THE WAVES BELONG TO ALL OF US
THE WAVES BELONG TO ALL OF US
Our irreplaceable national network of chapter volunteers serves as the first response to local threats in coastal communities across the US. They are the boots on the ground who collaborate on both the local and national level with regional staff and issue experts to carry out our mission through campaign, program and educational initiatives in their local communities.
When we see what we love in trouble, we act. And we win.
These stages were expansive and reached neighboring countries like Spain and Switzerland. Here we outline our favorite teams of the event, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses and curiosities.
A LIST OF WHAT WE THINK ARE SOME OF THE BEST MARINE CONSERVATION NON-PROFITS.
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Happy Earth Day! As divers, it’s a given that we LOVE the ocean and all the marine life in it! But as the years go by, it’s been heartbreaking to see many famous and loved dive sites, like the Great Barrier Reef, slowly decline in health and beauty. You may find yourself asking, “is this reversible?” “What can I do to help?” There are many ways we, as divers, can help preserve and even restore these watery places that we love, it just takes a little effort; like reading our article on how to cut down on plastic. Or, follow these 5 things you can do at home to save our oceans.
BUT, PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING WE CAN DO IS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT WORKING ON BOTH A PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LEVEL TO SAVE AND PROTECT OUR OCEANS. TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHERE TO BEST PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK, WE’VE COME UP WITH THIS LIST OF WHAT WE THINK ARE SOME OF THE BEST MARINE/OCEAN CONSERVATION NON-PROFITS TO GIVE TO.
A shoal of sardines at Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Philippines. ©Steve De Neef
Our irreplaceable national network of chapter volunteers serves as the first response to local threats in coastal communities across the US. They are the boots on the ground who collaborate on both the local and national level with regional staff and issue experts to carry out our mission through campaign, program and educational initiatives in their local communities.
1. Oceana
OCEANA SEEKS TO MAKE OUR OCEANS MORE BIODIVERSE AND ABUNDANT BY WINNING POLICY VICTORIES IN THE COUNTRIES THAT GOVERN MUCH OF THE WORLD’S MARINE LIFE. THIS NON-PROFIT GETS A LOT DONE THE HARD WAY….BY CHANGING POLICY AND REGULATIONS. THEY MAKE LASTING CHANGE HAPPEN.
2. The Ocean Conservancy
THIS NON-PROFIT IS WORKING HARD TO SEE THAT THE OCEAN’S MOST EXTRAORDINARY PLACES ARE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO USE AND ENJOY. THEY USE SOUND, SCIENCE-BASED DECISIONS THAT WILL LEAD TO INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, AND STRIVE TO CREATE A HEALTHY OCEAN WHERE LIFE CONTINUES TO NURTURE AND SUSTAIN ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LIVE.
3. Sea Shephard Conservation Society
SEA SHEPHARD AIMS TO END THE DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT AND SLAUGHTER OF WILDLIFE IN THE WORLD’S OCEANS IN ORDER TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES. THEY USE INNOVATIVE DIRECT-ACTION TACTICS TO INVESTIGATE, DOCUMENT, AND TAKE ACTION WHEN NECESSARY TO EXPOSE AND CONFRONT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES ON THE HIGH SEAS. BY SAFEGUARDING THE BIODIVERSITY OF OUR DELICATELY-BALANCED OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS, SEA SHEPHERD WORKS TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
4. Coral Reef Alliance
WORKING WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD—FROM FISHERMEN TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS, DIVERS TO SCIENTISTS, CALIFORNIANS TO FIJIANS—THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE PROTECTS OUR MOST VALUABLE AND THREATENED ECOSYSTEM. WE LEAD HOLISTIC CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE CORAL REEF HEALTH AND RESILIENCE AND ARE REPLICATED ACROSS THE GLOBE.
5. Coral Restoration Foundation
THIS FOUNDATION WORKS TO RESTORE OUR CORAL REEFS, EDUCATING OTHERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR OCEANS, AND USING SCIENCE TO FURTHER RESEARCH AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES. THEY ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING OFFSHORE NURSERIES AND RESTORATION PROGRAMS FOR THREATENED CORAL SPECIES, ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE THE LEAD IN INNOVATIVE NURSERY AND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED WORLDWIDE.
6. Project AWARE Foundation
PROJECT AWARE IS A GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF SCUBA DIVERS PROTECTING OUR OCEAN PLANET – ONE DIVE AT A TIME. FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF SHARKS IN PERIL AND MARINE DEBRIS, PROJECT AWARE EMPOWERS THOUSANDS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A CLEAN, HEALTHY AND ABUNDANT OCEAN PLANET.
Marine debris is not only unsightly, it’s dangerous to sea life, hazardous to human health, and costly to our economies. Marine animals become entangled in debris, and even mistake it for food – often with fatal results. Divers, swimmers and beach goers can be directly harmed by encounters with marine debris or its toxins.
The environmental damage caused by plastic debris alone is estimated at US$13 billion a year.
