SOFIA DAIGLE
IN PAPERBACK & KINDLE
Sadie Saves the Sea
It was almost Sadie the sea turtle's birthday, and she was super excited to invite all of her friends to her big party. But will plastic ocean pollution ruin Sadie's special day? Dive in with Sadie to learn how plastic ocean pollution affects marine life, and what you can do to help!
About this book
Sadie Saves the Sea was written as a Girl Scout Gold Award project made in coordination with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to support their efforts in the protection of marine life and the prevention of ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic Facts
• Plastics in the environment never fully decompose. Instead, they break down into smaller and smaller pieces – eventually into microplastics – that remain in the environment.
• An estimated 9 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year.
• A plastic grocery store bag has been found at the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in any ocean.
• By the year 2050, by weight, there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
• A study found that 267 species worldwide – including 44 percent of sea birds and 43 percent of marine mammal species – are impacted by marine debris.
• Sea turtles are known to swallow plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish.
• NOAA estimates that plastic in our oceans kills at least 1 million seabirds and 100,000 mammals each year.
Learn more about ocean plastic pollution at noaa.gov
Source: The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Learn more about the Maritime Aquarium’s Single-Use Plastics Initiative.
In the News
ABC News
The ocean plastics problem isn't going away, but you can help
MBARI
New study finds microplastic throughout Monterey Bay
EcoWatch
UN Hopes to Reduce Ocean Plastic Waste Within Five Years
“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”
— Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
How You Can Help
1. Avoid single-use plastics.
For example, use reusable containers, water bottles, shopping bags, and straws instead of single-use plastic ones!
2. Recycle the plastics that you do use.
If you see a recycling symbol on an item, remember to properly recycle it so that it can be turned into something new!
3. Don’t litter!
No matter how far away you are from the ocean, your plastic litter may still end up there, and marine life could become entangled in it or mistake it for food.
4. Share your new knowledge.
Tell your friends and family about plastic ocean pollution. The more people who know, the faster this problem can be solved!
About the Author
Sofia Daigle is a student at Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Connecticut. As a Girl Scout since kindergarten, the Gold Award was always something she wanted to accomplish. She developed a great love for the ocean and marine life while spending summers in Goose Rocks Beach, Maine. In the summer of 2018, she traveled to Alaska with the Maritime Aquarium where she witnessed and learned about sea lions, sea otters, porpoise, whales, and other marine animals. This trip further sparked her interest in marine biology and the issue of plastic ocean pollution.
She decided to address this pressing issue with her Gold Award, combining her love of writing and illustrating with her passion for the ocean. She has read her book, Sadie Saves the Sea, at local elementary schools and paperback copies have been donated to schools and other youth organizations in Connecticut. With her book, Sofia hopes to educate children about the issue of plastic ocean pollution and inspire them to take action in their own lives.