What can you do to help save our oceans?

With the BBC's Blue Planet II raising awareness of the brittle fragility of our oceans and the ecosystems they sustain, a proactive approach must be taken to ensure that the harsh images of plastic contamination in the ocean serves as an impulse for projects and activities that seek to improve the conditions in our oceans. It seems like an arduous task to carry out, and surely many people may question how they can contribute to helping prevent plastic pollution and participate in marine conservationism. From the BBC, to National Geographic, The Marine Conservation Society and Oceana, there are several sources and guides that can help you contribute to helping preserve marine life, prevent the warming of our oceans and limit plastic contamination. Here are a few of them:

1. Keep and eye out on your carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption: As our oceans get warmer due to climate change, the seafloor faces modifications that can cause drastic alterations to the ocean's ecosystem. Due to the effects of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide on the ocean, the rising temperatures will have an effect on the bicarbonate buffer of the ocean. This ultimately will result in the ocean's water becoming more acidic. As warmer oceans subsequently affect weather patterns and cause more tropical storms, these events can have severe impacts on sea life and corals. A conscious use of energy at home and at work can help reduce greenhouse gases. How? Several easy precautions can be taken such as:

• Using public transport, carpooling, riding a bike or walking when possible.

• Turning off lights, TVs, PCs at home when they are not in use.

• Turn down heating and use blankets, onesies and those thick ugly socks you got for Christmas and avoid oversetting your thermostat.

• Hang your washing rather than using the tumble dryer

• Drive more slowly and turn off your engines when stopping for long periods.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house.

• Recycle.

• Choose renewable energy or use solar panels if possible.

2. Watch what you eat: Whilst this seems like a point taken out from a Men's Health article, it is also vital for marine sustainability and preserving the climate that we watch what we eat. Firstly, an excess of red meat not only contains toxins that may be bad for our health, but also contributes to the overproduction of cattle that produce large amounts of methane. Buying local or trying to grow your own food when possible is a prime suggestion. But let's focus on sea food: With global fish populations on the verge of collapse due to high demand, loss of habitat and unsustainable fishing practices, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) claims that three quarters of the world's fisheries are now over-exploited, depleted or recovering from over-exploitation. It is recommended that people choose sustainable seafood, but how? By carrying a sustainable seafood card or look or look our for special terms like "line caught", or "sustainably harvested". Additionally, the Marine Conservation Society has provided this guide and this app to help people choose sustainably caught fish in order to protect fish stocks.

3. Vote responsibly and Push for change:

Several initiatives have already taken place in the UK since the screening of Blue Planet II. This includes increased support for planned bottle deposit return schemes, with Michael Gove unveiling plans for a "reward and return" scheme, and a possible tax on single-use plastic. In the UK alone, there was a 40 per cent drop in plastic bags found on beaches, which was linked to the 5p charge on bags in supermarket. Giving plastic bags a price, makes people think twice about throwing them carelessly.

With more than eight million tonnes of plastic dumped in the world's ocean each year, Blue Planet's after effect also prompted Chancellor Philip Hammond to express his desire for the UK to become a "world leader in tackling the scourge of plastic".

It is important to push for public policy changes to protect our oceans, from insisting in the pursuit of regulations to tackle the use of plastics, the fighting against the threat to marine ecosystems and the establishment of official marine protected areas. Restrictions in fishing and the extraction of natural resources in certain areas can help foster life to grow and spread to new areas. As Richard Harrington, head of communications at the Marine Conservation Society stressed, "The UK has a wonderful array of marine life, and there aren't all that many places where sea bed habitats and fisheries are well protected. Additionally, environmentalists in the UK are pushing for the extension of the “Blue Belt”, a network of marine protected areas that will maximise the protection given to the nation’s marine ecosystems.“There has been a process to get marine protected areas around our shores, which is quite definitely being slowed down by other government matters such as Brexit,” said Mr Harrington.

Whether conservationalism and environmental protection is a matter that mostly affects left wing or right wing is debatable, but political agendas must be studied thoroughly to understand how they may adhere to your own environmental aspirations. Regardless of the UK's current stance on Brexit, here are some governmental policies to look out for:

- The UK Government's 25 year plan: A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment.

- The European Commission's proposal for European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy

- The UN resolution of marine litter and micro-plastics (UNEP/EA.3/Res.7) gives advice on how member states can combat marine litter.

4. Enjoy yourself at the beach, but clean up and respect your surroundings.

Swimming, diving and even sunbathing can be a fun or relaxing thing to do, but it is important to respect your surroundings and try not to interfere with the wildlife surrounding you. Removing rocks and coral is not only harmful, but illegal. Those little mounds of rocks people love to balance on the shores of Ibiza? They evoke your inner hippie, but they also damage the few plants that can grow near the surface, subsequently affecting the amount of insects, local lizards, birds and other wildlife. Respect the coastal environment and encourage others to do so.

5. Be a responsible pet owner

Pets are cool. Exotic pets may seem so too, but it can often be cruel or be contributing to changes in ocean ecosystems. Avoid having wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release aquarium fish into the ocean, as this introduces non-native specie to ecosystems and can cause a lot of damage. Also, find somewhere else to dispose of your cat litter other than the toilet, the pathogens their droppings contain pathogens that are also harmful to marine life.

6. Buy ocean friendly products

Avoid products that are produced through unsustainable methods, such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories or cosmetics containing shark squalene. Oh, and use fertilizers sparingly. Most excesses end up in the ocean, provoking dead zonez tieh very low levels of oxygen in the water that are devastating to the areas.

7. Read up and learn more on environmental issues, and support local and international organisations working to protect the seas and ocean