Reflection

I am personally affected by climate change because I live close to the beach. When I go to the beach, my sister and I like to collect blue crabs on the banks of Little River in Dartmouth, MA. When I was playing with the beach crabs I noticed there was trash on the beach and I worried about my little sandy friends. Blue crabs are affected by pollution and the changes in climate. They can be affected when the water changes it’s salinity and temperature. Even though crabs are usually robust, the ratio of salt to the water affects the crab's ability to reproduce successfully. It is estimated that the overall number of blue crabs is down from the 323 million estimated in 2023 and it dropped to 179 million in 2024. I may not be able to control the ocean’s salt levels but I am able to keep my little part of the coast clean. I made my ocean awareness project with trash I cleaned up at the beach. It took 3 weeks to collect enough trash from the beach where I love to spend time with my family. While working on this project I have reflected on climate change and how pollution can affect the beaches and the other places in nature that I go.