Help further our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment by raising your voice and taking actions to protect our one world ocean and the animals that live there.
NEW OCEAN ACTION ALERTS
JOIN US—ACT FOR THE OCEAN!
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we—and the ocean—face. Our vision is to become a regenerative aquarium, producing more environmental benefits than harm and helping to ensure a climate-resilient, sustainable future for all. Join us by making changes in your own day-to-day habits. For example, take public or human-powered transportation whenever possible instead of driving. Explore other action ideas below!
Volunteering is a great way to help marine ecosystems, share your skills and experiences, and work alongside other environmental advocates. The Seattle Aquarium would not be what it is without our talented, dedicated and passionate volunteers—amazing and generous people who want to learn more about the marine world, get their hands dirty and inspire others to conserve our one world ocean. Consider joining us!
The future of sea otters, orcas, salmon and other amazing sea creatures depends on what YOU mark on your ballot. We hope you’ll join us in voting for local, state and national leaders who will stand up for wildlife, clean water, clean air and a voice for all communities in decision-making processes. Make sure you’re registered to vote, and vote in every election!
You can use a letter to the editor to share your view on a current marine policy issue that you find important. Decision makers rely on local papers as a gauge for public opinion, and writing a letter to the editor is one way you can influence your elected officials to take action to protect ocean health. Need help getting started? Download our guide.
DIVE DEEPER FOR A BIGGER IMPACT
Help Salmon
- Choose sustainably caught and harvested seafood.
- Speak up for restoring salmon habitat. Find your congressional representative and urge them to support increased funding for salmon recovery.
- Make sure salmon have clean water. Drive less to support coho salmon, who are harmed by toxic chemicals from tires. Whenever possible, carpool or take public transit, and if you are able, walk to your destination! If you drive, keep your car tires properly inflated and aligned to reduce wear, wash your car at a commercial car wash so that the wastewater is treated, and have oil leaks fixed. In your yard, use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly, or just use compost.
- Conserve water at your home. Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing, take shorter showers and use drought-tolerant plants in your yard.
Help Orcas
- Follow whale-watching guidelines. If you’re out in a boat, follow all Be Whale Wise guidelines at a minimum. Even better, watch whales from shore! The Seattle Aquarium is one of the sites along the Whale Trail.
- Participate in events like Orca Action Month in June and Orca Recovery Day events in October.
- Report whale sightings in real time using the Whale Report App (in addition to any reports you already do to local networks) to reduce the risk of ship strikes. If you’re out in a boat, fly a Whale Warning Flag when you see whales of any kind to warn other boaters.
- Take the Give Them Space pledge as an individual or a recreational boater.
- Choose nontoxic, environmentally friendly household and yard products. Even far from the water, nearly everything that goes down your drain or washes into storm drains and creeks eventually ends up in the sea.
- Taking the actions above to help salmon! Orcas rely on salmon as their top food source.
Help Keep Plastic Out of the Ocean
- Pick up litter on a local beach or, better yet, organize a group of friends or family members to join a local beach cleanup!
- Switch to reusable dishes and utensils. Bring your own reusable mug or bottle when you get coffee or water. Skip the plastic utensils and straws when you get takeout food.
- Choose products with less packaging. Pay attention to how much incidental plastic comes with what you buy—your candy, headphones, pens and more come in plastic packaging. Strive to cut down on your daily plastic consumption, buy used instead of new whenever possible and reward corporations that package responsibly!
Take Climate Action
- Use less gas. Carpool, use mass transit, ride your bike or walk. When you have to fly, consider buying carbon offsets; many airlines offer ways to do so.
- Reduce energy use. Put on another sweatshirt instead of turning up the heat. Turn off lights and appliances when you are not using them.
- Invest your money responsibly. Explore climate-conscious investing practices such as those weighing environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
- Eat less meat and dairy. Consider fresh, seasonal produce that is grown locally to reduce the carbon emissions from large-scale production, processing and transport.
- Take the actions above to reduce plastic use. Most plastics are made from petroleum products and have greenhouse gases associated with every step of the process.
Protect Ocean Health
- Support 30×30. Add your name to encourage your representative to support conservation efforts that will help achieve the national goal of protecting and conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Read more in our 30×30 story.
- Talk about the ocean and its amazing animals! Share how you act for the ocean with your friends, family and local community. By raising your voice, you can inspire others to take action.
STAY UP TO DATE ON ACTIONS FOR OUR OCEAN
Sign up to receive occasional action alerts on ocean-related policy issues, from climate change and environmental justice to orca recovery and plastic pollution:
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE POLICY & ADVOCACY EMAILS
Learn more about the Seattle Aquarium's policy and advocacy priorities along with recent accomplishments and updates:
