Panama announced a bold commitment to reduce plastic pollution during the 8th annual Our Ocean conference in Panama City. The new measures will stop more than 160,000 tons of plastic that is imported and consumed in the country each year, according to the government. Panama plans to eliminate single-use plastic items including utensils and cups in three years. In five years, the country will reduce the import and consumption of plastic packaging by 30%, including plastic foam food containers. In seven years, Panama will reduce the import of virgin plastic by at least 20%, and, in no later than 10 years from now, it will reduce the sale and import of both single-use plastic and virgin plastic by 50%. Oceana was instrumental in achieving this commitment and advised Panamanian officials on effective measures to reduce single-use plastics at the source.
Panama announced a bold commitment to reduce plastic pollution during the 8th annual Our Ocean conference in Panama City. The new measures will stop more than 160,000 tons of plastic that is imported and consumed in the country each year, according to the government. Panama plans to eliminate single-use plastic items including utensils and cups in three years. In five years, the country will reduce the import and consumption of plastic packaging by 30%, including plastic foam food containers. In seven years, Panama will reduce the import of virgin plastic by at least 20%, and, in no later than 10 years from now, it will reduce the sale and import of both single-use plastic and virgin plastic by 50%. Oceana was instrumental in achieving this commitment and advised Panamanian officials on effective measures to reduce single-use plastics at the source.
February, 2023
President Biden Signs Legislation to Prohibit Destructive Swordfish Drift Gillnets in all U.S. Waters
Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, New York City lawmakers passed a bill requiring that restaurants, food delivery apps, and online delivery platforms only provide certain single-use items — including plastic utensils and condiment packets — if requested by the customer. Single-use plastic foodware, including utensils, is a significant source of plastic waste in New York City — the largest city in the U.S. A 2022 Oceana poll found that 83% of registered New York state voters are concerned about the amount of plastic items used in food delivery and takeout, and 88% support local and state policies to reduce single-use plastic. Plastic is one of the greatest contributors to climate change and is entering the ocean at an alarming rate. Scientists estimate that 33 billion pounds of plastic wash into the ocean every year.
Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, New York City lawmakers passed a bill requiring that restaurants, food delivery apps, and online delivery platforms only provide certain single-use items — including plastic utensils and condiment packets — if requested by the customer. Single-use plastic foodware, including utensils, is a significant source of plastic waste in New York City — the largest city in the U.S. A 2022 Oceana poll found that 83% of registered New York state voters are concerned about the amount of plastic items used in food delivery and takeout, and 88% support local and state policies to reduce single-use plastic. Plastic is one of the greatest contributors to climate change and is entering the ocean at an alarming rate. Scientists estimate that 33 billion pounds of plastic wash into the ocean every year.
January, 2023
Chile Rejects Dominga Mining Project, Protects Marine Life
Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, Chile’s Ministers Committee unanimously rejected the Dominga port mining project, which threatened one of the world’s largest biodiversity hotspots, the Humboldt Archipelago. The project would encroach on an important feeding area for species including blue whales, fin whales, sea lions, bottle-nosed dolphins, sea otters, and sea birds, many of which are classified as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This area is also home to the majority of the world’s vulnerable Humboldt penguin population. Dominga would put the area’s ecosystems and economic activities, including tourism and artisanal fishing, at risk. The Ministers Committee previously rejected the Dominga project in 2017. Yet again, the company behind Dominga, Andes Iron, says it will appeal the decision. Oceana is campaigning for the creation of a marine protected area to prohibit all future industrial projects in this area.
Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, Chile’s Ministers Committee unanimously rejected the Dominga port mining project, which threatened one of the world’s largest biodiversity hotspots, the Humboldt Archipelago. The project would encroach on an important feeding area for species including blue whales, fin whales, sea lions, bottle-nosed dolphins, sea otters, and sea birds, many of which are classified as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This area is also home to the majority of the world’s vulnerable Humboldt penguin population. Dominga would put the area’s ecosystems and economic activities, including tourism and artisanal fishing, at risk. The Ministers Committee previously rejected the Dominga project in 2017. Yet again, the company behind Dominga, Andes Iron, says it will appeal the decision. Oceana is campaigning for the creation of a marine protected area to prohibit all future industrial projects in this area.
December, 2022
United States Protects Whales, Dolphins, Sea Turtles from Deadly Drift Gillnets
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, the United States will end the use of the large-mesh drift gillnets in its federal waters. These are mile-long, nearly invisible nets set overnight to capture swordfish. In the U.S., large mesh drift gillnets are currently only in use off the coast of California, where they entangle, injure, and kill thousands of other ocean animals each year including whales, dolphins, sea lions, endangered sea turtles, sharks, and other important fish species. This victory follows the completion of a multi-year voluntary transition program in California to compensate swordfish drift gillnet fishermen for turning in their permits and nets. The program, which was partially funded by Oceana, also incentivizes the use of more selective gear, such as deep-set buoy gear, to catch swordfish. As a result, roughly 50 miles of large-mesh drift gillnets have now been removed permanently from the ocean. The new law aligns state and federal policy to ban the use of this indiscriminate gear in all U.S. waters, and all remaining federal permits will be phased out over the next five years.
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, the United States will end the use of the large-mesh drift gillnets in its federal waters. These are mile-long, nearly invisible nets set overnight to capture swordfish. In the U.S., large mesh drift gillnets are currently only in use off the coast of California, where they entangle, injure, and kill thousands of other ocean animals each year including whales, dolphins, sea lions, endangered sea turtles, sharks, and other important fish species. This victory follows the completion of a multi-year voluntary transition program in California to compensate swordfish drift gillnet fishermen for turning in their permits and nets. The program, which was partially funded by Oceana, also incentivizes the use of more selective gear, such as deep-set buoy gear, to catch swordfish. As a result, roughly 50 miles of large-mesh drift gillnets have now been removed permanently from the ocean. The new law aligns state and federal policy to ban the use of this indiscriminate gear in all U.S. waters, and all remaining federal permits will be phased out over the next five years.
December, 2022
Shark Fin Trade Banned in the United States
The United States Congress passed a law to ban the buying and selling of shark fins, following significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies. This victory officially removes the U.S. from the unsustainable global shark fin trade, where fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up each year. Just as rhino and elephant populations have declined due to the demand for their horns and tusks, the shark fin trade is jeopardizing the continued survival of many shark species. Global oceanic shark and ray populations have declined by more than 70% over the last 50 years, with overfishing as the primary cause. Oceanic whitetip sharks, great hammerheads, and scalloped hammerheads have declined globally to critically endangered levels according to the IUCN. The demand for shark fins incentivizes overfishing and shark finning, which the U.S. has banned for years, the cruel and wasteful practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and throwing its body back overboard where it drowns, starves to death, or is eaten alive by other fish. By making it illegal to buy or sell shark fins in the U.S., Oceana and our allies helped bring the world one step closer to ending the devastating global shark fin trade.
The United States Congress passed a law to ban the buying and selling of shark fins, following significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies. This victory officially removes the U.S. from the unsustainable global shark fin trade, where fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up each year. Just as rhino and elephant populations have declined due to the demand for their horns and tusks, the shark fin trade is jeopardizing the continued survival of many shark species. Global oceanic shark and ray populations have declined by more than 70% over the last 50 years, with overfishing as the primary cause. Oceanic whitetip sharks, great hammerheads, and scalloped hammerheads have declined globally to critically endangered levels according to the IUCN. The demand for shark fins incentivizes overfishing and shark finning, which the U.S. has banned for years, the cruel and wasteful practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and throwing its body back overboard where it drowns, starves to death, or is eaten alive by other fish. By making it illegal to buy or sell shark fins in the U.S., Oceana and our allies helped bring the world one step closer to ending the devastating global shark fin trade.
December, 2022
Two Largest Cities in US State of California Ban Plastic Foam
San Diego and Los Angeles, the two largest cities in the U.S. state of California, banned expanded polystyrene, the plastic foam often used to produce single-use cups, plates, and other foodware, following campaigning by Oceana and its allies. Because of its brittle texture, expanded polystyrene easily breaks up into tiny pieces that quickly disperse into the environment and can be mistaken for food by animals. Retailers and restaurants in both cities will be prohibited from distributing or selling plastic-foam foodware and other expanded polystyrene products. Both cities also instituted additional measures to cut down on plastic: The Los Angeles City Council expanded the city’s single-use plastic bag ban and instructed all city departments to develop zero-waste plans for city buildings and events, while the San Diego City Council made utensils and straws available to customers by request only.
San Diego and Los Angeles, the two largest cities in the U.S. state of California, banned expanded polystyrene, the plastic foam often used to produce single-use cups, plates, and other foodware, following campaigning by Oceana and its allies. Because of its brittle texture, expanded polystyrene easily breaks up into tiny pieces that quickly disperse into the environment and can be mistaken for food by animals. Retailers and restaurants in both cities will be prohibited from distributing or selling plastic-foam foodware and other expanded polystyrene products. Both cities also instituted additional measures to cut down on plastic: The Los Angeles City Council expanded the city’s single-use plastic bag ban and instructed all city departments to develop zero-waste plans for city buildings and events, while the San Diego City Council made utensils and straws available to customers by request only.
