On Tuesday, the oceans won a major victory when President Obama announced his commitment to fight seafood fraud and black market fish, as well as expand marine protected areas. Actor and Oceana board member Ted Danson and I highlighted these victories in an editorial that originally appeared on The Huffington Post. President Obama Announces Plan … Read more

Earlier this week, Oceana in Europe found that Morocco is once again using illegal driftnets in the swordfish fishery, despite an official phase-out in 2010. Photographs gathered by Oceana over the past few days show small and large vessels coordinating to capture swordfish in the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the … Read more

– On Monday, the president of the Pacific island nation Kiribati announced that he’ll ban all commercial fishing in the country’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area by 2015. Though these islands are small, they’re home to some of the most abundant coral reef archipelagos in the Pacific. Oceana marine scientist Amanda Keledjian told National Geographic that decreasing fishing here will “preserve biodiversity, large … Read more

– In a video announcement released at the Our Ocean conference today, President Obama announced that he will expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. This Monument contains some of the most pristine tropical ecosystems in the world, but is vulnerable to ocean acidification and climate change. The Associated Press – Obama also vowed … Read more

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

Currently, polar bears are listed as a “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Fortunately, these marine mammals could receive increased protection in a few short months. Last week, Norway submitted a proposal to the Convention … Read more

Known for their mallet-shaped heads, hammerhead sharks are one of the most easily recognized—and favored—shark species. Their “hammers” give them a widened-view to scan for food, and they have enhanced sensory organs that can detect electrical fields from their prey. If that doesn’t make hammerheads cool enough, they can grow to incredible sizes—reaching 20 feet … Read more

– Australia’s Queensland Government says they have fulfilled all of UNESCO’s requests to improve Great Barrier Reef health—including cutting pesticide run-off by 28 percent since 2008—and therefore, the reef doesn’t need to be added to the World Heritage Site in Danger list. They also claim that the proposed port development and dredge-spoil dumping is not … 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