To protect the ocean. Tip # 1: Go to the beach

by Alicia Amerson

Go to the beach to save the ocean! We are actively working on ways to help others Stand Up For What We Stand On.  In effort to promote the various ways we can work together and make an individual efforts towards conservation it seemed perfect to start with our coastline. So let's go to the beach!

It's spring time here in San Diego and much like a bear waking up from hibernation, I feel the spring weather taking over. Spring cleaning, growth, and prospering are on the horizon for this season. So I've decided to dedicate the next few blogs to specifically discuss movement and stretching into our year, how we can move with the waves, climb a mountain, and how we can use this momentum to save our ocean.

As we move into launching our first online course about drones and conservation, it's with excitement, but also intense curiosity about the stories that will be generated by the pilots who take the course.
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Who will we impact and how will they protect wildlife by using the STRIVE Plan?
I can't wait to find out.

This blog is the start of a few that will discuss ways we can save our ocean and of course I'll throw in a few ways to fly drones with conservation in mind. ​

I hope you enjoy the efforts the Alimosphere team has put into researching ways you can GREEN your lifestyle to help save our big BLUE ocean and all the wildlife that live in it and along it’s shores.

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California Tourism and Recreation Stats in 2012: Tourism and recreation—calculated strictly for shore-adjacent zip codes—is the largest of California’s six ocean dependent sectors, accounting for 39 percent of the ocean economy’s GDP ($17.6 billion), 75 percent of its employment (368,000), and 46 percent of its wages paid ($8.7 billion) in 2012. 

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Let’s get started!

Tip 1 Go to the beach!

Yes please go to the beach!  There are millions of people who visit the California beaches every year. In 2012, 19 coastal counties in California generated $662 billion in wages and $1.7 trillion in GDP. It remains as one of the top activities of the summer world wide - even in the southern hemisphere.

The water has mesmerized humans and is the center of many stories. The Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols is a scientific description of the trance the ocean holds on our minds and is a wonderful description of the benefits of the water to our bodies. He describes "The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do."  Before heading out to rest on the beach you should pick up a copy to read.

You may be planning a vacation to see the ocean, spend time in the sun and waves, relax with someone you love, or play with the kids. The beach is a wonderful place to escape, so we have a few tips to GREEN up your beach style.

1. Enjoy the sand and the water. You only live once so jump in the water, it's refreshing!
2. Leave the beach better than you found it. 
3. Take all your trash home or back to the hotel with you.  Open trash cans may allow trash to blow out when the winds come up or allow wildlife to dig in the can and you know what happens next...  
4. Don’t leave your children's plastic toys for the next kid - it’s like ketchup packets or napkins you leave for the next person at the table - they don’t get used and the ocean swallows them up when the tide comes in.
5. Do a beach clean up before you leave. Your stewardship is an example to children and other adults. 
6. Explore a tide pool, but be careful of where you step and what animals you step on. But do have a look and share the magic of what's beyond the first glance of a rocky shoreline. 
7. Look for shells of all kinds, bones, and other unique plants - but don't take them home. 
8. Seabirds eat tiny animals in the sand - don’t chase the birds if you see them standing on the shoreline - they might be eating.
9. Bring a trash bag to haul out your empty snack bags and water bottles. Don’t leave your water bottle caps in the sand. And to collect any other trash you might find.
10. Please don’t smoke, and if you do please don’t put your cigarette butt out in the sand.   Take your butt with you!
11. Purchase coral friendly and waterproof sunblock!
12. Use public restrooms instead of the local ocean waves!
13. Walk on designated paths to avoid disturbing native plants and sand dunes. Coastal wildlife need habitat to nest and roost - and to hide from predators.
14. Keep your dog on a leash and clean up after them. If you want to take the pup off leash find a dog-friendly beach in the area!
15. Build sand castles, bury yourself in the sand, fall in love, take a nap, play frisbee, watch the sunrise or sunset, and most of all have fun!

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Where does your drone fit in?  

Well, be aware that drone flights over people are illegal per the FAA in the United States.  Surfers are people, so don’t fly over them, unless you have their permission and they are part of your drone operations. 

Drones may be able to identify marine debris or a stranded animal. If this happens to you when you’re flying along a beach call the stranding hotline and report the marine debris.  Don’t try to make the situation better by yourself. There are professionals who are approved by the federal administration to help protect wildlife and clean up our beaches. Report a stranded marine animal.

Drones are also known to disturb wildlife.  Please plan ahead to avoid wildlife encounters.  Take our drone flight planning for wildlife course to design a flight plan that will reduce wildlife disturbance when you fly!

If you want to join our group of conservation drone pilots who’ve take the drone stewardship pledge click here.  You can also find us on Wednesday in our Facebook Live Events - click here.

We can’t wait to meet you or see you on the beach or at one of our events.

​Also register for our online course STRIVE Plan to reduce disturbance to wildlife when you fly a drone. Sign up before April 30, use promo code Conservation$100 and get $100 off!