12 ways to save our seas

Looking for a gift that truly makes a difference? This holiday season, give the ocean the greatest gift of all: life.

By donating on a loved one’s behalf to our League of Unlikely Ocean Heroes appeal, you can help grow baby oysters - hero species that will clean our seas and restore our shores. It’s a unique present that will spread festive cheer far and wide by supporting our conservation work to regenerate our Atlantic Coast.

When you buy your gift, you’ll also get access to editable cards for you to customise and add that special touch.

Why not brave a Boxing Day swim? It’s a fun, family-friendly way to reconnect with nature, and a perfect reminder of why clean seas matter. Every time we swim, we rely on safe, healthy waters, so let’s keep bathing water quality at the forefront of our minds this Christmas. Before you dive in, make sure to check your local water quality – winter dips fall outside the official monitoring season, and pollution risks rise during colder, wetter months. By educating yourself and others, raising awareness, and supporting our call for more frequent sampling, you can help protect our bathing waters for all to enjoy.

Visit the Wilding app to find a Bathing Water spot near you, and help spread the word about why clean, healthy seas matter for everyone.

Keep your plate ocean-friendly by making sustainable choices and cutting down on waste. Before you shop, check the latest advice on our Good Fish Guide to find the best sustainable seafood options near you.

Simple swaps, like smoked trout instead of salmon,  can make a big difference to the health of our seas. And don’t stop there: buy whole fish instead of fillets to reduce waste, and turn leftover bones or shells into a rich stock for soups, helping your food go further.

Make your festive traditions even more meaningful by giving back to the ocean. If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast, why not turn your Boxing Day walk into a family beach clean? It’s a fun, feel-good way to spend time together while making a positive impact. Not by the sea? No problem! Grab a bag and gloves and take on a Source to Sea Litter Quest in your local park, along rivers, or even your street – helping to tackle marine litter at its source.

Don’t forget to record what you find - your data is crucial. It gives us the evidence we need to push for real change to tackle beach litter and marine pollution.

Every year, 11 million tonnes of plastic pollute our seas. This holiday season, you can help turn the tide on ocean pollution by reducing your plastic consumption.

When food shopping, try to avoid items wrapped in single-use plastic, instead opt for loose fruit and veg, refillable options, or products in recyclable or compostable packaging. And don’t throw away those tubs and containers from seasonal treats - give them a second lease of life! A Celebrations tub can become a craft box, a storage container for leftovers, or even a fun planter for herbs. You can even turn repurposing into a family-friendly activity by decorating tubs with festive designs – it’s a creative way to spend time together, while reducing waste and giving old packaging a cheerful new purpose!

Festive celebrations often mean plenty of drinks, both soft or alcoholic, and with that comes a mountain of cans and bottles. This year, make sure all that waste doesn’t end up harming our seas by ensuring to recycle properly. It’s vital you check what your local council accepts and follow recycling symbols to avoid contamination. Every can and bottle recycled helps keep litter off our beaches and out of marine habitats.

Looking ahead, Deposit Return Schemes are set to launch across the UK by October 2027. Want to stay in the loop and show your support? Join our DRS Fan Club and help us reduce drinks-related litter on our beaches.

With Christmas often comes lots of cooking – but did you know some cookware could be harming our ocean? Some non-stick pans contain PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’. They can end up in our water systems and eventually our seas – and once there, they are virtually impossible to remove. These chemicals are used for their heat and stain resistance, but they persist in the environment and are toxic to marine life.

Help save our seas by switching to safer alternatives like stainless steel or cast iron pans, and avoid greaseproof baking papers where possible.

For a list of brands and products which offer PFAS-free alternatives, check out www.pfasfree.org.uk.

Many festive decorations such as tinsel, glitter and plastic baubles shed microplastics that can end up in our ocean. Instead, choose natural or reusable alternatives: garlands made from dried fruit or foliage, paper chains, recyclable wrapping paper or fabric bunting. Small swaps like these keep plastic out of our seas while adding a personal, eco-friendly touch to your celebrations.

Swap the sofa for a seaside stroll this Christmas and help protect our seas while you’re at it. Winter is prime whale-spotting season, so keep your eyes peeled for these magnificent creatures. And while peak jellyfish and turtle season has passed, you might still spot these fascinating visitors along our shores. Every sighting you report gives our scientists vital data to track marine life and understand how our ocean is changing. It’s simple: enjoy nature, walk off that Christmas pudding and make your festive break count for our seas.

Report your turtle and jellyfish sightings using our forms.

Kick off the new year with a challenge that makes waves! Whether it’s a marathon, swim, kayak, or your own unique event, whatever you choose, you’ll be helping to raise vital funds to protect our ocean for generations to come. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fundraising, and we’ve got all the ideas and resources you need to get started.

Email fundraising@mcsuk.org to find out more.

When you’re setting resolutions for the year ahead, keep the ocean in mind. Whether it’s using your volunteer day to support marine conservation, opting for more sustainable seafood choices, switching to eco-friendly cleaning products, or pledging to join a beach clean next year, every choice helps us to protect our blue planet. If everyone made just one resolution for our seas this year, imagine the collective impact we could have.

Support our mission to protect the ocean by becoming a Marine Conservation Society member – or gift a membership to someone special. Your support helps safeguard marine wildlife and habitats for generations to come, funding vital conservation work and giving you access to our exclusive, award-winning, Your Ocean magazine. Every new member receives a welcome pack to kick-start their ocean-friendly journey.