So, What Can We Do About Conserving the Ocean?
Individual Acts to Reduce Threats and Safeguard Our Ocean Environment
11.20.2025
Individually, we can act now to reduce both global and local threats and safeguard coral reefs for the future:
Reduce your carbon footprint. Be a conscious consumer. Choose sustainability caught seafood and eco-conscious tourism and marine recreation providers. Avoid buying souvenirs made from marine species.
The Monteray Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch has been providing a reference for sustainable seafood choices for over 25 years.
Be gentle with coral. Follow local regulations while near reefs, dive and snorkel carefully, and never touch coral. Check out: Diver Alert Network Environmental Stewardship for Divers
Visit and support marine protected areas (MPAs). These areas help preserve coral reefs and support reef resilience and recovery. Locate MPAs near your next dive location by visiting the Mission Blue interactive map on their website.
Volunteer for projects to protect our waterways. Nearly all our water passes through the ocean as part of the hydrologic cycle.
Even if you live far from the ocean, chemicals and plastics can travel into our waters, creating dead zones with low oxygen and even entering our food supply. Check out these nonprofits working to protect waterways across the United States and around the world. These organizations focus on issues like conservation, pollution prevention, habitat restoration, and advocating for clean water laws and community access.
American Rivers: Focuses on protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged ones, and conserving clean water resources.
Waterkeeper Alliance: A global coalition of local organizations, each dedicated to protecting their specific waterways for the goals of “drinkable, fishable, swimmable water everywhere.”