Planning your first visit to Sointula? Or have you already fallen in love with our unique and beautiful island? Either way, you probably know that our natural resources and stunning landscapes are a big part of what inspires people to visit. But like many areas that are still home to unspoiled wilderness and plenty of wildlife, our island, and its surrounding wilderness has seen the impact of pollution and urban growth in recent decades.
During your visit to Sointula, you can do your part to protect our natural beauty by doing simple things like packing out your trash while hiking and avoiding creating your own trails, which can damage plant and animal life. But what about when you return home from your next trip? Why not get inspired to do your part at home to protect ours and other natural landscapes?
Making eco-friendly choices throughout the year is a great way to do your part to protect our natural world and resources, and a fun way for you and your family to look forward to your next visit. Keep reading to learn a few simple ways to make eco-friendly choices in 2022.
Know Where Your Fish Comes From
When you eventually run out of the frozen fish that you caught yourself during your stay at a British Columbia fishing lodge, take the time to learn how to purchase fish from your local grocery store in a way that’s sustainable and eco-friendly.
Shopping for sustainable fish is all about knowing where your fish is coming from. It’s also important to know how it was caught or raised. Some fishing and fish farming methods threaten endangered species and impact ocean ecosystems. Overfishing by commercial fishing operations is causing a severe decline in some wild fish populations. And even fish farming operations can wreak havoc on wild fish and other wildlife in the area when they aren’t properly managed.
Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you have to wait until your next visit to Sointula to catch some more fish. Instead, you can use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide. This resource will help you learn how to properly pick fish from your local grocery store. On their website, they offer an easily-searchable resource. You can use it to check out specific fish species before you buy. Learn which fish are good to purchase and which to avoid. The guide will also help you to decide whether to look for farm-raised or wild-caught fish of that species.
Of course, planning an annual visit to a British Columbia fishing lodge like Sointula Lodge is a great way to restock your freezer with fresh-caught salmon, halibut, and more!
Learn How to Recycle the Right Way
Every year, 14 million tons of plastic end up in our world’s oceans. Using recycling bins in your home and while out in public is a great way to prevent plastic, paper, and other recyclables from winding up in oceans. But what many people don’t realize is that much of the plastic and other waste that’s placed in recycling bins never gets a chance to be recycled.
One big reason for this? Many people don’t know the exact rules of what can and can’t be recycled. For instance, it’s easy to assume that plastic shopping bags can be placed in a recycle bin alongside your empty plastic water bottle. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
Plastic shopping bags are sometimes referred to as “tanglers” by recycling centers because they can get caught in the machines used to crush and compact recyclables. Often, when other recyclables are placed in plastic bags and then placed in a bin, the entire bag has to be thrown away instead. There are places that specifically accept plastic bags to be recycled. However, make sure that you don’t toss these in with your other recyclables; instead, look for a commercial recycling facility that accepts them, or check your local grocery store to see if they accept bags. Better yet, bring reusable bags with you to the store to avoid needing plastic bags.
Other rules to know include not recycling anything smaller than a credit card, emptying and drying out plastic bottles and containers, and avoiding recycling plastic-coated paper cups and containers.
Rethink Your Travel Destination
Thinking about booking your annual beach vacation at a chain resort? Consider the footprint that these types of businesses have on the environment first. Many use industrial-sized washers and dryers. They toss dozens of pounds of wasted food from breakfast buffets each day. Many waste thousands of mini bottles of soap and shampoo that are tossed in the trash half-used. Often, these resorts and vacation destinations are more focused on profits than on their impact on the environment.
Smaller, family-owned hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals, especially in a beautiful destination like Sointula, are often a far more eco-friendly choice for your next vacation. The owners often live locally and are passionate about protecting the island and its surroundings. As a result, most take measures to ensure that they are reducing their impact on the environment.
Planning Your Next Visit to Eco-Friendly Sointula
These tips are a great way to reduce your impact on the environment in the new year. Put them to use and help you and your family look forward to your next British Columbia adventure.
Ready to start planning your own eco-friendly visit to Sointula? Check out our planning guide to get started today!