Set against the backdrop of a dusted pink sky, the icebergs almost glowed with an eerie luminescence. Glacial structures like these form and break away from Antarctica's sprawling ice shelf, drifting out from their fortresses into the water like sentinels scouting the open ocean. In the pastel shimmer of dusk, the world seemed perfectly still. But I knew deep beneath these icy giants was a symphony of frozen crystals forming and shattering; the silent call of the polar South.

Conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier has dedicated her career to the protection of the natural world. Specifically, she is passionate about the state of our world's oceans, and through SeaLegacy, a non-profit she founded with her partner Paul Nicklen, she helps shine a spotlight on environmental issues through visual storytelling.

In a recent Facebook Story, Mittermeier called on world leaders to step up to the plight that Antarctica is facing. This fragile ecosystem is at a critical point due to numerous factors that include climate change, overfishing, and deep-sea mining.  Tackling the issue head-on, Mittermeier uses her creative skills as a photographer to remind the public of what is at stake.

We had a chance to speak with Mittermeier on the heels of the annual CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) to discuss the victories and challenges that the area faces. Read on for My Modern Met's exclusive interview and prepare to get inspired to effect change.

The evening sun catches the misty haze lingering over the glassy, icy waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. A humpback whale graces us ever so briefly with her presence before diving deep back under the dark sea.

What have been the biggest successes and challenges for ocean conservation in 2023?

There have been a number of wins so far this year, including the fact that many countries, including Canada and the UK, have placed a moratorium on Deep Sea Mining. Just like the wholesale liquidation of natural resources of land has had devastating effects on biodiversity and climate, the pursuit of mining assets at the bottom of the sea is a shortsighted, colonial proposal that will result in the further devastation of our oceans and our planet.

Knowing that countries are taking a serious look at understanding the ecology of the deep sea before any consideration is given to a mining proposal is a great step in the right direction.

Crabeater seal

We see a lot of imagery about Antarctica and the melting glaciers, rising water tables, etcetera. What are the biggest changes you've seen there in your latest trip?

The changes that are easy to see are the dislodging of enormous blocks of ice from the continental shelf. These icebergs will eventually melt completely and add a large amount of freshwater to the ocean ecosystem, which will contribute to changing currents and rising sea levels. In addition, the weather patterns have changed from ice and snow to rain, which makes the survival of young animals, like baby penguins, much harder.

The international body in charge of creating additional protections for the Southern Ocean, known as CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources), has met several years in a row, and they have failed to develop an agreement to protect this fragile ecosystem, which is a real tragedy.

Nature is the greatest architect. This is just one the many examples of the stunning configurations of ice and water to be found across the southern continents' oceans. As the ocean heats up we risk losing these beautiful and critical creations of nature.

It's still sometimes difficult for individuals to see how they can effect change to reverse the climate trend. What do you recommend to those people who feel like they can't make a difference on their own?

Nobody is making a difference on their own. It is important to understand that for every naysayer, there are 1,000 people making strides to have a positive impact. From reducing the amount of meat we consume to traveling less to becoming less materialistic, shifting to greener energy, and being more invested in reducing waste, the collective effect is massive. We all need to do more, and we all need to donate more to environmental efforts. Environment and climate remain the most underfunded causes in the United States.

A Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea)glides through the snowy skies of the Drygalski Fjord in Antarctica. These graceful birds rely on the sea ice for hunting and rest while on the open sea.

CCAMLR 2023 just wrapped up. What are your biggest takeaways from what happened there?

I am baffled that a country like Russia, which is in the middle of an illegal war, would be allowed to have a voice in the decision to not protect the Southern Ocean. Still, in the end, conservation happens by consensus, and even though every other member country of CCAMLR elected to enact protections, the single voice of a rogue Russia negated the effort. Tragic, really.

What's on your list creatively and as an activist for the new year?

I am working on my first Masters of Photography course, and I have been busy creating new work and editing old work for both that course and my upcoming exhibition at Galleria D'Italia.

Cristina Mittermeier: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Cristina Mittermeier.

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READ: Cristina Mittermeier on the Environmental Trials and Tribulations of Antarctica [Interview]

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Taking a shower is a routine part of life. For some, it is a relaxing activity; for others, it is a brisk way to start the day. But have you ever thought of how much it costs? QS Supplies, a UK-based bathroom furnishing provider, set out to find the yearly price of taking a warm shower around the world. They then put together their findings in an insightful infographic, revealing that the costs of jumping into the shower are not the same for everyone.

To measure how much a year of daily showers cost, QS Supplies looked at electricity and water usage costs in 89 countries. They then compared it to the average annual income in each country to determine its overall affordability.

On average, the price of a warm shower is $260 a year, but there are huge differences from country to country. In Denmark, a year of daily hot showers costs $802, making it the most expensive in the world. On the other side of the spectrum, Egypt and Suriname have the lowest annual shower costs at $33 per year. In the U.S., the yearly cost of taking a shower is $264, making it the 36th most expensive in the world.

Despite the disparaging numbers, the tables turn once again when looking at each country's economy. The country with the most affordable annual shower costs is Norway, as it equates to 0.31% of the average local income. It is followed by Kuwait and the U.S., where it represents 0.35% and 0.49% respectively. Meanwhile, showers are prohibitively expensive in Rwanda, where they take up 46.17% of the average annual income, making them the least affordable in the world.

The stark differences in showers are not far off from the overall global inequality panorama. That's why it is important to guarantee everyone has access to it. After all, even the UN considers it a human right “to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, and socially and culturally acceptable.” How often it should be done is a different conversation.

QS Supplies, a UK-based bathroom furnishing provider, set out to find the yearly price of taking a warm shower around the world.

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

To measure how much a year of daily showers cost, QS Supplies looked at electricity and water usage costs in 89 countries. They then compared it to the average annual income in each country to determine its overall affordability.

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

QS Supplies: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Digg]

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READ: Eye-Opening Infographic Reveals the Yearly Cost of Taking a Shower Around the World

Photo: LeonidSorokin/Depositphotos

From solar panels to electric cars, clean energy has become a bigger part of our lives in recent years. A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that it will only develop a stronger foothold in the decades to come, with more solar panels, electric cars, and renewable energy by 2030.

IEA analyzed the current policies, and adds that there will likely be two-thirds more clean energy 10 years from now with a decreased dependence on fossil fuels. “The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable. It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’—and the sooner the better for all of us,” says IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Governments, companies, and investors need to get behind clean energy transitions rather than hindering them. There are immense benefits on offer, including new industrial opportunities and jobs, greater energy security, cleaner air, universal energy access and a safer climate for everyone. Taking into account the ongoing strains and volatility in traditional energy markets today, claims that oil and gas represent safe or secure choices for the world’s energy and climate future look weaker than ever.”

Although this is welcome news for many, the IEA stresses that more improvement will need to be made for the 200 countries in the Paris Agreement to meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, governments will have to triple renewable capacity, slash methane emissions from fossil fuel operations by 75%, and triple clean energy in developing economies. “Every country needs to find its own pathway, but international cooperation is crucial for accelerating clean energy transitions,” Dr. Birol asserts. “In particular, the speed at which emissions decline will hinge in large part on our ability to finance sustainable solutions to meet rising energy demand from the world’s fast growing economies. This all points to the vital importance of redoubling collaboration and cooperation, not retreating from them.”

While the demand for fossil fuels is still currently strong, the IEA finds that it is slowly changing with the rise of solar panels, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. This report comes out ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai this December, where leaders will discuss phasing out fossil fuels, among other issues.

h/t: [The Verge]

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Photo: ALesik/Depositphotos

A new climate report has been published by scientists, and, unfortunately, the outlook isn't good. Though this shouldn't come as a shock, particularly given the ominous U.N. climate report in 2021, it's disheartening nonetheless. According to the 2023 state of the climate report, 20 of 35 vital signs on Earth used to track climate change are at record highs.

So what does this mean? Simply put, life is in peril. The concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has soared, extreme heat waves are more frequent, sea ice levels in Antarctica are at record lows, the oceans are historically warm, and the amount of trees lost to wildfires is extraordinary. Scientists are concerned that all of these factors are placing us closer to a dangerous tipping point.

“These record extremes are alarming in themselves, and they are also in danger of triggering tipping points that could do irreversible damage and further accelerate climate change,” states Professor Tim Lenton of the UK's University of Exter. Professor Lenton, a co-author on the study.

Photo: ginasanders/Depositphotos

“Our best hope to prevent a cascade of climate tipping points is to identify and trigger positive tipping points in our societies and economies, to ensure a rapid and just transition to a sustainable future.”

The scientists stress that the 35 vital signs in the study each correlate to potential destruction that can harm all living things on our planet. And, unfortunately, we are already starting to see the effects with an increase in wildfires, flooding, and other extreme weather.

“Life on our planet is clearly under siege,” warns lead author Professor William Ripple. Ripple is a faculty member at Oregon State University College of Forestry. “The statistical trends show deeply alarming patterns of climate-related variables and disasters. We also found little progress to report as far as humanity combating climate change.”

Photo: CherNika/Depositphotos

Their findings make it clear that we, collectively, aren't doing enough to turn the tides back. In fact, the study states that, in 2019, the top 10% of emitters were responsible for almost 50% of global emissions. This means that events like Canada's record wildfire season, which created CO2 emissions equal to the annual emissions of Japan, could be a signal of a devastating new normal.

“Without actions that address the root problem of humanity taking more from the Earth than it can safely give, we’re on our way to the potential collapse of natural and socioeconomic systems and a world with unbearable heat and shortages of food and fresh water,” shares former OSU postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf, who is the study's other lead author.

The study makes it clear that it's more important than ever to see how you, as an individual, can do your part to help the planet and why it's also critical to get out and vote for officials who support your views and will put pressure on businesses and governments to fall in line via legislation.

h/t: [The Guardian]

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READ: Earth Is at a “Tipping Point” as Study Shows Its “Vital Signs” Are at a Critical Level

Photo: nadik29/Depositphotos

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding the community’s cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive. The storied tree, which was first planted in 1873, was severely burned during the wildfires. Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“After not being here for two weeks and looking at the new sprouts, especially on the makai side of the tree it is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” arborist Steve Nimz, part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project, said in a news release.

Nimz explained that one-third of the tree is showing really strong recovery, another third is showing a little progress, and the final third has not shown anything yet. “In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people,” the arborist explains. “They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.” According to experts, the soil beneath the tree became extremely hot during the fire, which altered the ground’s ability to absorb water.

The banyan fig, which now stands 60 feet tall, was first planted in the 19th century when it was an 8-foot-tall sapling. It was placed in downtown Lahaina by the sheriff to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant mission. Despite the attachment the community has to it, the Ficus benghalensis is not a species native to Hawai'i. It was actually shipped from India, becoming a symbol of Hawai'i's burgeoning multicultural exchange.

The historic banyan tree is not the only plant the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project is taking care of. With the help of volunteer construction companies, they've been watering the banyan tree as well as numerous ulu (breadfruit trees), kukui nut, and Royal palm trees. “We’re also taking care of a lot of other historical trees in Lahaina, but most of them have been charred pretty bad,” Landscaping business owner Chris Imonti told CNN. “I mean, everything is gone. We’re running around watering a few trees in town and that’s all that’s left.” Since most landmarks were destroyed, the landscaper describes the tree as “your only compass in town.”

While the locals have more pressing matters as they rebuild their life following the fire, those looking after it know it can be a good vehicle for change, and a symbol for the resilience of those who call Maui home. “People see it as a sign of hope,” Imonti says. “A sign of new beginnings.”

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive.

Photo: PiKappa/Depositphotos

Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“It is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” says Steve Nimz, an arborist part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project.

“In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people. They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.”

Signs of #hope:

the historic banyan tree burned during the #Lahaina fire last month has sprouted new leaves, showing signs of resilience and recovery pic.twitter.com/z2oPnP91e3

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 20, 2023

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: Lahaina Banyan Tree Has Sprouted New Leaves Since the Devastating Maui Wildfires

Photo: Havranka/Depositphotos

More than 100 dolphins were found dead in the Amazon River over the last week amid a severe drought and record-high water temperatures. The conditions in which the animals were found have ignited fears that the rising global temperatures may be passing the tolerance threshold for vulnerable species.

The animal carcasses appeared at Lake Tefé, tributary of the Amazon River, alongside thousands of dead fish. Experts believe that the low river levels, added to the unbearable water temperatures, contributed to the dolphins' demise. “It’s still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but according to our experts, it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefé, in which some points are exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit),” scientist from Mamirauá Institute, a research facility funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, told CNN Brasil. That is 10 degrees higher than the average for this time of the year.

However, experts have to rule out a bacterial infection or sewage contamination before rescuing the surviving dolphins and moving them to cooler waters. “Transferring river dolphins to other rivers is not that safe because it’s important to verify if toxins or viruses are present [before releasing the animals into the wild],” said André Coelho, a researcher at Mamiraua Institute.

The Amazon River dolphin is, as its name suggests, native to South America. It is also known by the locals as boto, and can be pink or gray. Scientists that descended on the lake to recover the corpses noted that roughly eight of every 10 carcasses are pink dolphins, which could represent 10% of their estimated population in Lake Tefé. “Ten percent is a very high percentage of loss, and the possibility that it will increase could threaten the survival of the species in Lake Tefé,” researcher Miriam Marmontel told Reuters.

“The past month in Tefé has seemed like a science-fiction climate-change scenario,” Daniel Tregidgo, a British researcher living in the area, told The Guardian. “To know that one has died is sad, but to see piles of carcasses, knowing that this drought has killed over 100, is a tragedy.” The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies botos as endangered, and there are only six existing freshwater dolphin species left in the world.

The effects of the drought are also felt by the populations living on the margins of the river. The level of the Amazon River has fallen by 30 centimeters (about 11.8 inches) each day over the past two weeks. Since most food and fuel supplies are transported by boat, there are concerns that this could drive up prices and cause food insecurity. The drought has also impacted fishing, an activity that provides food and income for many families in the region.

The Amazon has historically been known for its biodiversity, as it is home to 10% of all the wildlife species we know about. Sadly, it now seems to be front row to the effects of global warming, affecting both endangered species and vulnerable communities. Now, the community is bracing for more droughts over the next couple of weeks, which could result in more animal casualties and further hardships for the region.

More than 100 dolphins were found dead in the Amazon River over the last week amid a severe drought and record-high water temperatures.

Photo: Wilson Dias/ABr via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 BR DEED)

The conditions in which the animals were found have ignited fears that the rising global temperatures may be passing the tolerance threshold for vulnerable species.

Photo: kovgabor79/Depositphotos

“It’s still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but according to our experts, it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefé,” says Mamirauá Institute.

Photo: dennisvdwater/Depositphotos

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: Over 100 Dolphins Are Found Dead in the Amazon River Amid a Historic Drought

Photo:KAJANI/Depositphotos

The dangers of the micro and nanoplastics floating in our water are a big concern. While efficient and scalable solutions are not yet known, many researchers have begun working on ways to protect human health. A new solution, published by University of British Columbia researchers in Advanced Materials, offers a plant-based and largely organic method of filtering these tricky parts out. Using tannic acid and sawdust, the system obtained a remarkable 99.9% success in removing the particles.

The system created by the researchers uses a pump that pushes water through sawdust. They call the process bioCap. Cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin in the organic sawdust make it convenient for water to be transported through. By itself, the sawdust would remove under ten percent of microplastics in the water. However, when tannic acid was added to the sawdust, it made all the difference. This polyphenolic compound is a natural material found in plants. When it was incorporated, tests found that the system filtered 95.2% to 99.9% of all microplastics. Furthermore, the plastics removed were those believed to be most detrimental to humans—such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene (PE).

The tinniest plastics, under 110 nm, were also tested with the filter. Afterward, mice were fed filtered and unfiltered water. Those drinking the filtered water were found to possess fewer plastics in their body. “Most solutions proposed so far are costly or difficult to scale up,” Orlando Rojas, paper author, said in a statement. “We’re proposing a solution that could potentially be scaled down for home use or scaled up for municipal treatment systems. Our filter, unlike plastic filters, does not contribute to further pollution as it uses renewable and biodegradable materials: tannic acids from plants, bark, wood and leaves, and wood sawdust—a forestry byproduct that is both widely available and renewable.” This research offers a ray of hope in the continuing endeavor of removing micro and nonplastics from water so that everyone can drink safely.

A new plant-based filter removes 99% of microplastics from water, providing a potential solution to improving human health.

Photo: SUSANNEFRITZSCHE/Depositphotos

h/t: [New Atlas]

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The Turkish endemic Ferula species (left) and a similar plant on Cyrenaic coins (right). (Photo: Miski, 2021)

The ancient Greeks used many natural remedies. Among them was a golden plant that grew on long thick stalks called silphium, or silphion. The plant treated coughs and fevers, functioned as a perfume, and was even used as an aphrodisiac as well as a contraceptive. Its importance was so great that it is found embossed on the reverses of ancient Cyrenaic coins from Cyrene, an ancient Greek city in modern-day Libya. Yet, for the past two millennia, the plant has been thought extinct and lost to the annals of history. However, in 2021, a Turkish researcher announced that he discovered what could possibly be the modern version of silphium, located miles away from Cyrene in Anatolia, Turkey.

Silphium was as valuable as precious metals like gold and silver in ancient times. Writers from this period report that half a ton of the plant was even stockpiled in the treasury during Caesar's reign. The medicinal uses of the plant were prized across different Mediterranean civilizations. However, despite its worth, silphium resisted attempts to cultivate it, so it had to be expensively harvested and transported from its wild habitat in Cyrene.

By the 1st century CE, the plant was already much more elusive. Pliny the Elder wrote in Natural History that “just one stalk has been found” that century, “and it has been given to Emperor Nero.” He describes the silphium's value too: “The juice of this plant is called ‘laser’ and it is greatly in vogue for medicinal as well as other purposes, being sold at the same rate as silver. For these many years past, however, it has not been found in Cyrenaica.” The plant then vanishes from ancient texts.

While doing post-doctoral work in Turkey, Mahmut Miski of Istanbul University cataloged certain plants within the Ferula genus on Mount Hassan. This volcano in Anatolia is hundreds of miles from modern Libya where silphium was once documented. However, when Miski spotted a plant known as Ferula Drudeana, he was immediately interested. Its stalks, flowers, and leaves closely resemble the prized plant depicted on ancient coins. Meanwhile, his research showed that the modern plant brings many benefits once attributed to the ancient herb. Its compounds are cancer-fighting, contraceptive, and anti-inflammatory. Additionally, goats and sheep love to eat it, according to modern local shepherds, just like the ancient plant.

So, could Ferula Drudeana be silphium? It's possible. The modern plant has been known to researchers, but it was Miski who connected it to the ancient mystery. Silphium was not documented by ancient chroniclers in Anatolia, but the modern plants are found near where ancient Greek settlements once sat. Perhaps the plant followed its enthusiastic consumers. Like the ancient plant, Ferula Drudeana grows after heavy spring rains. But regardless of whether it is the same miraculous plant as praised by Pliny, Ferula Drudeana is certainly worth investigating for its many potential health benefits.

The plant Silphium has been thought extinct for almost two millennia, but a researcher in Turkey believes he has found its modern analog.

Comparing Ferula Drudeana with ancient coins. (Photo: Miski, 2021)

Found depicted on ancient coins and pottery, and mentioned in ancient texts, the plant was used to treat fevers, coughs, and more.

A coin depicting Magas as Ptolemaic governor, circa 300–282 or 275 BCE. (Photo: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Weighing and loading of Silphium at Cyrene.
(Photo: Wellcome Library, London via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

h/t: [Greek Reporter]

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READ: Ancient Greece’s Extinct Miracle Plant Once Used as Medicine and as a Contraceptive May Have Been Rediscovered in Turkey

 

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Brazilian stunt performer Luigi Cani is an incredible athlete. The skydiving legend has completed nearly 14,000 jumps and set 11 world records over his two-decade-long career. That would be impressive on its own, but Cani's legacy has only grown as he's used his talents to better the world. In 2022, he performed one of his most nerve-wracking stunts to date—skydiving into a deforested part of the Amazon with a box containing 100 million seeds from 27 native plants.

The goal was for Cani to open the box midair, release the seeds, and simultaneously plant 100 million plants. However, executing this vision took five years of intense planning. Nothing was easy: from obtaining the proper permits from the Brazilian government to building a biodegradable seedbox that would properly distribute the seeds.

Two months were needed to cultivate the seeds from a nearby rainforest, and in the leadup to the big jump, things were looking shaky. Three test boxes failed just days before the jump in January 2022, leaving the team scrambling to find a solution. “We stayed up all night trying to find a way to seal a leak in the box,” Cani recalls.

 

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Once the box was fixed, Cani still had to make sure that he could keep a grip on the box and release all of the seeds at the correct moment. It wasn't easy. “I struggled to hold the box. I nearly broke my wrist and fingers. I managed to stabilize myself at about 6,000 ft, and the seeds were released precisely where we wanted them to be. It was complete ecstasy.” Still, Cani calls the jump as “the only jump in my life that I held my breath the entire time.”

Luckily, it appears that all of the effort was worth it. With a germination rate of 95%, Cani's jump means that a huge part of the deforested Amazon now has a chance to thrive. Once mature, the trees could reach up to 50 meters, and Cani's team is constantly monitoring the situation by satellite. By early 2024, enough time will have passed that they'll be able to fully assess the success of the mission.

In the meantime, Cani continues to use his daredevil nature for a greater purpose. In fact, more environmental work is on the horizon, with a future jump that deals with ocean plastic. “I’ve been jumping for 25 years, and I’ve always pushed the limits with risky jumps,” he shares. “Now, I’m 51 years old, and I don’t have that drive for danger anymore. I want to do something to help. Like the seed drop, this next project will have real meaning behind it.”

In 2022, legendary stunt performer Luigi Cani skydiver into the Amazon and released 1 million seeds to fight deforestation.

 

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Luigi Cani: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Redbull]

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READ: 100 Million Seeds From Native Plants Are Released Into the Brazilian Amazon by Daring Skydiver

 

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Ocean cleanup crews provide vital labor by removing plastics and other garbage from the sea. While it may sound like an endless task, their devotion to their duty is something they should absolutely be proud of. And sometimes, cleaning up plastic pollution can be a life-saving act for marine life. Recently, a crew known as 4Ocean on an ocean cleaning mission were able to save the life of a dolphin.

In a now-viral video, the crew is seen removing trash off the coast of Bali when they spot a dolphin in distress. The animal had become ensnared in ghost nets, which are discarded fishing nets that are hard to spot by sea creatures. The poor dolphin was not only stuck, but its tail and mouth had become tangled by several yards of fishing line, tugging at its skin.

The cleanup crew knew they had to act quickly and precisely to free the dolphin. Rescued from the entanglement on the ocean surface, they quickly brought the poor creature onboard. Taking care to not hurt him any further, the team poured water on its skin and cut the net around its mouth and tail with scissors. Once freed, the team returned the dolphin to the ocean, and watched it swim away. To them, this was the dolphin's way of thanking them for giving it a second chance at life.

While this time they were fortunate to help the dolphin, it's the very same trash they work hard to remove that trapped it. As such, their labor proves to be priceless in keeping not only our oceans clean, but also safe for all creatures who call it home.

If you’d like to support 4Ocean’s mission, you can visit their webstore and check out their plastic offset programs while you’re there.

4Ocean is a team of hundreds of captains and crews whose mission is to rid the ocean of harmful pollution, of which ghost nets are deemed the deadliest.

 

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Recently, the cleaning crew was able to save a dolphin that was trapped in a ghost net off the coast of Bali.

 

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This isn’t the first time they’ve rescued marine life trapped in ocean waste, though.

 

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4Ocean's labor proves to be priceless in keeping our oceans not only clean, but also safe for all creatures who call it home. Watch the video below to learn more about them.

 

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4Ocean: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Upworthy]

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READ: Ocean Cleaning Crew Rescues and Frees a Dolphin Entangled in Ghost Nets