The earth will have to make one trip around the sun before you can attend the Tortuga Music Festival, but you don’t have to wait to save our oceans. Rock the Ocean; a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “increase public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans” hosts the biggest oceanfront music experience every April.
The Tortuga Music Festival draws country, rock and roots fans together for a weekend of fun in the sun on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Attendees get to experience talented artists like Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Flo Rida and the Whailers at one of the most popular concert venues while also learning about ways to help conserve our ocean’s resources. During the festival, concertgoers can visit the Conservation Village and obtain information from over thirty organizations that strive towards ocean conservation. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the festival go back to fund the efforts of the partners who participate onsite to ensure that they can continue their great works. In fact, the Tortuga Music Festival has already donated 1.2 million dollars to ocean conservation since its inception in 2012. www.tortugamusicfestival.com
Rock the Ocean’s slogan is, “We’re not trying to save the whole world… just ¾ of it.” Did you know that about 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in water? Rock the Ocean focuses on five core issues of ocean conservation: Over fishing, shark conservation, coral reef preservation, marine pollution and turtle conservation
Over Fishing
Imagine visiting your favorite restaurant and not seeing fish on the menu. That is the harsh reality of over fishing. We cannot keep taking from the ocean faster than it can produce. If we continue to remove fish from the ocean at such a rapid rate, fish could be taken off the menu by 2048. As consumers, we must make educated decisions to sustain our fish population.
Shark Conservation
As someone who has been intrigued with sharks since childhood, this particular cause is near and dear to my heart. The truth is, that many sharks are endangered and future generations might never get to experience these majestic creatures unless we intervene. A horrifying 100 million sharks are murdered each year at the hands of greedy fisherman who seek to profit from shark fin soup and shark liver oil. Since sharks reproduce at a slow rate, a shocking 64 species have been added to the endangered list to date.
Coral Reef Preservation
Degradation, pollution, over fishing, bleaching and invasive species all pose threats to coral reefs. Coral reefs are not only beautiful underwater landscapes to marvel at, but are incredibly vital to the ecosystem. Two simple ways that you can help are by not anchoring your boat on a reef and not touching the reef during a dive.
Marine Pollution
An astonishing 1.4 billion pounds of trash is dumped into our ocean yearly. This debris drastically changes the ecosystem and kills marine life. One of the main culprits is plastic. Did you know that a plastic bag can take up to 450 years to break down? Since it doesn’t break down, it is often found in breathing passages and stomachs of sharks, whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life.
Turtle Conservation
Habitat destruction, poor fishing practices, illegal poaching, pollution and artificial lighting pose challenges to sea turtle hatchling survival. Dimming beachfront lighting, protecting nesting sites and educating the public on responsible boating practices are just a few small ways to protect sea turtles.
Now in its seventh year, The Tortuga Music Festival has established itself as the ultimate beach party for a good cause. With over 30,000 attendees flocking to the beach from all over the nation as well as internationally, imagine the impact each person could have on supporting the mission to conserve our oceans. The theme for 2019 was “What are you doing to rock the ocean?” Now, that the music has stopped and the sand has been dusted off, how will you make a difference to help protect this essential resource? Learn more at: https://www.rocktheocean.com
See y’all on the beach in 2020.
