While some choose not to shave this month, the Mystic Aquarium is hoping people choose not to use one time use plastic straws.
“No Straw November” is now a national movement to try to keep plastics out of the oceans and locally out of Long Island Sound.
A new exhibit at Mystic Aquarium lets kids learn all about the Sound.
“It looks just like the Long Island Sound habitats,” said MaryEllen Mateleska, the Director of Education and Conservation at the aquarium.
She has some alarming statistics.
“80 percent of sea birds have ingested plastics,” said Mateleska.
That’s why Mystic is joining 22 other aquariums nationwide in promoting ‘No Straw November.’
“Some studies show that there’s going to be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2025,” said Mateleska.
She says coastal cleanups in Long Island Sound show the problem is here.
“Of the top ten things found in Connecticut for clean ups at least 8 of those are plastic materials,” explained Mateleska.
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The aquarium says people can make a difference like use metal, silicone, or paper straws if you have to use one. You can also text Mystic to 49767 for more tips and go online or to the kiosk at the ‘Discover Long Island Sound’ exhibit and take a pledge to ‘Skip the Straw.’
“Just by saying no to something like a straw it helps you to realize how much you use plastic everyday,” said Mateleska.
Already shoreline towns like Waterford and Stonington are considering bans on plastic bags.
And local restaurants like Grass & Bone in Mystic are choosing paper over one time use plastic straws.
“This is studies that are just starting up in Long Island Sound plastic starts degrading into micro plastics so they never completely disappear we just can’t see them,” said Mateleska.
She says they may end up in the seafood we eat.
