Category: Ocean Life

  • Whale sharks are endangered – how you can help

    Whale sharks are endangered – how you can help

    Whale sharks are the world’s biggest fish and they aren’t actually a whale, but a shark. Sharks are also a type of fish.

    Their scientific name is Rhincodon Typus. This is derived from the Greek words rhinos (rasp) and don (tooth). And the word typos is from the Latin word, type – which means the whale shark is the 1st or foundational member of its species.

    They can grow up to 20 meters and weigh like 40 tons! 

    Each whale shark has a unique constellation pattern, just like our fingerprints.

    They cannot bite or chew, they’re filter feeders through their gills and have around 3,000 tiny teeth to help them crush their food

    They don’t have eyelids, so you’ll never get winked at by a whale shark! 🙂

    They have teeth (dermal denticles) on their eyes (a bit like bees) to protect them from damage.

    They eat krill, plankton and small fish by filter feeding. They often feed need the surface which means they can also ingest floating plastics.

    They’re a gentle giant, have never hurt a human and can live to over 100 years old.

    Whale sharks are ovoviviparous which means they lay eggs inside, which hatch and then they give birth to live babies about 50cm long.

    Whale sharks are on the IUCN’s endangered red list with populations thought to be decreasing 

    What you can do to help:

    Learn about Whale Sharks here on the Red List.

    Visit them using tours that operate ethically and sustainably.

    Post them on your socials, they’re so cute 🥰

    Drive slowly in your boats when they’re in the area. Use a drone to search ahead 

    Only eat sustainably caught seafood

    Donate to organisations that do actual ocean conservation or whale shark research 

    Respect our beautiful oceans.

  • Soy sauce fish from sushi stores are marine hazards

    Soy sauce fish from sushi stores are marine hazards

    Plastic soy sauce fish are marine hazards. 

    They’re one of the most common items found washed up on beaches. I refuse them at sushi stores when I’m offered but the staff. They’re single use plastic and for such a small amount of content. The amount of plastic outweighs the content inside. 

    You may have kept them to upcycle or just because they’re cute. Well they are cute. So if you have them stored up, here’s a few fun ideas to upcycle them! 🫶🩵

    A little history

    The lunch charm, was its original Japanese name. In 1954 Teruo Watanabe was asked to design up a small container for soy sauce that people could use at lunchtime. 

    The design

    The design criteria were set as, a sauce container like a straw that could be easily thrown away. It’s polyethylene recyclable plastic. He came up with the fish design and later a golden gourd and pig were also created. 

    Soy sauce fish are major marine hazards

    The plastic fish are one of the most common items washed up on beaches and they’re eaten by marine life. 

    Don’t accept them from sushi stores

    If they offer them to you, just say no. 

    A few ways to upcycle them 

    Make a necklace! The little fish make cute necklace ornaments and you can fill them with colour. 

    Fill a vase

    They look awesome in water filled with colour. Just drop in some basil. 

    Decorate your phone case

    Decorate your phone case with them. Use a hot glue gun and stick them on. 

    Make tiny fish lights

    Cut off the cap (nose) and use them as fairy light shades. You could even colour them with permanent marker. Liiiiittt

    Give them to a friend

    They might enjoy chasing them. 

    Thanks of your support. With your help we can reduce the number of soy sauce fish in the oceans. 

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