Identifying Risks in Coastal Areas: Unveiling Dangers Beyond Litter
In the world where our oceans face numerous challenges, a new tool is helping to combat these issues: the Save The Waves App. This innovative application, managed by Diego Sancho Gallegos, is a powerful resource for surfers, shoreline lovers, and anyone concerned about the health of our coastlines.
Water quality issues can be easily identified by strange smells, discoloration, dead fish, visible runoff or sewage, and can affect both marine and human health. With the Save The Waves App, users can report water quality concerns during their beach trips, making them ocean stewards and contributing to the coalition's mission. These reports send out immediate alerts and can lead to action being taken, ensuring beachgoers are informed about periods of increased pollution.
Coral reef impacts, such as bleached corals, broken reef structures, or damaged marine life, can affect the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by coral reefs. The Save The Waves App allows users to report coral reef impacts, providing vital data for scientists and activists working to protect these vital ecosystems.
Sea level rise and erosion are other pressing concerns, causing displacement and habitat destruction. Users can report signs of sea level rise, such as flooded access paths, crumbling cliffs, and exposed roots, through the app, helping to monitor and address these issues.
The City of Gold Coast has also taken steps to improve water quality, releasing a recreational water quality platform that monitors water quality data in real time at 25 popular swimming locations on the coast. Following big storms, regular testing and public health alerts are now issued to alert beachgoers about increased pollution.
The Save The Waves App is more than just a reporting tool; it's a platform for community engagement and citizen science. Kassia Meador, another pro surfer, highlights the unique perspective surfers have in observing coastal changes due to their close relationship with the sea. The app empowers surfers, kayakers, and coastal users to become citizen scientists, stewards, and advocates for coastal communities.
The Save The Waves App addresses three Ocean Decade Challenges: Understand and beat marine pollution, Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity, and Restore humanity's relationship with the ocean. By reporting threats on the app, users can help the Save The Waves Coalition achieve its goal of protecting 1,000 surf ecosystems by 2030.
Plastic trash and marine debris can harm animals by being ingested or causing entanglements. Access issues, such as locked gates, blocked trails, "No Trespassing" signs, and trails being blocked by floods or unlawful obstructions, can affect everyone's ability to connect with the coast. The app allows users to report these issues, contributing to the protection and resilience of coastal ecosystems.
The Save The Waves App is a significant contribution to coastal conservation, facilitating both data-driven conservation and community empowerment. It demonstrates how accessible technology can empower local communities to participate in restoration and conservation efforts. By becoming ocean stewards through the Save The Waves App, users can make a real difference in protecting our coastlines and oceans.
For more information about the Save The Waves Coalition and the Save The Waves App, visit their official website or read GenOcean stories about the coalition on their webpage. The Save The Waves campaign is also an official Ocean Decade campaign, focusing on youth and citizen science opportunities to help protect the ocean. Hannah Bennett, a pro surfer and Save The Waves Ambassador, emphasizes the importance of protecting the ocean as it is their livelihood and a place they love. Together, let's save our waves and protect our oceans.
- The Save The Waves App is a valuable resource for those concerned about climate-change and its effects on our oceans, especially pertaining to water quality issues and coral reef impacts.
- In addition to reporting threats, the Save The Waves App serves as a platform for personal-growth and community engagement in environmental-science, promoting citizen science and sustainable-living.
- The app's data can help scientists and activists tackle pressing concerns such as sea level rise, plastic trash, and marine debris, contributing to the coalition's mission of protecting 1,000 surf ecosystems by 2030.
- By utilizing smartphone technology and gadgets, users can become environmentally conscious and take action against marine pollution, restoring humanity's relationship with the ocean.
- With the Save The Waves App, lifestyle choices and education-and-self-development can promote a more sustainable world, leveraging technology to foster positive changes for our home-and-garden - the planet we all share.
