been found. It even has the potential to affect atmospheric oxygen levels which could one day inhibit our ability to breathe. These are the latest news stories covering the ocean plastic crisis.
Around the world, many species both on land and in the sea are facing the most important fight of their lives –– the one that could potentially be the final fight to exist on this planet. Today is Endangered Species Day and we want to recognize the peril of these iconic animals in hopes of bringing attention to their plight and call out some amazing work our non-profit partners are doing to save these creatures.
It was a chance meeting between a marketer and a famous musician that sparked the passion to change the future of the ocean and led to the creation of our partner organization, Ocean Conservancy®, a global force for ocean conservation. Check out some of the incredible programs they are involved in and find out who that famous musician was.
In early April 2019, the 4ocean team had the pleasure of attending the Coral Restoration Foundation™ "Raise the Reef" Gala to help support the amazing work they are doing to restore and protect coral reefs in the Florida Keys and around the world. It was a night of insight and inspiration that will ultimately lead to the type of immediate action we need to save these precious underwater ecosystems for future generations.
If you guessed a group of incredibly dedicated and eco-aware 5th graders from Princeton Day School in New Jersey, you'd be correct! The students discovered 4ocean on the internet and began to research exactly what it is that we do. See how our inspiration is helping them raise awareness about the ocean plastic pollution crisis and how their effort has grown into something even bigger!
We take a trip around the world and pull some of the stories making headlines with regards to ocean plastic pollution. Our goal is to show you just how pervasive the problem is and to highlight all the different storylines that this problem produces every day. From the UK to Siesta Key, FL the plastic crisis hits home and its up to us to help stop it at the source.
Octopuses are part of the "cephalopoda" class of mollusks, which literally means "head-foot," and they're some of the most intelligent and elusive creatures in the ocean. They have an uncanny ability to disappear into their surroundings to escape predators or to hunt for their prey, but ocean plastic pollution is threatening their habits all over the world. Inside, there are links to some awesome videos we put together that will amaze you and leave you heartbroken at the same time.
Microplastics aren't only found in the ocean. The prevalence and widespread nature of these plastic particles threaten all four corners of our planet. From the tiniest cracks of mountain ranges to the smallest crevices in sea ice. Discover all the unexpected and alarming places researchers have found microplastics.
As complex of an ecosystem as the Everglades is, the history and politics of how it came to be in such a dire state may be even more complex. But there simply isn't enough room in this short post to get into all of that. Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the Everglades need our help. So take a stand and support Everglades restoration now!
Earth Day is the one day a year that the world comes together to celebrate the fragile island in space that we all call home. It really is a bit strange, however, that we only do this once a year because we all know that every day should really be Earth Day. The actions we take, the influence we have, and the things we say today, tomorrow, and the next day matter to the future of this planet.
We are happy to introduce 4ocean Bali, 4ocean Haiti, and 4ocean Florida Instagram channels for Cleanup Operations! We can't wait to begin sharing more information on a regular basis about these operations, the amazing teams, all of the upgrades we are doing in these locations as well as some local stories that just make you feel good about what we are doing there. Make sure to add each one of them and stay tuned for more updates.
At 4ocean, we love the Great Barrier Reef because it is such an incredibly complex and biodiverse ecosystem. Threatened on many fronts, immediate action is necessary to save this natural treasure for future generations. Discover what our non-profit partner, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, is doing to save the Reef. They have some amazing projects that are in progress and you can check out some of their videos inside, too.
Sometimes we need to think outside the box (or basket in this case) and look for any and all opportunities to reduce our consumption of plastic. Easter is the perfect chance to do so because historically this day is full of plastic. From the baskets to the grass, and the eggs to the candies, we take a look at how you can create a plastic-free holiday for your family this year. This isn't as hard as it may seem, it just takes a little bit of planning ahead of time.
When one of our daily cleanup crew members from 4ocean Miami found a bird that didn't quite look right, he jumped into rescue mode and ferried the sick gull over to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Rescue Station for a little rehab and recovery. Check out the video of the story inside!
The foodie in you is in for a big surprise! The fish we're eating and the salt we're using to season our food are becoming contaminated with plastic and the toxins these plastics absorb from the environment. Researchers have yet to determine whether there are human health risks associated with the microplastics in our food, but just the thought leaves us feeling sick.
Even though we're cleaning up the ocean and coastlines seven days a week, it helps to take a quick break and look at what else is going on around the world. We've ripped the most interesting stories from the headlines so you can stay up to date on the most recent developments surrounding the ocean plastic crisis.
We're educating the world about a global icon: the Great Barrier Reef. Not only that, but we are also supporting a nonprofit that is out there on the front lines keeping an eye on the changes happening to the Great Barrier Reef and creating solutions for its preservation.
It's always great to get out on the water with one of our 4ocean Captains to see how it is out there on the front lines these days. We got a chance to join Captain Denise Salas and her crew to get a bit of perspective and see how they are making a difference every day.
Over the winter, we had a chance to follow up with our 4ocean Legacy Partner, Save the Manatee Club, to see all the great work they are doing with manatees at Blue Springs State Park in Florida. The number of manatees there on one particular day set an all-time record high and with more than 50 calves being born, we are hoping this is a sign of a stable and growing population. Check out the video of the trip!
We spent the weekend cleaning areas in both the Middle and Upper Florida Keys, areas that were damaged and heavily impacted by the accumulation of marine debris during Hurricane Irma. You won't believe what our before and after pictures look like!
It turns out that some iconic Spring Break hotspots are extremely important, ecologically valuable areas to the species that call them home. Plastic pollution left behind by Spring Break revelers can cause tremendous harm to endangered species and critical habitats, so have fun but always clean up afterward.
In our Meet the Team Blog Series, we will take a look at some of the 4ocean employees cleaning up the ocean and coastlines around the world. We all know the problem of ocean plastic pollution is a complicated one, but we have people like Captain Louie out there every day tackling the problem head-on!
Microplastics are on the menu for some of the smallest and deepest-living animals in the ocean. A study of amphipods from places like Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench shows they are eating these plastics at an alarming rate. Find out how this material is making its way to them and see what regular activity may be to blame.
Back in January 2019, a NOAA expedition to the subantarctic waters off Chili potentially documented a new species of orca alive for the first time in the wild! Perfect timing considering that the news coincides with the launch of our 4ocean Orca Bracelet (or maybe it's just coincidence), but either way, we are super excited to hear the news.