The global ocean plastic pollution problem has reached crisis level and it is going to take an army to solve it. Now, there is a global competition that just launched from National Geographic and Sky Ocean Ventures that is calling on all ocean warriors to submit their ideas in hopes of curbing the problem.
It is so important for the future of sea turtles that we research and follow them through their entire life cycle to make sure we understand the threats they face and what we can do to help them recover. In this post, we revisit the FAU Marine Research Lab to check in on their baby sea turtles from last year and the research being done to brighten their future.
When you think of the Caribbean, images of white sand beaches, palm trees, and crystal clear water are probably dancing in your head. However, there is a dark secret that you might not know about. Ocean plastic pollution is a major problem on many of the islands and 4ocean is on a mission to clean it up.
During the weekend of the football Pro-Bowl in Orlando, we hosted a cleanup at the nearest beach to the game, Daytona Beach, Florida. And professional football player Josh Rosen attended to make it extra special. Over 600 people showed up and the trash count was impressive, check it out in this post.
Manta Rays are some of the most majestic creatures in the ocean. However, they are under threat from many directions and it takes organizations like our partner, the Oceanic Preservation Society, to bring their plight to life through films and education efforts.
So much of the conversation around single-use plastic focuses on the consumer having to come up with ways to reduce, reuse and recycle what we use. Well, how about the companies that produce the plastic in the first place? Take a look at what some companies are beginning to do because their customers are speaking up.
4ocean's main headquarters is located in Boca Raton, FL and is where our first community beach cleanup was held. It's also where our daily cleanup crew operations started before expanding to multiple areas in South Florida and then to Indonesia and the Caribbean soon after. To celebrate our two-year anniversary, we decided to host a cleanup right where it all began. And as far as attendance goes, it was our biggest ever!!!
Microplastics have found their way into our food chain through the ingestion of contaminated fish, shellfish and even sea salt which potentially is putting human health at risk. In this post, we take a look at the food web and see just how easy it is for these microplastics to get into our system.
In this third installment of the "A History of...." blog series, we take a look at the history and stigma of the plastic bottle. It had innocent enough beginnings, but it was a "bottle war" that exploded the ocean plastic epidemic onto the world. Now we're left to figure out the aftermath of the battle and come up with solutions on how to find a better and more sustainable way forward.
In our ongoing effort to bring awareness to how and why the plastic pollution crisis has become so widespread, we take a look at the history of the plastic bag in the second of our "A History of...." blog series. Maybe people a thousand years ago had it right with the reusable bag idea, we'll let you be the judge.
Fairly or unfairly, the plastic straw has become the poster child for the effort to curb the plastic pollution crisis. In this first installment of our "A History of...." series, we take a look back at the evolution of the straw from beginning to end. With bans of plastic straws popping up all over the globe, let's jump back in time to see what they were, where it went wrong and what they are becoming now.
Recycling plastic can be confusing because there are just so many different kinds. Some of them can be recycled while others not. In this post, the 4ocean Education Team breaks down the types of plastic into easy-to-understand infographics that will hopefully help you take your plastic recycling game to the next level.
Have you heard of the new exercise trend called plogging where people pick up trash while they exercise? It's something we fully support so let's get you up to speed. The word comes from the combination of "plocka" (means "pick up" in Swedish) and "jogging," but it can be done while walking, cycling, or hiking too.
4ocean attended Surf Expo 2019 in Orlando, Florida. We had a chance to exhibit and speak with many people who care deeply about the health of the ocean. The energy and feedback were incredible. It was so exciting for us to spread 4ocean's message to the masses. Check out photos from the event and ride the wave that is the clean ocean movement with us!
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. They are under threat from a myriad of man-made causes including ocean plastic and trash. We have partnered with The Marine Mammal Center to support the Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian monk seal hospital which is helping to save these amazing creatures. Here are 10 facts about Hawaiian monk seals so you can get to know and love them just like we do.
Kilo was found orphaned and starving on a privately owned island in Hawai’i but was released back into the wild after 7 months of care at Ke Kai Ola, the Hawaiian monk seal hospital opened by The Marine Mammal Center. Now she's the newest member of the 4ocean family!
A tropical paradise is now awash in single-use plastic and it took a realization by the local government to understand that if they wanted people from around the world to continue to flock to their island, they will need to do whatever it takes to solve their current ocean plastic problem. It doesn't hurt that two surfers had the same idea and started 4ocean which now has a full-time cleanup facility in Bali.
Now that 2018 is in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look forward at some positive things when it comes to single-use plastic. It isn't all doom and gloom and in this post, we look at 5 things that show us if we keep our eyes focused on the problem and its solutions, we can all make a difference.
In 2018 there were so many stories hitting the news about single-use and ocean plastic it was hard to keep track of them all. It's negative effects on wildlife and the marine environment simply cannot be measured and it is up to all of us to think about our choices in 2019 and beyond so that we can make real change for the ocean. In this post, we take a look back on some of the most notable.
2018 has been an absolutely epic year for 4ocean. There is so much to be proud of and it's all because of you guys. Together we have removed over 2.5 million pounds of trash from the ocean and coastlines. Let's take a quick look back at all that was accomplished.
As we wind the clock down on 2018, we decided to take a look at how we all can achieve our New Year's Resolutions in a more sustainable way. Here is a quick recap of the 4ocean 2019 Countdown for a more sustainable you and for our precious ocean.
With so much single-use plastic making its way into our daily lives, people are always asking us what are the best ways to reduce its use. In this post, we break down 15 ways to do. These are simple things that can make a big difference in the long run for the ocean.
Can you guess how many bottle caps are in this picture? These small pieces of plastic have been found at all of our coastline cleanups. They're an enormous threat to marine life that can easily ingest them. They become an even bigger threat as they turn into microplastics. So what can you do to help? Recycle them!
Our latest shoreline cleanup at Matheson Hammock proved just how much trash can become trapped in mangroves habitats. With hundreds of participants at the cleanup, it is no wonder we collected over 5,000 pounds of trash and recyclables!