Question

How do you get people to care about conservation? I love the ocean and streams around here, but it is so hard to get people to care about something that they do not see everyday. I was just wondering how you promote conservation?

Answer 1

Aquariums are good ambassadors. Without them, thousands would never know the beauty of the deep.

Personally share concerns.

Provide a good example.

Answer 2

Show people pictures of all the plastic and other debris found in our Oceans. Show pictures of the hauls from Diving for Debris events. I find it funny that in North Louisiana we have to pay in order to recycle, in South Louisiana you have to pay if you dont recycle.(thats how it should be)

Comments

Recycling is so basic...everybody should be doing it. If not done though, then it should be required, in this day and age. The film "Plastic Ocean" is enlightening!

Answer 3

It is all about education. A challenge seems to be getting people that do not care, to care. If they can see the issues, the impact, the results of positive behavior, well, then hopefully they will change their behaviors. Important to touch young people as well, kids but also students as they advance. Positively impact their life.

Answer 4

Take every opportunity to educate people on conservation of not only the marine ecosystem, but terrestrial systems as well. Facebook is a great way to share things with people who may have visited the beach all their lives but really don't know the ocean at all. I try to personalize these shares to people that have houses at the beach or visit regularly but ask questions about it. For example, what offshore oil drilling and the subsequent infrastructure development would look like. Once they saw this it brought on a new understanding of how dangerous this would be. Just keep plugging away!!