Beach time! Keeping our oceans healthy and cool, sustainable summer ideas

It’s hot and sunny outside and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the sand, the sea and the seafood!  Nos encanta el verano. We love the summer, besides, it reminds Rosi of her native Puerto Rico. Our family loves the beach, and for many years we’ve been committed to protecting the environment, so we wanted to share five super easy, practical tips to keep in mind when visiting the ocean this summer:

1.   Use reef-friendly sunscreen: Of course you need to use sunscreen, no matter your complexion or how great a base tan you have. But scientists have determined that two sunscreen ingredients in particular, oxybenzone and octinoxate, are extremely damaging to the earth’s endangered coral reefs. (These chemicals are also used in many cosmetic products.) It takes a bit of searching to find sunscreens that are safe for coral, but the oceans will thank you! You can find out more at this link: Reef Safe Sunscreens

2.   Make smart seafood choices: Choose seafood that is fished or farmed in responsible, sustainable ways. When you buy from sellers that have less impact on the environment, you help keep a healthy ocean full of fish.

How to know if you’re making the right choices? Check out the Seafood Watch consumer guides for your state. We narrated the video below for them a few years ago, and they’ve become a family resource as one of the best-known sustainable seafood advisory lists.

You can also influence seafood suppliers and distributors by getting in the habit of asking your seller: “where does this fish come from?” How was it caught or farmed?”. That way, they’ll know their customers care about their practices ;).

3.   Nix those hot plastic water bottles (and other plastics, for that matter): When it gets hot and you need to hydrate, fill up a reusable bottle. Not only will you limit your impact, but your water will also stay colder for longer.

4.   Travel the ocean like fish: That is, unmotorized and clean. Practice boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, or other eco-friendly activities. 

5.   Stay hydrated! And keep your electrolytes up. Rosi recently had a serious dehydration episode in Cape Cod recently that sent her off in an ambulance after fainting. Not fun! Big lesson. Even if you think you’re not thirsty or perspiring…You’ve heard it before.

Pro tip: if you’re flying, you can offset the CO2 emissions from your flights by booking through sites like FlyGreen. Their revenue from partners goes directly into offsetting your flight at no cost to you (brilliant!).

We hope you enjoy the beachy weather as much as we do!