Nature Canada

Happy World Oceans Day!

Image of Samantha Nurse

Samantha Nurse, Web and Social Media Coordinator

As you may have heard, today – June 8th – is World Oceans Day! The theme for 2016 is ‘Healthy Ocean, Healthy Planet‘. This year’s theme reflects on how not only do wildlife depend on the ocean, but we do as well. And more specifically, everyone’s health depends on a clean and productive ocean.

Even if you don’t live near the ocean, today is a day to think about how you are connected to water. No matter where you live in the world, the ocean connects you to other people, countries or continents. Not only does it connect you to the world, the ocean serves as a large importance to Earth. The ocean is a regulator of our climate, provides us with most of the oxygen we breathe, and is home to spectacular wildlife, like Sei Whales!

You might think about the connection water has in your own neighbourhood and where the waterways end up when they head downstream. Depending on whImage of wetlandsere you live, the ocean may be at the terminus of the lake, river, wetland or stream nearest your home. What can you do to reduce your impacts on those waterways and water bodies, and how might your local actions benefit the ocean – which may be far downstream?

Here are 5 tips on helping to keep our oceans clean by starting at home:

  1. Be careful what you put down your sink: Proper disposal of any hazardous materials such as paints, at your local hazardous waste depot.
  2. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! Recycling items, or throwing out your garbage, will help to keep garbage from making its way to the oceans.
  3. Keep those wetlands alive: If you live near or have wetlands on your property, ensure they stay intact as they serve as a natural filter.
  4. Reduce your runoff: After you wash your car or hose down your driveways dirt, those chemicals and dirt go into our water system. Try to use a bucket when washing your car, or use a broom to clean your driveway.
  5. Participate in community clean-ups: Be sure to stay tuned for local clean up events where you can help collect trash from beaches or any that is around in your neighbourhood.

You can read more about these tips and more here and also learn about how to live by water in all seasons while still protecting the shoreline here.

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