50 ways to love your ocean and coasts
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9. Shop Local.
When buying products, the closer the source, the better for the environment. You’ll get fresh produce, flowers, and other products, and you’ll also be supporting your local farmers and artisans. Find one near you with the USDA’s directory.
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10. Consider buying sustainable seafood.
Check NOAA’s Fishwatch to make smart seafood choices and learn about what makes U.S. seafood sustainable - from the ocean or farm to your plate.
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11. Support the use of natural infrastructure in your community.
Wetlands, grassy swales, and sand dunes (all examples of natural infrastructure) provide habitat and can capture excess water, which lessens coastal flooding. Offshore habitats, including coral reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass beds, also help slow down storm waves.
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12. Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying a single use one whenever possible.
More and more plastics are entering the ocean every day. By using a reusable water bottle, you help reduce the amount of plastic we throw out every year.
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13. When shopping, bring your own reusable bags
to avoid having to use one-time-use plastic bags. Bring your own containers for leftovers and for shopping at bulk stores and farmers markets. Plastics represent a huge pollution problem for our ocean.