I have truly historic news to share with you. Today, in a video message shared at Secretary of State John Kerry’s “Our Ocean” conference, President Obama announced his plan to develop a comprehensive program aimed at combating seafood fraud and keeping illegal fish out of the U.S. market. “The President is directing Federal agencies to … Read more
Of the seven sea turtle species in the world, six nest in the United States, and all of them are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act — harmed by bycatch, marine debris, boat strikes, pollution, and many more threats. Take a look at a few simple yet important steps that you … Read more
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been busy building momentum to protect the oceans for generations to come. Next week, the U.S. Department of State will host the first “Our Ocean” conference, an event where prominent scientists, world leaders, and conservationists will converge to tackle some of the biggest threats facing the oceans … Read more
We used to think of the ocean floor as a barren desert — devoid of life and unimportant to ocean health. But as scientists explore the depths, they are discovering that the deep ocean seafloor is home to many thriving and diverse ecosystems. Fields of tube worms sway around smoking hydrothermal vents, while fields of … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating their mercury-advisory guidelines for the first time in ten years, and is taking a new approach to advising mercury consumption: encouraging informed intake rather than avoidance. In an interview with the Associated Press last month, FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced that the agency would be updating its … Read more
Seafood mislabeling and fraud occurs all over the world, but the global scope of the problem is just becoming understood now. Oceana launched its campaign to Stop Seafood Fraud in 2011 to ensure that seafood sold in the U.S. is safe, legally caught, and honestly labeled. Oceana’s campaign activities include determining the true identity of … Read more
Oceana fights for the oceans all year long, but in honor of this year’s World Oceans Day, Oceana is releasing a new public service announcement (PSA) starring Brazilian champion big-wave surfer and ocean advocate Maya Gabeira. She wants to “help the oceans catch a break” and raise awareness for the need to save this precious … Read more
I have great news about two important new campaign victories in Europe: Portugal and Spain will now protect more than 2 million square kilometers of seafloor habitat from destructive fishing gears. Just this week, Portugal took a dramatic step to protect its marine resources by prohibiting bottom trawling in more than 2 million square kilometers … Read more
April 20 marked the four-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In the process of filming a short film about the aftermath of the spill, “Drill, Spill, Repeat?” Oceana staff met George Barisich, a commercial fisherman in Louisiana. Oceana staff sat down with Barisich to discuss his struggle to … Read more
In a remarkable effort to protect its waters, the Portuguese government issued a decree prohibiting deep-sea fishing in an area spanning 2,280,000 square kilometers. Even though the decree exempts longlining, which is authorized under certain conditions, it is an immensely significant step in protecting deep-sea species and ecosystems. In total, the area now closed to … Read more
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We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.