#SaveMarineLife

[whizcrow]

9-23 million tonnes of plastic waste reach our lakes, rivers, and seas every year, while 11 million tonnes flow into our precious oceans. 🌊🌍 Microplastics, invisible but insidious, invade our food, water, and air. 💔 It's time for a constant change every day. Together, let's #BeatPlasticPollution and protect our planet for future generations. 🌱

[kumaradhikaryofficial]

Avoid Plastics- Arise Cleanliness & Invite Happiness.

Stop Plastic Pollution.

If there is one type of waste problem, which is ubiquitous, it is Plastic Pollution. A few important facts about plastic pollution as per United Nations Environment Program (UNEP):

Since the early of 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced. Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled and about 12% has been incinerated. About 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment.

About 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every year. Rivers carry plastic waste from deep inland to the sea. This contributes to marine pollution. Rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, Mekong, Yellow, Yangtze, Amur, Nile and Niger are some of the major rivers carrying plastic waste to oceanic environment.

Globally about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year. Half of all plastic produced worldwide is used only once and then trashed away. Most common examples of single-use plastics are cigarette butts, pkastic drinking bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, and foam take-away containers.

Plastic pollution has become an all-pervasive problem, with some scientists suggesting that it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era!

Developed countries like the United States, Japan and many European countries produce significant amounts of plastic waste. Per capita annual plastic consumption in the USA is about 100 kg, in Europe it is around 65 kg and in China is around 40 kg. This is much higher than the global average of 28 kg of plastic use per person annually.

However, developed regions like European Union, Japan and the USA are relatively good at managing plastic waste. Developing countries like China, Vietnam, Indonesia etc. are fast growing. As consumptions boom, plastic waste generation also increases.

The most worrisome feature of plastic pollution is that it remains in the environment for countries. Most plastics are non-biodegradable. Over time, they slowly break down into smaller fragments known as ‘Microplastics’. These are extremely small plastic pieces that are less than 5mm in size. Microplastics can come from multiple sources and can be either primary microplastic or secondary microplastic.

Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use. One example is of microbeads. These are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, like cleansers and toothpaste.

Secondary microplastics are those which are formed from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller pieces. The breakdown can take place due to the sun’s radiation or the action of ocean waves.

Plastic bags can block waterways and exacerbate natural disasters like flooding. For example, one of the reasons for the Mumbai flooding of 2019 was plastics clogging the drainage system of the city.

By clogging sewers, plastics provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests. This was because plastic bags can increase the transmission of vector-borne diseases like malaria.

Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by turtles and dolphins. Marine organisms like dolphins, turtles, whales, and fishes can ingest them and high concentrations of plastic materials, have been found blocking the airways and stomachs of hundreds of species.

Microplastics are a bigger problem as it is easily ingestible by fish. This way, plastics eventually enter human food chains. Microplastics have been detected in marine organisms from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water.

Styrofoam products are generally used for making disposable plastic cutlery like glasses, cups etc, It contains carcinogenic chemicals like styrene and benzene. These, if ingested, can damage the nervous systems, lungs and reproductive organs. The toxins in styrofoam containers can leach into food and drinks.

Disposing of plastic waste by burning it, in open-air pits releases harmful gases like furan and dioxin.

BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION

To tackle the plastic waste menace, the theme of UNEP’s World Environment Day 2018 was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. World Environment Day 2018 was hosted by India. The objective was to build momentum to fight the plastic waste problem globally. Over here, India for the first time made a commitment that it will ban all single-use plastic by 2022. however, later at the United Nations Environment Assembly’s meeting (September 2019), this was revised and India committed to reducing plastic use by the year 2030.

Recommendations offered by the UNEP to policymakers to tackle plastic pollution were:

Government need to improve waste management practice. They may introduce financial incentives to change the habits of consumers, retailers and manufacturers.

Promote eco-friendly alternatives to plastics. Examples include biodegradable cutlery, and bamboo straws used in India.

Strong government policies are needed for encouraging a circular model of economy which places emphasis on reuse and recycling.

Educate consumers to enable voluntary plastic reduction strategies.

Successfully implement bans or levies on the use and sale of single-use plastics. Countries like Kenya, Botswana, Peru and Chile have already done that.

Later in September 2018, the UNEP along with European Union also launched the Global Plastics Platform to reduce plastic pollution. It is a network of member states to support countries and cities in establishing policies to reduce plastic pollution. Support will be provided for the transition to a more circular economy.

[ecokadai]

EcoKadai Biodegradable Cups

[fearku]

Beach finds excerpt #2022 #beachcombingfinds #beachcleanup For #2023 Let's continue to #savemarinelife #saveourselves 🦀🐬🦑🐟🦐 https://www.instagram.com/p/CmoIOscIz_1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[xsh2oxsh2o]

PLASTIC IS ALSO HARMUL TO MARINE LIFE ALSO🐟🐬🐋 #xs #h²o #black #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyproducts #avoidplasticpackaging #avoidplastic #saveearth #pollutionfreeenvironment #pollutionfreeworld #plasticfree #cleanoceanwater#saveocean #savemarinelife #savemamals https://www.instagram.com/p/CmZkeSmvj-l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[warriorenergydrink]

Join the movement 🌊🌍 Warrior Beverages is on a mission to end Ocean Pollution. Better For You, Better For Our Planet!

#WarriorBeverages #SaveOurOceans #StopOceanPollution #BetterForYou #BetterForOurPlanet #GoGreen #EcoWarrior #SustainableLiving #ProtectOurPlanet #CleanSeas #SaveMarineLife #NoMorePlastic #OceanConservation #BeTheChange #LoveOurPlanet #cpg #water

[planetstuff]

Save Marine Life!

Save the Marine Life!They can't do it without you!

#savethewhales #savethedolphins #savemarinelife

[samoceanwarrior]

Beach cleanup Ao Nang beach Krabi Thailand. #beachcleanup #nature #naturelovers #savemarinelife https://www.instagram.com/p/CTq6EfbvpPO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[dark-and-stormy-night-0100]

[funnywildlife]

For this #MondayMotivation enjoy this awesome video of a happy whale breaching along the Wild Coast of South Africa by #wildographer, dive master & owner of @merubisi, @mutlu.bora ・・・ Let them plan your ultimate game watching / photographic safari to Southern Africa and make your dreams come true. #enquirenow https://www.merubisi-safaris.com/about ・・・ #Wildography #AfricanSafaris #MerubisiSafaris #mutlubora #africansafari #savetheoceans #savethewhales #savemarinelife #wildlifeconservation #protectwhatyoulove #endangeredspecies #blueplanet #amazingcreatures #deepblue #marinelife #wildgeography #wildlifeplanet #oceansafari #wildandfree #earthfocus #wildlifelovers #ourplanetdaily #wildlifevideos https://www.instagram.com/p/B88xKqKAmcm/?igshid=1rgdnuh3nsf7e

[shah-miow]

[kumaradhikaryofficial]

Conserve Wetlands to Preserve Biodiversity

Wetlands refer to complex ecosystems encompassing a wide range of inland, coastal and marine habitats such as floods, plants, swamps marshes, tidal marshes etc.They have the characteristics of both dry and wet environments and show wide diversity based on their genesis, geographical location, hydrological regimes and substrate factors.

Whenever land and water meet, a transitional zone is created which produces unique ecosystems. Wetlands are the areas with open standing water (that is the water table is at the surface and ground is saturated with water) with vegetation. 

A special soil environment is created due to standing water with little or no oxygen. Therefore, in wetlands water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. 

Wetlands can be: 

Either natural or artificial (examples of man-made wetlands include fish and shrimp ponds, farm ponds, irrigated agricultural land, salt pans, reservoirs, canals etc).

Either temporarily or permanently covered by water.

Either static or flowing water

Fresh, brackish or salt water (including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 meters) 

Wetlands occur across latitudes from the tundra to the tropics. However, how much of the earth’s surface is presently composed of wetlands is not known exactly. As per United Nations Environment Program estimates, their area could be about 570 million hectares. Whereas, some other estimates suggest that their area could be more than 700 million hectares. 

There are five major wetland types: 

Marine (Coastal wetlands including coastal lagoons, rocky shores, and coral reefs)

Estuarine (including deltas, tidal marshes, and mangrove swamps)

Lacustrine (Wetlands associated with lakes) 

Riverine (wetlands along rivers and streams)

Palustrine (meaning marshy’ - marshes, swamps and bogs) 

Significance of Wetlands: 

Biologically Productive - Wetlands are among the world’s most productive environments. They are cradles of biological diversity, providing the water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. They support high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrate species. 

Storehouses of Genetic Material - Wetlands are also important storehouses of plant genetic material. Rice, for example, which is a common wetland plant, is the staple diet of more than half of humanity. 

Carbon Sinks - Wetlands store carbon by primary production. Carbon is stored in living plants, animals and rich organic soils of wetlands. However, they are also natural emitters of GHGs like methane due to anaerobic conditions. 

Water Storage and Filtration - They also provide services ground water recharge, water storage and water filtration. There are wetland micro-organisms and plant species like cattail and reed help in water purification by filtering out toxins from polluted water. Thus, they are natural water filters. 

Nutrient Cycling - Many nutrients and chemicals het naturally recycled in wetlands. They have an important role in bio-geochemical cycling. 

Bioshields - Coastal wetlands help in shoreline protection, at as a buffer during disasters like cyclones, tsunamis and storm surges. Inland wetlands help in mitigating urban flooding by acting as water-sponges.

Economic Benefits - Wetlands provide tremendous economic benefits, for example: water supply; fisheries (over two-thirds of the world’s fish harvest is linked to the health of coastal and inland wetland areas); agriculture, through the maintenance of water tables and nutrient retention in floodplains; timber production; energy resources, such as peat and plant matter; wildlife resources; and recreation and tourism opportunities. 

Threats to Wetlands: 

Wetlands are valuable but also sites of ecological degradation due to multiple human activities. Some of the main threats to wetlands include: 

Encroachment and construction over wetlands due to agriculture and urban expansion.

Water diversion for dams, irrigation canals etc. This causes fragmentation of hydrological regimes and catchment degradation of wetlands.

Pollution due to domestic sewage, solid waste disposal, agriculture run-off and industrial effluents. Pollutants like agriculture-runoff and sewage disposal cause eutrophication in wetlands. 

Overharvest of wetland resources like fisheries etc. 

Aquaculture development. 

[oceanramsey]

Thank you to the wonderful community out there. Wishing you happiness and health. This morning is sunny and spring is here in Hawaii. The turtles (Honu) are foraging for seaweed (Limu) and seem to be popping up everywhere this AM. As part of our conservation efforts we swim looking for abandoned fishing line, nets, plastic, and other debris which we find everyday, and remove it from the reef they feed on and sometimes from them. Supporting @savetheseaturtlesinternational Photo by @juansharks 💙🐢#savetheseaturtlesinternational #savetheocean #Savemarinelife #marinelife #surveys #marinedebris #northshore #malama #honu #seaturtle #turtle #juansharks #aloha #oneocean @oneoceanconservation @savetheseaturtlesinternational #hawaiiangreenseaturtle (at Save The Sea Turtles International) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-XtsIpg0Xp/?igshid=1jw4b4f0722tv

[fearku]

Whatever the weather what a view, note Debra's freighters on the horizon are cool #onewine #visitportugal #lovecascais #beachclean #doneanddusted #savetheocean #savemarinelife (at Restaurante DUCHE BAR) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGVZJPolgo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ericbalfourhotspot]

Eric Balfour joined Conservation Org + Tik Tok to save and protect our oceans. Will you join him?! “Did you know that by 2050 there will be more plastic then fish in the worlds oceans? That's right! Oceans and marinelife are in more trouble then ever before but you can help protect them. That's why I’m proud to join Conservation International and TikTok to address Marine plastic polution and to protect our oceans for a better future. Download and open TikTok, share a video and tell us how you reduce plastic and save our oceans, For every video you upload WITH the hashtag "save our oceans" (#saveouroceans) to TikTok till september 9th, TikTok is donating $ 2 to Conservation International to help save 3000 km² of ocean. Thank you!“ See Eric’s video on TikTok Here!

[zhanshoinov]

#Repost from @1planet1home with @regram.app ... Another fantastic trash management system. I think this idea can ease the recycling and trash management system as long people throw the right material in the right bin. What do you guys think? 🚮♻️✔️ . Thank you so much @marimaticoy for sharing a great content. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #1planet1home #oneplanetonehome #savenature #savetheplanet #savetheearth #saveocean #savethesea #savemarinelife #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #plasticfree #zerotrash #noplastic #noplasticstraws #zerowaste #zerowasteliving #zerowastelife #noplasticbags #savemarinelife #endplasticpollution #plasticsucks #microplastic #microplastics #skiptheplastic #plasticbottle #recycle #recycling #trash #trashmanagement https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hOX5Rhhvm/?igshid=1a7m4kziayx0x