This image courtesy of Luca. Header Image by Sam Farkas / NOAA OAR Photo Contest 2014.

When picturing an eight year-old, the image of an organizer, activist, and educator is not typically the first thing that comes to mind. But Ocean Uprise ambassador Luca has already become all this and more – sharing his love for the oceans with fellow kids and adults alike.

Even at such a young age, Luca has become inspired by the plight of the oceans, and has not been afraid to share that with the world. He is also no stranger to the weight that these issues carry. The documentary Albatross which shows firsthand the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on seabirds and marine life is something Luca watched at just six years old. From there, he began his deep dive into the world of ocean activism.

“I’ve loved animals since I was really young,” he explains. “To protect all the animals including the ones on land, we need to protect the ocean first. The phytoplankton in the ocean are so important to all life in the ocean and on land so if we protect them we protect everything.”

Luca often brings up his favorite ocean animal – the manatee. It’s easy to see how his love for manatees also helped kickstart his ocean journey. In Boca Raton, Luca is growing up a witness to the alarming decline in Florida’s manatee numbers. It’s often overwhelming to think of all the damage being done to our oceans and marine life, but it’s clear that Luca puts a massive amount of effort into protecting the natural environment in his community. Each time he visits the beach, Luca fills up his bucket with plastic and other marine debris. He creates bracelets from this debris and sells them – along with other items – at fundraisers for different marine protection causes.

**Image by David Gross / Ocean Image Bank**

Luca has a very defined sense of self and understands ocean issues with a level of complexity unique for someone his age. Like most people, Luca was shocked when he finally came to understand how much plastic exists in our oceans. He understands that all of our environmental problems are so interconnected, and that it feels impossible to just choose one. Luca so eloquently shares that solving one problem is great, but once we solve one, we have to keep pushing forward to take on the issues that follow. Simply put: there’s always more to fix.

Asked about what “ocean superhero” power he would love to have, his answer is revealing: “Being able to dive deep into places like the Mariana Trench and get all the plastic that humans can’t reach!”

Along with support from his mom Natalie, Luca recently did a fundraiser for the Parley Global Cleanup Network at an outdoor community market, and raised over $700 in just four hours. As his journey progresses, Luca actively seeks knowledge and experience. He participates in the Ocean Uprise Virtual Talk series alongside peers at least twice his age. He has also shared his hopes to one day become a marine biologist. Luca has already done so much for the oceans – who knows what he’ll be up to by the time he reaches double digits!

To end our chat, we asked Luca if he had the chance to share one message with the entire world, what would it be? His answer is simple:

“Stop using plastic!”