Reuse AND do not abuse

One example is to re-use your plastic bags when you go shopping - be it for food, clothes or household goods.

The average person uses over 280 plastic bags a year and statistics show that annually the UK public now use 17.5 billion of these bags in total. Recycling rates of plastic bags globally stand at only 1% and with 4 trillion bags handed out around the world, this is worrying! We have quite clearly turned into a 'throw away' nation, from disposable pens, dusters, coffee cups to the 8 million nappies that are thrown away every single day in the UK alone !

Awareness is definitely growing around the world and by following all or any of these examples, you will immediately be helping to protect dolphins, whales and other marine life.

• Ensure that you dispose of litter and rubbish responsibly. Many items of wind-blown litter end up in the oceans and plastic bags are often mistaken for food by dolphins and turtles, many of which die after swallowing them. Please make sure you always take litter home with you - ideally recycle any plastic, paper and glass and more importantly cut down on the rubbish you create. If you are visiting the beach please consider taking a rubbish sack and remove any plastic bottles, bags or glass bottles you see along with rope or netting - all can kill marine life.
• Dolphins, whales and other marine mammals are affected by heavy metals and PCB's which build up in their blubber. Therefore please use environmentally friendly products where possible to ensure that toxic run off and build ups of harmful chemicals do not affect our rivers and oceans and their inhabitants.
• Respect the oceans - enjoy it but take nothing away but memories. Do not buy objects made from coral, shell or other items taken from the sea for "ornamental" reasons or remove these items personally when swimming or diving as this upsets the marine ecosystem. Take care when snorkelling or diving - ensure you do not unintentionally damage coral with fins or by standing on the coral beds.