It seems rather ridiculous to think you could do something about the pollution of the oceans. So much water. Is it really that bad_ A little more or less rubbish in the ocean, what does it matter_

When you realise that about 70% of the earth’s surface consists of water, you can draw the conclusion that we actually live on an island. Who wants to live on an island surrounded by polluted water_ For one, that same ocean provides in our basic needs. We also spend a lot of time at the ocean and it’s beaches. We don’t want to turn all this into a dumpsite, do we_ Nowadays you can almost find any kind of garbage in the ocean. There is pollution you can’t see, like chemical and radio-active litter.

But also garbage you can see like styrofoam, rubber and plastic which can cause a lot of damage. A dolphin or seal can choke in a piece of plastic. So, enough reasons to change something. But how_ A better environment starts with yourself. Cliché, but true!

There would be less dumping if there was less garbage. A lot of garbage that ends in the ocean is produced by people like you and me, for example via sewage. (read: Clear Solution For Troubled Water) Whether the dumping occurs at sea or on land, the problem remains the same. Most of that garbage is caused by our consumer goods. Besides making rules for the large companies, we can also do something ourselves. Even though beach-cleaning activities seem like carrying water to the sea, they do actually contribute to the awareness of people for protecting our oceans, seas, an coastal waters.

If you want to find out more about what you can do to help, you may want to check the following links: What You Can Do To Protect The Ocean! What Can One Person Do_ What Can You Do To Help_ Clean Ocean Action Beach Pollution FAQ Oil: The Number One Threat To Sea Otters

As seen on the RV ARANDA(research vessel of the Finnish Institute for Marine Research)

YOU ARE NOT ALONE TRYING TO KEEP THE OCEANS CLEAN -preventing that disasters become catastrophes- Marine Salvors recovered nearly one million tonnes (996,465) of crude oil from ship casualties in 1998. They also recovered 84,995 tonnes of chemicals and 47,385 tonnes of other pollutans. What are Marine Salvors_ If there is a disaster, they are the people, who try to limit the damages by taking fast and decisive action under high risk circumstances. Sometimes, their own lives are at risk. Marine Salvors are men of deeds, not of words; they know that with any waste of time, distasters can turn into a catastrophe. In 1998, they responded to 218 casualties with a potential to cause damage to the marine environment (an increase of 37% compared to 1997). In 1994 the tanker NASSIA was involved in a collision in the Bosporus. Despite the huge damage sustained by the vessel, the salvors were able to recover a large portion of the 96,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil in a ship-to-ship transfer operation. Salvors along the NASSIA fighting the huge fires that broke out on board the ship after the collison The scene after extinguishing the fire Pollution Defense; preventing marine spills

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