If you’re anything like me, you like to see marine life whenever you get the chance. And, with summer vacation season in full swing, there’s a chance some of you may be getting ready to head toward the ocean soon. Here’s what you need to know to view marine wildlife responsibly.
How to be an ethical marine life observer
Want to see marine creatures? Skip the aquarium or marine park—these institutions are ethically problematic, often harmful to animals, and never allow these creatures to function like they would in the wild.
Seeing animals in their wild habitats is the right way to go, but we still need to be responsible and ethical viewers of wild animals, too. Here are some tips:
Never participate in any experience that involves touching or riding animals. Ethically bad, group these experiences with aquariums or marine parks.
Viewing marine life from the shore is good! Just make sure to give marine animals their space, especially when viewing species that haul out onto shore. Doing so is often required by law anyway—the Marine Mammal Protection Act, for example, bans harassing or disturbing protected species, and the government asks people to stay at least 50 feet away from seals, sea lions, or sea turtles that are onshore to comply.
If you’re in the water and marine life approaches, keep your hands to yourself and try to give as much space as possible. Again, this is legally mandated for some species. You don’t need to invade a creature’s space to have a cool experience.
I shouldn’t need to say this, but never EVER yell at, throw things at, or otherwise harass marine creatures. (And you have my full blessing to chew out anyone you spot acting like a jerk toward these animals. And the government’s blessing to report it.)
Clean up after yourself at beaches and in other marine environments. We shouldn’t be littering anywhere, but there’s a high chance that the plastic you leave on the beach washes into the water to hurt an animal.
Do not book marine experiences that involve feeding wild animals.
If you’re going whale watching, be sure to book through a company that puts the wild animals first. Check for ethical whale watching accreditations (companies will boast about these on their site, and they’ll be easily verifiable online), read reviews, and never work with a company that guarantees you will spot a whale. Ethical companies typically use their websites to highlight how they comply with marine conservation laws, protect whales, and support other marine conservation efforts.
When in doubt, don’t book with a non-verifiable marine wildlife operator. The last thing you want to have happen is to be on a ship that’s chasing animals, breaking the law, and potentially harassing wildlife.
If you’re visiting a marine ecosystem like a tidepool, watch where you step, avoid taking animals out of the water, and try not to disturb the ecosystem.
Read a thorough guide from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on marine life viewing here. Enjoy spotting marine creatures this summer, and if you get any cool photos or videos, be sure to send them to thesaltwaterchronicles@gmail.com so I can see them too. Happy responsible wildlife viewing!
DATA POINT
A recent sighting of a Mediterranean great white shark was likely the first time this species has been seen in more than 40 years and might be the first-ever recorded sighting. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this region’s great white population is critically endangered. Industrial fishing is a key element driving population loss. Learn more about these sharks and the cool sighting here.
CULTURE WAVE
Just sharing a lot of octopus content this summer. Enjoy:
ICYMI
SWIMMING ACROSS YOUR SCREEN
Signing off on this week’s marine news. See you soon with a new wave of ocean updates!
Kelvey 🌊🦈
P.S. You can send news tips, story ideas, hate mail, and photos of cute ocean creatures to thesaltwaterchronicles@gmail.com.
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