Make Your New Year Green for the Marine Environments We Cherish

With 2008 winding down, you may be thinking about those New Year’s Resolutions for 2009, and, toward that end, I want to share something that Carrie Chen, San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay’s Education and Conservation Director, recently shared with me. The following suggestions are several ways to “green” your New Year’s Resolutions, while taking care of the ecosystems we appreciate most as marine aquarists.

• Keep the Bay Clean! Whether it’s the San Francisco Bay or the Chesapeake Bay, these bodies of water are critical to healthy marine environments. In 2009, resolve yourself to only wash your car at a self-service or professional car wash, where the water will flow to wastewater treatment plants instead of into waterways. If you must wash your car in your driveway, be sure to use only non-toxic cleaners. Remember that no matter where you live, runoff eventually makes its way to the oceans.

• Keep the Oceans Sustainable! “If a restaurant served tiger, you’d ask some questions, right?” asks Carrie. For the sake of all marine environments, the same should hold true when purchasing seafood. Get a “seafood watch card” at your local public aquarium (or visit the Aquarium of the Bay’s site to get one online).

• Volunteer! Whether it’s California Coastal Clean-Up Day (which Aquarium of the Bay supports) or another local event, get involved in 2009. Even if not officially part of a clean-up day, Carrie suggests you adopt a “don’t pass it up, pick it up” mantra every day. If everyone picked up a little trash, think of the difference it would make. If not picked up, it all eventually flows downhill into the oceans.

• Explore! “Who says that New Year’s resolutions can’t be fun?” asks Carrie. If you live near the coast, she suggests, get out and explore the coastline. Whether on foot or in a kayak, get to know your local watershed, even if you don’t live near the coast. “Commit to connecting with nature in 2009,” says Carrie. After all, it’s both fun and good for the environment.

Also, get out and explore your local public aquarium. In fact, if you have a houseful of guests for the holidays, consider taking everyone to the aquarium for the day. If you are a member of your local aquarium (and, as a marine aquarist, you really should be!), contact the aquarium to see what holiday events are on. For example, I will be taking my out-of-town family to “members’ night” at the Aquarium of the Pacific on 26 December…but I digress.

In short, join me and hundreds of other marine aquarists in resolving to make 2009 a great year for the oceans.

Comments

[Perrys Aquatics]

If you keep Marine Fish it's a good idea to test the water in your aquarium at regular intervals to keep your Marine Fish in the best of health.

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[Red Wing Stroes]

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