By Kristin Herman
As people take to the beaches every summer – or vacation time, in general – everyone has to keep in mind that beaches should be respected at all costs. Whether you opt for a staycation, or stay at the beach for a day or two, it’s important to be eco-friendly on your trip.
In fact, all coastlines and oceans around the world are environmentally vulnerable to humans inhabiting and using them. Therefore, keep in mind these 7 tips on how to be eco-friendly at the beach:
1. Be Nice To Biodiversity
And above all, have respect for the earth, which includes the ocean. As you keep this in mind, do the same with the following objectives:
- It’s not okay to lift rocks, because chances are, you’ll disturb the species that have settled there, or even under rocks.
- Never pick up live animals (i.e. starfish or crabs). Chances are, live animals may defend themselves by either biting, poisoning, pinching, etc.
- If you go diving, be careful not to touch the corals
- Stay away from large mammals or fish you might encounter.
- As always, don’t feed the fish.
- If you happen to witness a sea turtle outbreak, enjoy from a distance.
- If you’re fishing, learn what species are protected, and which ones are authorized for catching. Plus, acknowledge any catch-and-release policies that beaches might have.
2. Fill Holes And Topple Sandcastles
“Creating holes and sandcastles at the beach can be fun things to do,” says Ryan Gow, a business writer at Boom Essay and State of writing. “However, it’s imperative that before you leave the beach, that you fill in any holes in the sand, and topple your sandcastles, so that it prevents sea turtle mothers and babies from getting stuck in manmade sand ‘obstacles.’ It’s important for mothers to lay eggs on the beach, and for the hatchlings to make it safely to the ocean without any holes and sandcastles in the way.”
3. Don’t Feed Wildlife
It’s never okay to feed the seagulls, or any animals for that matter. Animals already know what foods to eat. Human food will give them digestive problems, illness, and imbalance in the food web.
4. Use Environmentally-Friendly Sunscreen
As you protect yourself from the sun, keep in mind the ingredients inside your sunscreen, because chances are, some of its chemicals can be detrimental to oceans and corals (with the chemical Oxybenzone as the main offender).
So, when shopping for a sunscreen, keep the following in mind:
- Look for sunscreens that say “Reef Friendly,” or have the “Reef Safe” symbol on it.
- Adopt a sunscreen based on mineral filters, without nanoparticles.
- Avoid the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which trigger a stress reaction in corals.
- Avoid titanium dioxide, which can produce hydrogen peroxide in the ocean, and endanger coral and other animals.
- Avoid titanium dioxide & zinc oxide, which can be eaten by sea life, and cause damage to their gills or internal systems.
- Avoid mineral oil (or petroleum products), which is harmful to seabirds and other marine life.
5. Don’t Be Trashy
(Mind you: we mean this in a good way.)
Be sure to throw away your trash, and not let your waste lie around on the beach. Lightweight plastic and wrappers tend to fly away in the wild, which can lead to harming wildlife, and polluting the ocean.
6. Reduce Carbon Footprint
If you plan on travelling to the beach, then opt to go there on foot or by bike. Or, if you’re further away from the beach, opt for public transport or shuttles. This helps you limit your carbon footprint by not using your personal vehicle to get to your destination.
7. Fill And Bring A Reusable Water Bottle
“When you’re at the beach, you don’t want to be the one holding a single-use plastic or Styrofoam drink bottle, which can be mistaken for food and be a choking hazard, if an animal finds it lying around in the open,” says Koby Dallachy, a marketing blogger at Australian help and Paper fellows. “Instead, opt for a water or drink bottle that you can reuse over and over, and can dish-wash after each use.”
Conclusion
It’s important to be mindful about your stay at the beach. As you become more eco-friendly by following these 7 tips, you can make a huge difference in the health of the coastal habitat AND the entire ocean.
So, be safe. Play safe. Enjoy safe. And have a wonderful trip on the beach!
About the Author
Kristin Herman is a writer and editor at UK Writings and Academized. She is also a contributing blogger for online magazine and blogs, such as Essay Roo. As a tech enthusiast, she blogs about the latest trends in technology. As a project manager, she has overseen writing projects nationwide.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media