4Ocean: STOP OVER FISHING

4Ocean is a global movement actively removing trash from the ocean and coastlines while inspiring individuals to work together for cleaner oceans, one pound at a time…Made from recycled materials, every bracelet purchased funds the removal of 1 pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines.” And each month they team up with another ocean-based movement to help raise awareness about their cause as well as help donate to their cause.

Although they have a blue colored “original” bracelet, they also have color coordinated cause bracelets as limited-edition bracelets that they release every month. These limited-edition bracelets are only available throughout the month and a percentage of the proceeds from this bracelet will go to the cause that they have teamed up with.

There are several donation options on their site. You can make a single donation for the original bracelet ($20+s/h) and/or the limited bracelet of the month ($20+s/h), or you can (like me) donate monthly (subscribe) to their limited-edition bracelet ($20+s/h). If you subscribe to them, every month you will receive the next month’s limited-edition bracelet a few weeks before it’s release date.

This month they have teamed up with SeaLegacy, which is an organization that "combines decades of experience in conservation, photography, and communications, with the latest digital and social technologies, to built a healthy future for out oceans. For this month of August, they are working together  to come up with solution too STOP OVER FISHING.

#STOPOVERFISHING 4OCEAN

"For thousands of years, humans have been fishing the seemingly endless supply of fish in the world's oceans to sustain our ever-growing population. However, modern fishing techniques can wipe out entire fish population and now we are seeing the effects o that sustained pressure.

In addition, when this fishing gear becomes too old to be effective, it is not disposed of properly or is simply cut into the open ocean, only to end up as a death trap for countless other marine animal species like whales, sea turtles, porpoises, and sharks." (Part of what was written on the card that they sent me with the bracelet.)

This month's bracelet is red. I do not see the bracelet I receive as something I purchased. I see it more as something that represents my support for this movement.

Not only do I support this movement, but I also try my best to do my part. Even though 4Ocean has organized groups worldwide to help clean up our oceans, I like to do my part by always bringing a bag with me whenever I go to the beach so that I can pick up trash that I see. I am also in the process of changing my lifestyle in trying to use less one-use plastics and being aware of myself whenever I go anywhere, not only to the beach, to pick up all my belongings including any rubbish that I might have accumulated. The quote, “Leave the place better than when you first arrived” comes to mind. 
If you would like to learn more about this movement and/or the movement that 4Ocean has decided to team up with this month, feel free to click here. If you would like to see if there are any organized 4Ocean cleanups that you would like to join or of you would like to donate to their movement or subscribe to them monthly, you can also click here to go to their site. Mahalo!