Climate change affects some ocean life. For example, seals suffer from climate change as flooding fills the sea with sediment, making it harder for seals to see, feel, and find their food. This is a real issue for weaned seal pups who are having to teach themselves to feed, what to catch, and how! Warming seas are more acidic, affecting prey species already depleted by fisheries for seabed-feeding seals.
The Hawaiian Monk Seals are primarily affected by rising sea levels because climate change impacts include terrestrial habitat loss from sea-level rise, erosion, and more frequent and stronger storms.
To contribute and help stop rising sea levels, you can do these things:
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Greenhouse gases are a major contributor to sea level rise.
- Plant more trees and save existing ones. Plants clean the air and soak up rain.
- Reduce paper use. Set all computers and printers to double-sided printing and reuse one-sided copies as scrap paper.
- Reduce your energy usage. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use and replace them with more energy-efficient varieties.
