Whats Your Ocean Pollution IQ?

Over 40 percent of the world's oceans are heavily impacted by human activities including pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. This means that humans have played a major role in the destruction of the world's oceans including the fact that 90 percent of the large fish in the ocean are now gone. The ocean's largest polluter is considered to be the US Department of Defense.

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The 10 Solutions to Save the Oceans

Why a 400 Million-Year-Old Fish is a Compelling Reason to Protect the Oceans from Trawling

The oceans that we have so mistreated currently house 80 percent of all life on the planet. According to Greenpeace the oceans across the planet create over half of our oxygen as well as driving weather systems. Without the global oceans there would no life on earth.

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Focus on Focus Earth: Oceans in Peril

Shocking Report Reveals Marine Litter Madness (Plus 10 Easy Ways to Help Save Our Oceans!)

A study which spanned 12 major regional seas around the world found that even with all the ocean trash regulations, alarming amounts of trash have been discarded in our world's oceans. Topping the list is plastics and cigarette butts, with plastics accounting for over 80 percent of all trash, and cigarette filters, tobacco packets, and cigar tips making up for 40 percent of all marine litter.

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To Support the Oceans, Support Oceana

How to Go Green: Water

Sea turtles are already at risk because of ocean trawling and habitat destruction. But sea turtles also confuse floating plastic bags with their preferred sea snack, jellyfish and then end up choking to death. A new study looked at necropsy reports of more than 400 leatherback sea turtles since 1885 and found plastic in the digestive systems of more than a third of the animals. Besides plastic bags, the turtles had swallowed fishing lines, balloon fragments, spoons, candy wrappers, and more.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium's Endangered Seafood Guide

Enjoy Eating Sustainable Fish with FishPhone

September 19 marks the date for International Coastal Cleanup Day. This event gathers volunteers from around the world picking up litter such as plastic bags, bottles, cigarette butts, and straws from local beaches, lakes, and rivers. The success is astonishing! In 2008 alone, more than 11 million items were collected by participants.

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Volunteering with Ocean Conservancy is Perfect for Lovers of the Sea

Green Glossary: Offshore Drilling

In 2008, 32 percent of all EPA-monitored beaches were closed at some point due to bacterial contamination. This bacterial contamination can come from livestock, human sewage, and other forms of pollution according to the EPA.

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How to Go Green: Spring Break

Reduce Runoff Pollution by 99 percent with a Rain Garden

Ocean acidification, pollution, and human activity are to blame for the destruction of our coral reefs and at this rate they will totally disappear in 40 to 60 years. Tropical areas that depend on healthy coral reefs for food, shore-line protection, and lucrative tourism industries will be profoundly impacted by the loss of coral reefs. These reefs are considered the rain forests of the ocean as they are home to so much marine biodiversity.

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Blue August: Ocean Acidification

Blue August: Plastic is Forever

That's right, the Pacific Island Trash Vortex is already twice the size of Texas. It's essentially a huge carpet of garbage that's floating around just north of Hawaii. Multiple paths of Ziploc baggies bottle caps, balloons, pretzel bags, and other debris lead you to the swirling trash vortex. It's simply disgusting. In the most polluted areas, the plastic-to-plankton ratio is 48 to 1.

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: "Out of Sight, Out of Mind"

Blue August: This Island is Like a Canoe

According to a Natural Resources Defense Council report pollution caused the number of beach closings and advisories to hit their fourth-highest level ever. Closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year in 2008.

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UNEP Web Tool Tracks Global Clean Up the World Activities

Great Ideas: Beach Cleanup

The oceans are getting crowded and space is getting filled up. We use the ocean in so many ways, from fishing to generating electricity, from tourism to military protection. The more we spread out into the oceans, the more of a negative impact we have on marine life. Pollution is wrecking havoc as well, coming from everything from ships to our own homes.

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Great Ideas: Beach Cleanup

Top 5 Tips for Staying Green at the Beach