Ocean Conservancy Paper

Non- governmental marine based organizations aim to improve, protect and conserve the planet’s marine life and ecosystems. Two of these notable organizations are Oceana and the Ocean Conservancy. Both of these groups operate worldwide and solely base their work and focus on oceans and aquatic ecosystems. They also share one main objective out of many, to protect and improve marine biodiversity. Even though Oceana and the Ocean Research and Conservation Association share some similar aspects, they both have different approaches and differ in certain goals.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization that is mainly focused on ocean conservation with over 500,000 local activists. The group was established in 2001 by a group of leading

Based in Washington D.C., the organization was first founded by Bill Kardash in 1972. The Ocean Conservancy aims to create science-based solutions in order to attain a healthy ocean and aquatic life and ecosystem. Ocean Conservancy's four strategic priorities that reflect critical ocean conservation issues are the main focus of their efforts, this includes restoring sustainable American fisheries, protecting wildlife from human impacts, conserving special ocean places, and reforming government for better ocean stewardship (Charity Navigator). The group empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans, as well as encouraging everyday people to volunteer and donate to help reserve the planet’s

Ocean Conservancy informs and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans through research, education, and science-based advocacy (Charity Navigator). Many of the organization’s programs involve hands on action from activists in local communities along with the help of scientists, legislators, and other organizations around the world. Some notable ongoing program topics the Ocean Conservancy has pushed for is restoring the Gulf of Mexico, smart ocean planning, confronting ocean acidification, ocean climate, protecting the Arctic, sustainable fisheries, and trash free seas. The group’s most well known program is their annual International Coastal Cleanup to fight for trash free seas, collecting over 220 million pounds of trash since 1985. The International Coastal Cleanup has been going on for over 30 years, and is the world’s largest volunteer effort on behalf of keeping the ocean healthy, with over 12 million volunteers worldwide since 1985 and over 600,000 volunteers yearly. Another solution the Ocean Conservancy uses to combat trash in the oceans is by researching and sharing key details about the causes of ocean trash to the public, the scientific community, and decision makers (Ocean Conservancy). As well as working with