Say no to plastic pollution
To commemorate #WorldOceansDay uShaka Sea World urged the community to do their bit to reduce the amount of plastic that gets washed into our oceans.
WORLD Oceans Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the world’s oceans, their amazing diversity and the critical role they play in sustaining life on land.
A healthy world for humans depends on healthy oceans – caring for the health of our oceans is essential for our health, said Jone Porter, Director of uShaka Sea World Education.
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Every piece of plastic that enters the ocean slowly breaks down into smaller pieces, and these smaller pieces can be eaten by a wide range of animals – from zooplankton to fish, seabirds, turtles, mussels and marine animals, she added.
“The good news is that since the start of 2018 I have seen an unparalleled move towards reducing the amount of plastic that is ending up in the ocean.
South Africans joined the world and started saying no to plastic straws, plastic earbuds, polystyrene, and single use plastic shopping bags,” said Porter.
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To commemorate #WorldOceansDay Porter urged the community to reduce the amount of plastic washed into the oceans.
A few ways to do this is to take part in beach clean-ups and/or to place your plastic bottles in bins with their caps screwed on tight – this will ensure they reach the recycling stations, she said.
South Africa currently boasts a phenomenal 65 per cent recycling rate for plastic drinking bottles.
To find out more about the steps you can take to reduce the amount of plastic reaching the ocean or details on planned beach clean-ups during the week, contact uShaka Sea World on 031 – 328 8152 or info@seaworld.org.za
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