Summer is coming and we all want to enjoy the sea and go to the beach, but are we aware of the impact this has on the marine ecosystem? If in a few years' time we want to continue enjoying the beach as we used to ten years ago, with all its splendour, without the dirty water, without having to spread out our towels among rubbish... We must all start to adopt good habits to take care of our beaches and the marine fauna that lives on the coast.
From ALONGSIDE we want to offer you a GUIDE with 5 tips for you to enjoy the beach in a sustainable way, so that we can continue to enjoy all its charms and that these do not disappear due to our unconsciousness.
A guide to enjoying the sea in a sustainable way
Zero Waste
Make sure that everything you take with you when you go to the beach you take with you when you leave.
Waste that accumulates on beaches is not always the result of unwitting people who do not respect the environment. It often ends up there accidentally. Make sure you carry a bag in which to store the waste you generate, whether it be food or drink wrappers or other items. In this way you will avoid that this waste flies away with the wind and it will be easier for you to take it with you later and throw it in the corresponding container.
2. Use marine-friendly sunscreens
Sunscreens can be a great threat to all living creatures in the sea, from corals to turtles, dolphins and whales. For this reason it is important to take care of our skin with sunscreens that at the same time take care of the oceans. Be well informed before buying any sunscreen, so that it is not harmful to the marine ecosystem.
To check if a sunscreen is harmful to our seas and the marine life that inhabits them, check the ingredients contained in that product. NEVER use sunscreens containing Oxybenzone or Octinoxate. These ingredients have already been banned in countries such as Hawaii, Palau, and recently in Australia.
3. Respect marine wildlife
It is important to respect the animals and plants that live in the sea. To enjoy beaches and coasts full of marine life, it is enough to observe and enjoy it, without the need to harm, catch or disturb the beings that live under the water. Remember that the sea is their home and we are just guests.
Bad fashions such as catching starfish, taking them out of the water for a photo op and being the envy of social media has caused the starfish population to decline.
In order to preserve the biodiversity of our coasts, it is important to respect marine ecosystems. So think of the sea as if it were a museum - look at it, but don't touch it! In this way we will preserve all the works of art so that year after year thousands of visitors can enjoy it equally.
4. Don't use soap in the showers at the beach
The showers on the beach are designed for cooling off and washing off the sea salt, but not for rinsing and washing with soap. There is no sewage system and the water from the showers goes directly into the sea. You often see people rinsing themselves with soap in the showers on the beaches and that soap ends up in the sea, directly damaging the marine environment.
5. Pick up 3 plastics every time you go to the beach.
Join the #Take3forthesea initiative and collect three pieces of plastic or litter every time you go to the beach. Unfortunately, you'll find it's easy and won't take a minute... beaches are littered with microplastics, food wrappers, ear buds and thousands of other human-generated waste.
We encourage you to share photos on your social networks with what you collect on the beaches to raise awareness and get more people around you to join in. Tag @alongside.eco in your photos and we will share them to reach more people, so that together we can make a change.