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Coastal Clean-up
   
 

It's time to clean-up! Discarded fishing line and nets, plastic bags, cigarettes, plastic food containers & utensils, bottles and cans…these are all things that litter our waterways and, eventually, end up in the ocean. In addition to being unsightly, ocean litter poses a danger to ocean animals, which can accidentally ingest or become entangled in many types of debris. Overall, clean beaches and watersheds lead to a healthier ocean.

On the third Saturday in September, large groups of volunteers gather along waterways throughout the world to help clean up the shores and to raise awareness about marine debris. Volunteers from SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove also participate locally in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Clean-up. This month's issue of Land, Sea and Air provides activities and information on coastal pollution and how you can help keep your local waterways clean.

   
 
 
Animal Activities
 
 

Ocean debris can be composed of many materials including paper, plastic, metal, or glass. Currents can carry all types of debris far out to sea, which often wash-up on islands hundreds to thousands of miles away. Students can discover which materials break down more quickly and which persist for very long times in the How Degrading and Pollution Percentages activities.

 
   
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: How Degrading (K-3)
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: Pollution Percentages (4-8)
   
  Plastics such as plastic bags, bottles, and lighters are one type of debris that can persist in the environment (even the ocean) for tens to hundreds of years. Biodegradable plastic cutlery, plates, and cups (called bioplastics) are currently marketed as a solution to the problem of long-term plastic buildup in landfills and in the ocean. However, bioplastics are not a clear solution. For ideas on expanding your students' understanding of the problems with plastics, including the pros and cons of bioplastics, visit SeaWorld and Busch Gardens online Schooling Blog - a blog created just for teachers and other educators.
 
   
BLOG: Schooling
   
 
 


The Wild
 
 

Numerous animals inhabit coastal and estuarine habitats that are often susceptible to coastal pollution. Explore the following Animal Bytes to find out fascinating facts about some kinds of animals that inhabit coastal ecosystems.

 
   
ANIMAL BYTE: American avocet, barnacles, black-necked stilt, brown pelican, clams, crabs, egrets, gulls, harbor seal, leopard shark, light-footed clapper rail, manatees, marine snails, mussels, rays, sawfish, sea stars, sea turtles, sea urchins, and shrimp
   
 
 


Currents
 
 

The SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund provides yearly grants to the Ocean Conservancy to help coordinate and sign up hundreds of thousands of volunteers for coastal clean ups and ocean pollution efforts throughout the year. Check out the following link to discover more.

 
   
SEAWORLD & BUSCH GARDENS CONSERVATION FUND: International Coastal Cleanup
   
 

Learn more about the International Coastal Cleanup at the following link.

 
   
WEBSITE: Ocean Conservancy - International Coastal Cleanup
   
 
 


Connections
 
 

Are you and your students doing something cool for the environment? Would you like to win money and recognition for your school's, students', or youth group's grassroots conservation efforts? There's still time to sign up for the 2008 SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards. Visit the link below for an application and more information on the awards.

 
   
SEAWORLD/BUSCH GARDENS ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS: 2008
   
 
 

 

   
  Next month...Dirty Jobs: Zoological Careers!
 
 
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