On this glorious Earth Day, Participant Media is sending out an SOS for our planet’s water with the theatrical release of “OCEANS,” a film documentary that dives deep in the great blue abyss that makes up 75 percent of our planet. As Participant Media’s Social Action SVP Liana Schwarz says, “oceans are the new green.” The message the filmmakers and Participant would like audiences to take away from this feature is that oceans are a critical part of the equation to saving our planet, and if we fail to protect our oceans, we fail ourselves and the planet.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind with regard to our beautiful waters.
- The main threats to our oceans are over-fishing, global warming and pollution. The number one source of ocean trash is plastic, which is killing millions of fish, birds, marine mammals and other sea life. This environmental tragedy is caused by human behaviors – we use too much plastic.
- Most fish populations have been depleted by 70-95%. In the past 50 years, 90% of all large ocean predators, such as tuna, marlin, swordfish, sharks, cod and flounder have been killed due to overfishing. At this rate, salt-water fish could be extinct by 2048.
- Global warming is melting polar ice caps, causing sea levels to rise and also acidifying our oceans. This is upsetting the delicate chemical balance of the waters, and killing coral reefs, which host countless fish species and protect coastal communities.
Here’s what we can do to prevent further damage.
- Cut personal plastic use by choosing reusable plastic or alternative materials.
- Choose sustainable seafood. The Good Guide app can help you make informed decisions when buying some seafoods.
- Support national legislation (e.g. to establish Marine Protected Areas, protect marine mammals, turtles, sharks, fish and/or to ban plastic bags).
- Participate in a beach clean up day.
You can learn more about how to protect and preserve our oceans at SaveMyOceans.com, and you can take a pledge to do your part here.
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Tags: Earth Day, Oceans, Participant Media, Save My Oceans, The Good Guide
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