Daniela Fernandez, 23, is one of


the youth leaders working to bridge the generational divide on ocean con- servation issues. An undergraduate at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., she was invited to a 2013 United Nations (UN) meeting to address the state of the world’s oceans. When she inquired if they had social media outlets to share their discussions, she discov- ered they did not. The 2016 Christopher Benchley Ocean Award winner relates, “I returned to campus with a sense of urgency about the issues I learned about, which led me to start a nonprofit to con- nect Millennials with the oceans.” The resulting Sustainable Oceans Al-


liance (SOA) has since hosted three global ocean summits with participants from more than 30 colleges and universities, learning directly from leaders in govern- ment, science, business and policy. Sum- mit-watch parties at embassies around the world enabled Millennials to submit questions and comments online. Con- sequently, Secretary of State John Kerry’s office partnered with SOA to incorporate a youth component in the state depart- ment’s 2016 Our Ocean Conference. The SOA, recognized by the United


Nations as a game-changing initiative, has catalyzed 30 chapters on U.S. cam- puses, with plans to expand to Britain, Chile and Spain. Actionable steps include advocating for college curricula on ocean health. Already, the alliance has helped sway global policy, gathering 30,000 signatures petitioning that ocean conser- vation be included in UN sustainable de- velopment goals. It also mobilized youth advocating for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monu- ment, America’s first marine monument (measuring a bit larger than Yellowstone National Park), off of Cape Cod, created by former President Obama in 2016. Russell and Fernandez agree


that rallying around solutions is key to engaging youths and adults alike. “You can talk about the problems all day long, but it’s solutions that inspire people to take action,” says Russell. Fernandez adds, “Often, people feel helpless in the face of big issues, but if you give them a simple way to help, they will get behind it.”


Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.


What We Can Do Now


Everyone has a part to play in keeping oceans clean and healthy. Here are some ways concerned individuals of all ages can help. Do away with disposable plastics. Use reusable alternatives to single-


use plastics such as plastic bags, water bottles, to-go containers, takeaway cups and straws, all of which clog the oceans and endanger 600 aquatic spe- cies due to ingestion or entanglement. Green what drains. Anything that washes down the drain can end up in


waterways. Avoid dumping chemicals like paint, oil and solvents and opt for non-toxic cleaning products like DIY cleaners made from vinegar and baking soda, which are safe for people and the seas. Eat smart. Per a 2016 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report, nearly a third of commercial fish stocks are now fished at dangerously unsus- tainable levels. Find best choices on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s downloadable sustainable seafood guide and app at SeafoodWatch.org when dining or shopping, and ask seafood eateries and fish counters to carry ocean-friendly selections. Reduce fertilizers. Fertilizer runoff from gardens and commercial agri-


culture eventually end up in oceans, leading to “dead zones” with low levels of oxygen that kill aquatic life. Cut energy use. Carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption is turning oceans acidic, which is particularly harmful to coral reefs. Use energy-efficient appliances and vehicles, opt for renewable energy plans from local utilities and bike, walk and take public transit.


Primary sources: Ocean.si.edu; Ocean.org; Ocean.NationalGeographic.com natural awakenings April 2017 23


Sea Change


Youth worldwide are engaging in in- novative ways to activate their com- munities and combat ocean pollution. Pédrisson and Emmanuelson Bernard, of Carrefour, Haiti, won the 2016 Millennium Oceans Prize for a win-win solution to urban waste, ocean pollution and unemployment. During Haiti’s rainy season, the city’s streets carry trash to the sea. The brothers developed a waste manage- ment system and mobilized communi- ty youth to help keep the streets clean, in turn protecting the waters upon which the island community depends. Students from Borrisoleigh,


Ireland, won the EurOcean Founda- tion’s European Mário Ruivo Prize for a marine trash-fighting solution called Bags with Tags, in December. Laura Hutchinson and Antoinette Atik designed stylish totes to curb the use of plastic bags, including magnetic tags for easier retrieval from water- ways; they worked with local stores to distribute them at points of sale. In another 2016 Professor Mário


Ruivo Prize finalist effort, students from the island of Malta developed a way to keep waste from falling out of the usu- ally open trash bins serving local ferries that transport 4 million passengers annually by collaborating with town officials to place three marine-friendly containers near the ferry departure point. Such student initia-


tives demonstrate how simple solutions, driven by passionate advocates, can improve our troubled waters.


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