.

• Contribute to conservation organizations and rehabilitation centers. These organizations cannot exist without donations from people like you. Financial contributions to non-profit organizations are usually tax-deductible.

• Make responsible consumer decisions. Know where your seafood was obtained and how it was caught.  There are websites which will help you learn what is sustainable and what is not. Visit www.seafoodwatch.org for a free guide on sustainable seafood’s you can use at grocery stores or restaurants. Once learned, be disciplined enough to resist it.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce your consumption. Buy products with less packaging (especially fresh produce). Reuse what you can and recycle what you cannot. Get a reusable water bottle instead of using endless plastic water bottles. A plastic water bottle is used for 5 minutes and is around for 500 years. A recent study found that on average our oceans are littered with 47,000 pieces of plastic per square mile!

• Be a responsible boater. Avoid crossing seagrass beds and be aware of your speed. Use a chart or GPS. Keep your eyes open, stay alert and look for floating sea turtles. A floating sea turtle can not dive down to escape an oncoming boat.

• Dispose of fishing line properly. Do not discard fishing line in the water. Pick up fishing line if you see it. Monofilament fishing line takes up to 600 years to biodegrade and in that time will inevitably get caught on something. Monofilament recycling bins are now located on every fishing bridge, beach and marina here in the Florida Keys. Instead of tossing your fishing line in the garbage, hold onto it and place it in a recycling bin instead!

• Help stop unregulated coastal development and non-sustainable agricultural practices by encouraging legislators to pass and enforce appropriate laws and regulations.