Oceans are a crucial part of the world. Unfortunately, they have been mistreated by overfishing and pollution. Luckily, ocean cleanup initiatives are making efforts to counteract these malpractices that have been going on for years, polluting and killing the oceans that support so much life.
From beach to ocean cleanups, there are many opportunities to volunteer and be a part of a change for a better future.
7 Ocean Cleanup Volunteer Opportunities
1. Surfers Against Sewage
There are quite a few ways you can raise your voice, join a cleanup, or get fantastic ideas on how to get involved in this great cause. They are always on the move and eager to reach more people to join them. Here you can read more about their volunteering opportunities.
From tackling water pollution to studying the devastating effect of climate change on the ocean, offering educational courses for anyone willing to learn, and organizing ocean cleanups, this organization will continue to fight against sewage.
Contact: info@sas.org.uk
Website: Surfers Against Sewage
Location: Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes, Cornwall, UK
2. Ibiza & Formentera Preservation
This organization has been making great efforts to preserve the marine life surrounding these well-known party islands in Spain for more than ten years.
They go way beyond beach cleanups. If you are interested in going deeper into ocean conservation, they have plenty of marine studies that will lead you in the right direction.
Also, they work towards preserving the native flora in the islands by working with local farmers and governmental institutions.
Contact: info@ibizapreservation.org
Website: Ibiza & Formentera Preservation
Location: C/ theHUB Ibiza, Carrer del Pedrer, Santa Eulària des Riu, 07819, Balearic Islands
3. The Ocean Cleanup
This group is taking ocean cleanups to a whole other level! They aim to clean up to 90% of ocean and river plastic pollution worldwide, which is a HUGE amount of plastic. The Ocean Cleanup has created a system using new technologies to accomplish its goal. You can learn all about it with this short explanatory video.
This initiative is an excellent start to cleaning the oceans from all the unwanted plastic waste.
Contact: contact form
Website: The Ocean Cleanup
Locations: Rotterdam, The Netherlands and New York, United States of America
4. Plastic Oceans
This organization is not all about beach cleanups but about creating resources based on real data to educate children and grownups about the importance of the ocean. You can make it a part of your program to organize a beach cleanup with your students or even your community!
Contact: contact form
Website: Plastic Oceans
Locations: 451-3045 Robie Street, Unit 5, Halifax, NS, B3K 4P6, Canada
5. Ocean Blue Project
If you are in the United States, this organization offers plenty of beach cleanup opportunities. Just head to their website and choose a time and place to join one of them. This simple action is a great family or school activity for kids of all ages to teach them about the importance of marine life and how bad single-use plastic is.
Contact: office@oceanblueproject.org
Website: https://oceanblueproject.org/
Location: 922 NW Circle Blvd 160-146 Corvallis, OR 97330, United States
6. Sea Cleaners
Now, for all of you into technology and renewable energy, you’ll have a blast going around this organization’s website and, even better, joining their team as a volunteer. They use technology to convert the plastic they take out of the ocean with their huge “Manta boat” and turn it into gas that feeds the Manta boat back instead of using fossil fuels.
They also run a laboratory and, lately have created other types of smaller boats to clean smaller areas like rivers.
Watch this video to learn more about the job they do with the Manta boat.
Contact: contact form
Website: https://www.theseacleaners.org/
Location: Find their delegations or volunteer from abroad.
7. Waste Free Ocean
This organization explains in a very easy way what they do. They essentially pick up plastic waste that is washed to shore, recycle it, and partner with different brands to create products from recycled plastic. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Of course, there is a lot of work behind their operations.
Either way, we think that it is a great thing that we can all be a part of that movement of cleaning up natural spaces for ourselves and other species.
Contact: contact@wastefreeoceans.org
Website: Waste Free Oceans
Location: Avenue de Cortenbergh 71, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Bonus
We couldn’t leave out these two organizations that don’t exactly work with huge boats dragging plastic waste out of the ocean, but they work on educating people and offering solutions on how to live a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life. Plus, they are always pursuing new projects like coral restorations.
Richmond Vale Academy
Located on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Richmond Vale Academy works to educate locals and foreigners to live sustainable lives. By teaching them about ecological farming practices that anybody can use in their homes, coastal conservation, coral restoration, etc, they aim to make sustainable living accessible to everyone.
Contact: info@richmondvale.org
Website: Richmond Vale
Location: Richmond Vale, Saint David, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Plastic Soup Foundation
If you are a parent or teacher looking for reliable information about ocean pollution and the importance of clean oceans, you should take a look at this organization. They firmly believe that educating children early on the consequences of overconsumption of plastic could change the outcome we face 50 years from now.
Contact: info@plasticsoupfoundation.org
Website: Plastic Soup Foundation
Location: Sumatrakade 1537, 1019 RS Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why Are Oceans so Important?
We could write an entire article with reasons why the oceans are so important, but right now, we will only sum up three crucial reasons:
1. They Are the Home of Thousands of Species
Millions of animals and sea plants live in the ocean. These are all part of a delicate balance that sustains all life on our planet. Sea creatures need to live in specific numbers, so the biodiversity around them is not altered. If it is altered, it could be disastrous. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening right now with the overfishing to supply humankind’s needs, pollution with toxic waste, and tons of plastic.
Last but not least, we need to talk about seagrass. The ocean is the home of this precious species, which is or should be of great interest to humankind. Buy currently in great danger, which leads us to our next reason,
2. Seagrass Produces 50% Of the Oxygen of Planet Earth
Forests and seagrass are in great danger, all because of humankind. We have been mistreating sea life in all ways for years. We are destroying the resources that keep us alive.
3. It Is a Climate Regulator
We could assume that most people have heard about climate change: Poles melting, polar bears dying unable to find ice plates to rest while swimming in the vast arctic ocean, and many countries facing drought or awful floodings. Yep, all of that is because of climate change. So why do we keep destroying the precious oceans and forests? Maybe because we don’t know enough information yet or we don’t know where to begin. Fear not; that is why we have searched for 7 fantastic organizations where you can start with ocean cleanup volunteering.
Final Thoughts
In a few words, we believe that there is no reason why humankind can’t live in harmony with other living creatures on planet earth. When we think about ocean pollution with toxic waste and plastic, we can only blame humans, because we are the only species creating these materials.
We have harmed other living creatures so bad, that it’s time to work towards reverting all that damage. Doing that will also improve our quality of life with cleaner water, healthier animals in case you consume animal products, and cleaner air to breathe.
I have had an adventurous life, from mountaineering to ocean swimming and everything in between. I also have extraction insurance because I might need it if I can find a job as a volunteer beach cleaner somewhere in the world. I am 80 years old. I had all my relevant certifications and experience living in the tropics at that time. For example, helping to restore ancient Hawaiian fish ponds in Molokai and the forests, helping restore parts of the Oregon Trail. I like to be outdoors. So, if you know of any opportunities, please call me. Alan F. Hall JD 206-669-04589 and alanfhall@hotmail.com.