Dolphins are in danger. The rising temperature of the seas, the pollution of their natural habitats and the hunting still present in some parts of the world is causing dolphins to slowly become extinct. But there is still hope. These mammals are sociable, extremely intelligent, have emotions and deserve to be protected. There are tons of things you can start doing: keep the sea clean, spread the word about the current situation of the dolphins, or take more active action. For more information, read on.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Keeping the Ocean Clean
Step 1. Leave the dolphins free
The simplest thing you can do to save the dolphins? Leave them alone! You shouldn't feed them, pet them, or interrupt their days in any way.
- Avoid organized trips and cruises to places where there are dolphins or coral reefs. These ships destroy miles of delicate coral reefs every year, and as a result, dolphins and other marine species are deprived of their habitat and places to take refuge.
- Even if you are a big fan of these animals and want to see them up close, parks and aquariums that allow you to swim with dolphins are highly discouraged. In fact, dolphins are kept in captivity with low life expectancy. Furthermore, dolphins are delicate and can easily contract diseases from humans, such as fungi or other infections. Consequently it is best to let them live peacefully and happily.
Step 2. Buy fish responsibly
One of the most serious threats to dolphins is the fishing and nets that fishermen use. If you eat fish or seafood, make sure you know where they come from and how they are caught. There are many species at sea and most of the boats used for commercial fishing cause a lot of damage. However, some engage in responsible and sustainable fishing. But how do you know where the salmon, tuna and shrimp come from? Seafood Watch publishes an annual report with up-to-date fishing listings and statistics, enabling you to make responsible purchases. Find the guide for your region by clicking here.
The tuna fishing industry is the one that is mainly blamed for the death of dolphins and the tuna you find in the supermarket with the "dolphin-safe" certification indicates that the methods used for fishing do not cause the death of dolphins. But tuna isn't the only problem, so make sure you get informed every time you buy fish
Step 3. Boycott Styrofoam and all non-biodegradable products
Human waste is the main cause of worsening ocean conditions and accounts for 80% of marine pollution. The impact is enormous, even the most negligible things, like the release of helium balloons into the sky, contribute to creating the waste that is destroying the dolphin population. Act now to reduce non-biodegradable waste.
- It is not complicated. Small tricks are enough, for example replacing the plastic cups for coffee with a thermos. Avoid foods packed with lots of plastic and, when possible, buy second-hand products. Recycle the plastic bags and take them with you when you go shopping.
- The Pacific Plastic Island, known in English as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a floating island in the Pacific Ocean made up mostly of plastic, Styrofoam and other trash that is carried by currents. It is the size of Texas and is full of dead animals. If you want to save dolphins, know that the impact of human waste is huge and you need to help reduce it immediately.
Step 4. Reduce your carbon footprint
It is not only the visible garbage that is destroying the oceans: air pollution is deposited on the water and enters the sea, contaminating about a third of the coasts.
- Our use of fossil fuels is directly linked to ocean health. This means that by reducing your "carbon footprint", you will automatically be helping the dolphins. Use the car less or share it with other people, ride a bike or walk.
- There are approximately 65,000 chemicals that are used in the automotive industry and for the manufacture of detergents, but only 300 of these have been tested for toxicity. Consequently, the real environmental impact of these substances is not known.
- Oil tankers damage the coasts a lot every year and it is very difficult to keep them under control in order to know exactly what substances they emit.
Step 5. Fight against global climate change
When ocean temperatures change by even a few degrees, the entire delicate balance of the marine system is affected, including dolphins and other dying creatures. As the population of the ocean is decreasing dramatically, it is becoming increasingly difficult for dolphins to survive because there is not enough food available and they have to compete with other animal species to get it. If temperatures don't stabilize, dolphins risk not surviving.
- Reduce your electricity consumption and try to produce little garbage. Make an informed choice when buying detergents and cleaning products, avoiding anything that contains parabens, phosphates and Styrofoam.
- In addition to temperatures, the exploitation of oxygen is also a serious problem for global climate change. Nitrogen and phosphorus are elements found in fertilizers, toxic waste and sewage; these substances, released into the sea, consume a lot of oxygen. Imagine dolphins are in a room and slowly the air they breathe is sucked in. One gram of nitrogen or phosphorus can consume between 10 and 100 grams of oxygen from seawater.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Involved
Step 1. Boycott marine parks that keep dolphins in captivity
Seeing the dolphin shows up close is undoubtedly fun, however these parks separate them from their mothers and lock them up in tanks, where they are drugged and forced to mate when they are still too young. Furthermore, these facilities have been accused of mistreating the workers and the dolphins themselves, making places like the famous SeaWorld dangerous and immoral. Don't support them.
Step 2. Spread the word as much as possible
The biggest contribution to helping dolphins is your voice. If you really want them to be saved, shout it out loud, learn all you can about the dangers dolphins face in your area.
- Join non-profit organizations that deal with dolphin protection, keep up to date with activities and possible laws that may change, and try to involve as many people as possible. BlueVoice is an organization that deals with the protection of dolphins and whales especially in places where they are hunted, such as Japan and Peru. Sign up for BlueVoice here.
- Get involved as much as possible on social media to let others know what is happening in our ocean. This will make people aware of the problems dolphins are having and it will be easier to take action to bring about changes.
Step 3. If you live in the United States, encourage your congressional leader to make changes to the "Marine Mammal Protection Act"
In the 1970s, the government proposed a bill designed to protect dolphins and other marine mammals, but stricter regulations were only introduced during the mid-1980s, aimed primarily at tuna fishing. The impact of these regulations led to huge changes in the short term, but nothing was done after that. The time has come to act: immediately contact those in duty.
Communicating online is the simplest method. If you live in the United States, visit the site of your congressional or senate representative to contact them directly. Prepare a letter with a detailed program and specific requests, pointing out that if they do not answer you and many others you will not vote in the next elections. The demands and changes must relate to industrial and commercial pollution which is contributing to the reduction of the marine population
Step 4. Make donations
There are a lot of organizations fighting against the pollution and injustices that the ocean suffers. Unfortunately, they don't have a lot of funds to invest, so even a small contribution from you would be invaluable. This is a great way to show your interest if you don't have time to actively take action to defend the cause.
Organizations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Greenpeace, BlueVoice and other groups are actively involved in saving the lives of dolphins and would appreciate your financial contributions to further their actions
Step 5. Organize outright boycott actions in your area
Avoiding certain products and making smart purchases is a good start. If everyone did it, there would be incredible results. However, if you can organize a protest the impact would be stronger with a better chance of getting the results you want.
- Try to change your habits and those of those who live with you, explaining the possibilities of responsible purchasing. Organize meetings open to the public to share what you think and try to involve other people. You can do this in your neighborhood, church or any meeting place.
- Spread the word by writing and sending both articles and letters to local newspapers, share links on social media and prepare posters. In this way, people will be aware of what is tragically happening in our seas and will know that they can contribute to change the situation.
Step 6. Create an activist group
If you know a lot of like-minded people, form a group and organize protests, boycotts and training sessions. That way the number of people who support your cause has a better chance of increasing. And with more participants, the government will be forced to listen to you and take action, making changes to the laws. The mass media are the main source of information and defense to fight against the damage suffered by dolphins.
If you live in the United States, register your organization with the IRS and apply to become a non-profit. If there are many members, you will have to cover considerable costs and if you want to collect donations through your site, it is advisable to register the association
Part 3 of 3: Take Action
Step 1. Study marine biology
If you are not satisfied with just being a dolphin lover and want to become their professional defender, studying marine biology is the best choice. It will allow you to stay in contact with the animals you love and want to protect, while studying the ways in which their habitat is destroyed by man. You will then be able to find solutions to solve the problem.
- At school, he studies a lot of biology and tries to attend as many natural science courses as possible. You will not learn to dive in order to swim with dolphins, but you will study the necessary topics to be able to help these animals in the future.
- In high school there are no subjects similar to marine biology or, if there are, you have to look for them in specific schools. We therefore recommend that you take a degree in biology so you can specialize in the subject.
Step 2. Join a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of dolphins and the sea
Sometimes, donating money and sitting around waiting for changes isn't enough. If you are frustrated with the slow timing of legal systems, consider actively participating in the activities of activist groups. Below is a list of the most important organizations:
- The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
- The Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
- The Taiji Action Group
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
- Greenpeace
Step 3. Take action against the multinationals that pollute
Many organizations, especially Greenpeace, organize activities such as collections of signatures to stop or change the corporate policies of multinationals known for the damage they cause to the environment. These groups emphasize that these large companies shirk their duty to respect the environment to maximize their profit. These industries, operating without any hindrance in terms of carbon dioxide emissions or respect for the environment in general, pollute the oceans, endangering the life of dolphins. Act now!
Most of the dubious rules and decisions come from the legislative field where lobbyists try to change environmental laws to benefit from places they are completely destroying. This often confuses beginners and, for this reason, being part of professional organizations is easier to understand the issues thoroughly and have clear ideas on how to act
Step 4. Attend demonstrations and protest rallies
Try to organize yourself well with the members of your group to make the mass media aware of your cause. Spread the word as much as possible and let the whole world know that these multinationals are polluting the planet, endangering the lives of dolphins and more. Greenpeace often organizes rallies to protest against these large companies. You can also sign up without making donations.
Be determined. Probably the oil company will not change the way it operates simply by knowing that someone is waving flags and displaying banners in the square. Speak in front of the cameras to make sure you grab the audience's attention. Numbers are essential, but even small protests are sometimes effective if the cause is important enough and you know how to support your arguments
Step 5. Boycott the fish industry directly
It depends on which organization you decide to follow, but you may also find yourself cutting fishing nets in international waters or going aboard ships protesting against whale fishing. However, there are tons of ways to contribute, including collecting signatures. Engage actively and you will see that there will be changes.
