Waves crashing ashore. Image: Digital Vision

Wherever you live the ocean is part of your life.

Why should you care about the ocean?

The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth and helps to control the world's climate. We rely on the ocean for food, fuel and many of the things we buy.

What is going wrong?

Outfall pipe. Image: Surfers Against SewagePeople used to think that the ocean's resources and its ability to clean itself were never-ending. Now we know that the ocean can suffer from our activities.

Can you help?

Things we do every day affect the ocean. By finding out what is going on and making choices about the way we live, we can help to save the ocean.

Your energy

In the 1930s a company owned by Howard Hughes – the famous aviator – invented this heavy drill-bit. During oil exploration in the North Sea, the drill-bit cut through 800 metres of solid rock in four days. Repro ID F4688-1, © NMM LondonYour energy, your ocean, your choice?

An ocean of energy

Wind farms out at sea produce energy by using the wind to turn turbine blades. The electricity is transmitted to land by underwater cables that are connected to the grid that supplies our homes. Image: The Crown EstateThe ocean is a source of energy that helps to power our lives. Over 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies come from under the ocean floor.

We also use the waves, tides, currents and winds at sea to generate energy. Britain is one of the windiest countries in Europe – by harnessing the wind, we could generate three times more electricity than we use today!

Save energy

Some people think oil and gas reserves could run out in our lifetime! If this happens, alternative sources of energy may not be able to keep up with our needs. We can help by saving energy today.

Go to Your energy: Your action on the Your Ocean website to find out more.

Your waste

Your waste, your ocean, your problem?

Over 650,000 plastic bottles are dumped into the oceans every day. A plastic bottle may last several hundred years in the ocean. Even a cigarette butt can last for 12 years. Repro ID F4443-1Every day we produce waste that can harm the ocean if it is not treated and disposed of properly.

What is pollution?

Pollution is waste that harms marine life and our own health, and affects how we enjoy the ocean. Ocean pollution cannot always be seen – toxic metals dispersed in water are invisible.

Nothing to do with you?

Dolphins, whales and turtles eat plastic bags and wrappers mistaking them for food. This plastic waste killed a rorqual (minke) whale. It twisted up and blocked the whale's insides. Image: The Marine Conservation SocietyYes it is! Almost everything we do can create pollution that may end up in the ocean. Flushing waste into the ocean does not mean it disappears – it simply becomes part of the water cycle. For example, seven billion tonnes of litter drops into the ocean each year – 80% of which comes from land-based sources.

The main culprit is domestic waste that is dumped, blown or washed away after use in our everyday lives. Plastic bags can last for over 400 years in the ocean and can be lethal to marine life. On average, a UK household takes home 323 plastic carrier bags a year.

The rubbish we throw away is the big problem. Imagine how much cleaner the ocean would be if each of us picked up one piece of litter a day.

Lipstick. Many medicines, health remedies and beauty products come from marine life. Many are made from marine life collected in the wild. If the harvest is not managed properly, then marine life may suffer.Go to Your waste: Your Action on the Your Ocean website to find out more.

Your stuff

Your stuff, your ocean, your life?

Loads of stuff

An example of 'by-catch'. We eat about 90 million tonnes of fish and shellfish every year. Over-fishing is widespread, with many stocks near to collapse. Some 20 million tonnes of unwanted fish and other sea animals are also thrown back dead as by-catch. Image: Maritime and Coastguard AgencyThe ocean supplies us with an amazing variety of resources including silicon in mobile phones, nickel in coins and fish to eat. The beer that you drink and the medicines that keep you healthy all use ingredients from the ocean.

More for later

We can help to ensure there are resources left in the ocean for the future. Think before buying: do I really need this? Once some resources are used up, they are gone forever!

Go to Your stuff: Your action on the Your Ocean website to find out more.

Your climate

An average car produces its own weight in carbon dioxide emissions every 6000 miles.Your climate, your ocean, your future?

Getting toasty

Some scientists predict that by the year 2100 surface temperatures could rise by up to 8°C. Higher temperatures on Earth could melt the polar ice-caps and sea levels would rise.

If everyone in Britain used just one energy-saving light bulb like this one, the carbon dioxide emissions saved would fill the Royal Albert Hall 3000 times! Repro ID F4433-1, © NMM LondonThe world is getting warmer because our energy-guzzling lifestyles increase the levels of greenhouse gases – notably carbon dioxide – in the atmosphere.

Hooked on carbon

 Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas) are burned to provide energy. Every time you travel by car, a little more carbon dioxide ends up in the atmosphere, adding to global warming.

Reducing your energy consumption is one way to help slow or reverse the effects of global warming.

Go to Your climate: Your action on the Your Ocean website to find out more

Your Museum… our challenge

It is not easy being green. We are trying to meet the challenge in the best way we can – in the galleries and behind the scenes.

We are striving to adopt many of the practices of sustainable development and marine stewardship outlined in this gallery. Below are some examples the Museum has adopted:

• Recycled exhibition materials: Some of the structures in the Environment Gallery are made from recycled materials. Some are reclaimed from builder's skips or reused from previous exhibitions. Others come from sustainable sources.
  
• Power and lights: The Museum has reduced its energy consumption by 10% in the last two years thanks to staff awareness and the use of low-energy lighting. Almost all the lights and cables used in the Environment Gallery gallery are reused from old exhibitions.
  
• Waste and transport: We try to manage the amount of waste we produce and we work to increase recycling. There is a car-share scheme for staff and we encourage visitors to use public transport.

Your Ocean, your ideas, your choices… where do you start?

Our actions affect the health of the oceans. By making even small changes to our daily routine, we can inspire friends, communities and even countries to make a difference.

Start to make a difference by visiting the Environment Gallery at the Museum or look at the Your Ocean website - you can take part in games and challenges or even an online debate, and learn more about helping the ocean!

Read the Museum's Energy Policy Statement (PDF, 82KB)

Acknowledgements

The Environment Gallery has kindly been supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Marine Environment Education Initiative has kindly been supported by The Crown Estate.

We would also like to thank the other individuals and organizations who comprise the Planet Ocean Advisory Group for their expertise and enthusiastic support of the gallery.

• WWF-UK
• United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
• The Marine Conservation Society
• Surfers Against Sewage
• Professor David Johnson, Southampton Solent University
• New Scientist
• Professor W Ritchie OBE, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Hance Smith, Cardiff University