Taking Actions to Protect our Oceans and Coastal Resources

Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

The Environmental Stewardship article in the August Cross Roads described the results of three recent reports on the state of our ocean, marine, and coastal resources. All three reports conclude that these resources are becoming increasingly polluted by human activities. We have not been the good stewards that God calls us to be.

This article focuses on actions that each of us can take to improve the coastal environment, whether we are coastal tourists, coastal property owners, or even if we never go east of I-95.

If you are a tourist:

• Follow all rules in rental properties e.g., number of guests (and thus the stress on the septic system); never flush foreign objects down toilets.
• More hotels are offering environmentally friendly sheet and towel options (not washing all of them daily) Take advantage of this option if your hotel offers it; ask the management to consider offering the option if they currently do not.
• Fish respectfully. Follow 'catch and release' practices and keep more fish alive.
• Never leave fishing line or hooks on the beach. Fishing line can strangle marine animals. Hooks can injure other mammals, as well as humans walking on the beach.
• Respect habitat. Habitat and survival go hand-in-hand. When habitat disappears, so do many plants and animals.
• Always use the proper walk-ways, boardwalks, or access paths to get to the beach. Don't cut through marshes, dunes, wildlife areas or private property.
• Do not drive on the beach. Beaches are fragile, and the shells, grasses, and animals that beaches contain can be crushed and destroyed under the weight of vehicles.
• Keep the beach clean. Pick up trash, even if it's not yours, and dispose of it in trash receptacles. Recycle the containers you use at the beach. Pick up after your dog.
• Do not throw plastic on the beach or in the water. Birds, marine animals, and fish can die by swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic.
• Dispose of boat sewage in onshore facilities; never dump it into the water.
• Adhere to no-wake zones when on your boat; waves destroy shorelines and increase erosion.

If you are a property owner:

• If you have garden or lawn, take great care with fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Try using non-toxic pesticides: a bit of soap and water does the job and keeps harmful chemicals from ending up in nearby waterways.
• Use native plants; garden and landscape with plants native to the area to reduce the need for water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
• Keep septic systems working properly.
• Pave less; hard surfaces hasten run off and increase pollution and erosion.

For everybody - even if you never go east of I-95:

• Recycle anything and everything.
• Never pour anything into storm drains. They probably drain to surface streams.
• Report dumping or other illegal activities. Environmental enforcement personnel cannot be everywhere. Your involvement can make a big difference.
• Maintain your boats, cars, and other heavy equipment to reduce oil leaks.
• Take action. Organize a stream or beach cleanup or participate in an existing effort. This year, the annual statewide Big Sweep cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, 2004. NC Big Sweep is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit for litter-free watersheds. For more information, see: http://www.ncbigsweep.org/.

If you read this list of actions and find yourself wondering "does it matter?" or "why?" the answer to the first question is YES!Individual actions have cumulative consequences . . . for good or for bad. Your actions do make a difference. For the "why" question, read Genesis 1:31 and then Genesis 2:15. God expects us to care for His creation, every day, 24/7.