15 Brave Organisations Fighting To Save Our Oceans

The Ocean, one of the most diverse places on the earth, is under threat for a quite long time. A healthy ocean with beautiful coasts and vibrant ocean wildlife is becoming a distant dream as the days pass.

The flow of waste, including plastic and chemicals, to the seas across the world threatens the existence of several marine species, and also human beings indirectly.

According to a report, the wastage equivalent to a truckload enters into our oceans every minute, every day, all year long. In addition to these, human intervention, hunt for whales and non-eco-friendly fishing habits make the situation worse. Who is going to end this crisis and save our oceans?

Ocean pollution

Luckily, there are a number of non-profit marine conservation organisations across the world working to save our oceans, on behalf of all of us.

These organisations, through different campaigns and other activities, are involved in protecting the ocean from all such harm and also try to restore vibrant marine life. Here are 15 such organisations that are working hard to make sure that the oceans remain healthy and beautiful.

1. Ocean Conservancy

Founded in 1972, Ocean Conservancy is a Washington, D.C. based leading advocacy group working for the protection of special marine habitats, the restoration of sustainable fisheries and most importantly, for reducing the human impact on ocean ecosystems.

In order to save our oceans, the group focuses on educating the public and also advocating for policy changes for maintaining vibrant ocean wildlife. Among Ocean Conservancy’s several efforts, the International Coastal Cleanup programme- which the group has been hosting for over 30 years- brings millions of volunteers together to clean beaches across the world.

The organization was initially known as the Delta Conservancy and later the Center for Environmental Education and the Center for Marine Conservation before receiving its current name.

2. Surfrider Foundation

Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to the protection of oceans and beaches around the world. Recognising the challenges that Ocean facing from pollution, offshore development and climate change, the California-based group acts on issues such as water quality, plastic pollution, beach access, coastal preservation and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.

According to the group, its volunteers test the ocean waters all year long in order to make sure that the public is educated on their local water quality. Further, under its Ocean Friendly Gardens program, they also make beautiful landscapes that collect runoff before it reaches the ocean.

3. Oceana

Oceana is another Washington D.C based ocean conservation and advocacy organisation committed to save and restore oceans through targeted policy campaigns. Founded in 2001, Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization exclusively working for the conservation of the ocean.

The organisation carries out targeted campaigns to prevent the collapse of fish populations, marine mammals and other damages to sea life resulted from industrial fishing and pollution. As part of its campaigns, Oceana is involved in efforts to end major sources of ocean pollution such as oil, mercury, aquaculture and shipping emissions. In addition, the organisation also campaigns for the protection of vulnerable places in the oceans, including the Arctic, the Aleutian Islands, the Mediterranean and Chile’s Juan Fernandez Islands, among others.

4. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Known for obstructing Japanese whaling activities in the Southern Ocean since 2005, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a Washington-based marine conservation organization with direct action tactics to save the oceans.  Founded by Paul Watson, a former member of Greenpeace, in 1977, under the name Earth Force Society, the organization is involved in a number of “controversial activities” to protect the ocean and marine life. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society carries out operations that involve direct, non-lethal tactics including scuttling and disabling whaling vessels, intervening in seal hunts and throwing bottles of foul-smelling butyric acid onto whaling vessels at sea, among others. As a response to the organisations’ effort, the Japanese government has called Sea Shepherd eco-terrorists for impeding their research.

ocean pollution

5. Take 3

Take 3- A Clean Beach Initiative is an Australia based non-profit organisation focussing on the reduction of plastic pollution in the oceans and beaches. As educating people on the risks of marine plastic pollution, the organisation encourages beach-goers to take just three pieces of rubbish before leaving the beach and places near any waterways or bodies. As millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year, this initiative believes in turning small efforts into big results to protect our oceans from plastic pollution.

6. Green Peace

The Green Peace organization, the most successful organization working in the area of oceans, works towards several issues pertaining to the marine environment.  With its vast networks across the world, the organisation argues big corporations to act to reduce their plastic footprint to end the flow of plastic into our oceans. In addition, Green Peace is also engaged in addressing unsustainable industrial fishing practices, climate change and ocean acidification.

7. The 5 Gyres Institute

Co-founded by husband-and-wife duo Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins, The 5 Gyres Institute is a non-profit organization that works for cutting plastics pollution through giving focus on primary research. The organisation says it fights against pollution through science, art, education, and adventure. As a result of their efforts, the organisations in 2015 could successfully help impose a ban on plastic microbeads used in skincare and cosmetic products in the United States.

8. Oceanic Preservation Society

The Colorado-based Oceanic Preservation Society focuses on promoting marine conservation and environmentalism. Founded by photographer and diving enthusiast Louie Psihoyos in 2005, the organisation was received attention for making the award-winning documentary, “The Cove.”  The documentary created in 2009 was an eye-opener to the horrors of the annual Taiji dolphin hunt.

9. The Environmental Defense Fund

The US-based Environmental Defense Fund or EDF is known for its works in the area of global warming, ecosystem restoration and oceans. In addition to working with fishing communities to offer transitional and financial support, the organisation’s goals include the curbing of overfishing and also begin sustainable fishing models in several countries.

10. RicO’Barry’s Dolphin Project

Richard (Ric) O’Barry, who founded the project in 1982, is a person who has worked both within the dolphin captivity industry, and against it. RicO’Barry had trained five dolphins that were used in the TV series called Flipper. However, O’Barry transitioned from training to advocating against the captivity of dolphins after one of the Flipper dolphins died in his arms. O’Barry, who believes Kathy committed suicide, under this initiative, campaigning against Japan’s cruel cetacean hunts and also for halting the Solomon Islands dolphin trade. He has also rescued and rehabilitated dolphins in many countries around the world.

11. Pretoma

Costa Rica-based Pretoma is a marine preservation group that makes voices against the country’s role in the international shark fin trade. The International Shark Foundation has listed over two hundred shark species as endangered and Costa Rica has become a focal point for this cruel trade. The organisation also carries out research to help protect ocean resources and to encourage sustainable fisheries policies in the country and Central America. As part of their efforts, Pretoma organises year-round public awareness marine conservation campaigns as well as education programs in educational institutions in the country.

12. Natural Resources Defense Council

New York City-based Natural Resources Defense Council is a non-profit international environmental advocacy group that works to protect the oceans from pollution and exploitation. The organisation supports the implementation of laws that help to save marine life including allowing overfished species to rebound. In addition, the council takes necessary efforts to preserve ocean treasures, prevent destructive fishing practices and protect coastal communities from offshore drilling, among others.

13. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The US-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a nonprofit research and higher education facility carrying out studies of all aspects of marine science and engineering. The institution, which houses scientists and engineers, works for resolving some of the significant problems currently being faced by our oceans. The organisation is also involved in delivering unbiased information to help inform public policy, and also increasing awareness among people about the importance of protecting oceanic resources.

14. Blue Frontier Campaign

With a network of grassroots individual citizen activists, the Blue Frontier Campaign works towards the improvement of ocean policies in the 23 coastal states of the United States. According to Blue Frontier Campaign, the mission of the initiative is to construct the solution-oriented citizen engagement required to save our ocean, coasts and communities. The initiative conducts regional meetings, public education campaigns and publishes books to achieve its goal.  The campaign was founded by award-winning author and journalist David Helvarg in 2003.

15. Bahamas Plastic Movement

Founded by Bahamas-native Kristal Ambrose, the Bahamas Plastic Movement’s goal is to make the region free of plastic debris using research, education, citizen science, and policy change. The mission of the movement is to build a community of education and activism around plastic pollution. Launched in 2014, the movement conducts plastic education campus encourages people to join the programme by adopting a beach etc.

Additional mention:

Project AWARE

Project AWARE is a non-profit organisation working with a team of volunteer scuba divers with a core focus on Shark Conservation and Marine Litter.

SeaLegacy

Sealegacy is a non-profit organisation formed by a group of experienced and renowned photographers, filmmakers, and storytellers who work towards making the oceans healthy and abundant.

Over to you..

Do you know any other great organisations that should be added to this list?

Let’s know in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

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16 Comments

  1. The African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) is another one. Here is a link: https://www.afmesi.org
    The organization is doing very important work around Africa. It’s office is also situated within the region.

  2. There is another Ocean conservation educational initiative taken up by a 7 years old from Minnesota (Aeon for Ocean – http://www.aeonforocean.org). In first quarter since the birth of the organization, it presented the awareness to more than 250 youngers in several educational institutes. Also hosting various events to spread the knowledge on what we can do to save our oceans while living away from oceans.

  3. Hi there,

    I would like to suggest/add the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. It’s the largest reef on the planet which is facinf several threats.

    I also would like to suggest/add Save the Sharks. Yearly 110 million! sharks are killed! It doesn’t need any more explanation

  4. Hi there!.. I love ocean, seas and beaches…I am a simple man from the Philippines and I want to help conserve this beautiful natures… How can I connect to this organisation that the purpose is they same..

  5. The Inland Ocean Coalition unites inland communities who are passionate about a healthy ocean, but don’t live on the coast, in land-to-sea stewardship. Started in Colorado, we now have chapters around the country. https://inlandoceancoalition.org/

  6. Have any of these groups looked into trash barges that take trash from large cities down river and out to sea and places unknown to dump and return empty? Also, do all cruise ships bring trash to shore to be processed or is it weighed down and dumped at sea? Islands have limited land fill areas. Where does their trash go?

  7. Hey guys
    Seaside Scavenge is doing some wonderful work not only in Australia but also in the UK and South Africa. They organise beach clean ups where participants trade the litter they pick up for goods donated by the local community. https://www.seasidescavenge.org/
    Just for full disclosure, I volunteer with Seaside Scavenge here in Sydney; they are a really great non-profit.
    Best
    -R

  8. hi, just to say i dont see a listing for BLUE SEAS PROTECTION register marine charity 1189529

  9. We are trying to motivate and organize a group to do beach clean ups and environmental protection programs in schools and local communities within the islands of fiji.
    Looking for companies that would be willing to donate so we can promote our goals for better tomorrow.
    keepfijigreen.com
    Or keepfijigreen@gmail.com

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