Save Our Seas 2.0 Act: Everything You Need to Know
By: Hima Reddy
“Save Our Seas Act 2.0” finally made successful progress amidst various oppositions. The government passed the bill on January 09 2020.
The main agenda discussed was:
● To enhance the domestic response to marine debris.
● Stimulate international engagement to address marine debris.
● To stop further creation of marine debris.
Reducing plastic generation will help in stopping new marine debris from polluting our oceans.
The Goals of “Save Our Seas 2.0”
The legislation’s aim is to fight against plastic pollution in rivers and coastal areas. They do it by raising awareness about:
● Sources of plastic waste.
● Mismanaged waste.
● Inventing systems to recover, reuse, and recycle waste.
● Innovative cleanup programs.
● Educating in the effects of microplastics on food supplies.
● Drinking water sources.
The Act discussed:
● Innovative uses of plastic waste.
● Causes of microfiber pollution.
● Conducting research studies to cut the creation of new plastic waste.
The legislation is offering the “Genius Prize” to the innovators. This price was introduced to discover new innovative ways to reduce plastic pollution in waterways. “Genius 11 Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations’’ is one of the strategies of the prize.
What Are The Strategies Discussed to Reduce Plastic Pollution?
To begin, recommending research studies to address the ocean’s plastic problem. Also, suggesting waste management and recycling strategies to solve plastic pollution.
Another strategy is to reduce waste at the source with anti-litter initiatives, “trash wheels”, and litter traps. The accumulated waste in waterways is then collected, managed, and cleaned properly.
Manufacturers are in turn provided an incentive for the redesigning of the packages. Consumer goods use the packages for easier reuse and recycling options.
Some serious concerns about microplastics discussed are:
● Human health and risk assessment on microplastics.
● Microfiber and microplastics cause damage to marine ecosystems, human health, and marine activities.
● Food supplies and sources of drinking water assessments, to check for microplastic contamination.
● The best available science to understand the health hazards of microplastic for humans.
● To study the microplastic’s absorption of environmental chemicals.
Yet, if the source of these plastic productions or use is not analyzed, then the “Save Our Seas 2.0 Act” won’t be successful.
There should be a new bill to stop the production of plastics, which are piling up in our oceans.
Data about plastic production versus cleaning of the plastic in the oceans is not found. Adapting to traditional methods of living is a simple solution to fight plastic pollution.
Hundreds of years ago people had cleaner and greener lives without using plastic.
How is Ocean Blue Project Supporting Clean Oceans?
If the source of plastic production stops, the use and dumping of the debris in oceans by humans reduce. Hence, ocean cleanup efforts will be easier.
Ocean Blue Project helps to remove microplastic from oceans by:
● Organizing beach and river cleanups
● Providing solutions to keep pollutants from entering ecosystems
● Community cleanup
● Collaborative community-driven service-learning projects
● Youth education
Ocean Blue Organization has:
● Used machines to extract microplastic.
● Successfully cleaned 173,302 pounds of debris and microplastic from the ocean.
● Aims to collect thousands of pounds of microplastic.
● Plans to expand the project into 200 ocean cleanup organizations.
Author Bio: Hima Reddy is a Phd student in Information Systems. Also a software engineer, developer, programmer, and webmaster. Passion for creative writing, minimalism, and environment protection.
