CLEARWATER, Fla. – The ocean is important to all of us. The Gulf of Mexico and all streams lead to the ocean, which provides food, habitat, recreation and transportation for everyone.
The ocean provides the air we breathe by producing over half of the world’s oxygen, and it absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.
Covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, the ocean helps regulate our climate to make it livable.
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To celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8, the city of Clearwater is hosting two ocean-friendly programs and invites everyone from the community to join us:
World Oceans Day Cleanup
- Sand Key Bayside Park & Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., #2702, Clearwater
- 9 to 11 a.m. June 8, 2022
- Registration is required: givepulse.com/event/291056-World-Oceans-Day-Cleanup-Bridge-Park-and-Sailing-Center?referring_group_id=449290
Making Waves for World Oceans Day
- Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater
- 3 to 4 p.m. June 8, 2022
- More info: https://myclearwaterlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/making-waves-world-oceans-day
In addition to celebrating World Oceans Day at these events, here are four ways you can protect the Gulf of Mexico, our oceans and waterways this summer and beyond.
- Use reef-friendly sunscreen. The sunscreen you apply may get washed off and enter the water. Toxic chemicals found in many commercial sunscreens, such as like Oxybenzone, Octocrylene or nano-Titanium dioxide, are harmful to corals and other marine lives.
- Reduce single-use plastics. Bring reusable containers and cutleries and say no to single-use plastic items that might end up in waterways. They can harm marine animals and our health. A new study found that human blood contains microplastics! Be accountable for trash you create and dispose of it properly.
- Observe fishing regulations and etiquette. Be a good angler and protect the vulnerable aquatic ecosystem by following local fishing regulations in both salt and fresh water. Catch and keep only what’s allowed. Dispose of fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin to avoid bird entanglement.
- Don’t fertilize your lawn during the summer. It is illegal in Pinellas County to fertilize lawns and landscaping from June 1 to Sept. 30. Skip the fertilizer during the summer rainy season to prevent excess nutrients washing into the Gulf of Mexico. Fertilizer contributes to harmful algae blooms, such as red tide.
There are many more actions we can take beyond these four tips to be ocean stewards. One more is to take the Ocean Allies pledge and share it with friends. Go to myclearwater.info/oceanallies to take the pledge.
Go to myclearwater.info/oceanallies to take the pledge.
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