Environmental group Greenrock is celebrating World Oceans Day today, hoping to make the public more aware of plastic pollution and the constant littering of the sea.

Entitled ‘Our Ocean, Our Future’, the day is considered “a global day of ocean celebration, focusing on marine sustainability,” according to a Greenrock statement.

“Additionally, the action focus for this year is ‘encouraging solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future’.”

Greenrock executive director Jonathan Starling said: “Reducing plastic pollution of our ocean has been central to a number of projects and campaigns that Greenrock has launched over the years, notably our ‘No Thanks!’ to single-use bags campaign and the installation of six hydration stations throughout the City of Hamilton.

“Why is it important to reduce plastic pollution? Plastic pollution affects many different types of ocean wildlife — perhaps the most immediately obvious being sea turtles who mistake plastic bags for food. However, plastic pollution can kill animals as diverse in size as whales to plankton.

“Our corals, already at risk from ocean acidification, rising sea temperatures and rising sea levels due to human induced global climate change, not to mention the critically low levels of large predators such as rockfish, also face challenges from plastic pollution. As plastics break down into smaller and smaller sizes in the marine environment, coral polyps can catch and ingest such microplastics.

“While more research needs done to determine the long-term impact of such ingestion by corals, it seems likely that this will ultimately impair the growth of this essential ecosystem.

“With all the existing challenges to coral reefs — and their importance to Bermuda — we should be taking all the steps we can to remove this additional threat to their existence.

“What can you do to reduce plastic pollution? First off, we need to realise that littering, that plastic pollution of the oceans, is not normal. It’s everyone’s responsibility to not only dispose of waste properly, but also to reduce litter at the source by reducing use in the first place.

“Instead of using disposable plastic bags for shopping, bring your own reusable bag for shopping. Say ‘no’ to single use bags and say ‘yes’ to reusable shopping bags!

“Instead of buying bottles of water, bring your own reusable bottle for filling up with water. And don’t forget that Greenrock has six Hydration Stations throughout the City of Hamilton that you can fill up with clean drinking water (visit our site here to learn more about our Hydration Stations).

“At a restaurant ordering a drink? Make sure you insist on no plastic straws! As innocent as they may look, plastic straws are one of the most common sources of plastic pollution in the sea.”