Paradise means different things to different people, but to many, like myself, paradise means the oceans and beaches of the world. They don’t have to be tropical beaches with azure waters and palm trees; rocky coasts with redwoods in the background work just as well. And, as with other environments in this day and age, the oceans and beaches of the world are in need of help. From plastic pollution, to over fishing and illegal fishing, to warming waters and ocean acidification, there is a lot to do in reversing these problems and getting on a better path to the future of the oceans and beaches. And, with that in mind fellow travelers and ocean lovers…
There are so many amazing organizations working to help the world’s oceans and the sea creatures that live in them. A comprehensive list would take, well, weeks I would think. From saving ocean creatures to re-establishing eco systems, there is something for everyone to learn about, get excited about, and support. So, I’ve picked five of my favorites to tell you about. Don’t worry, I’ll include a longer list at the end that you can check out for yourself. Let’s get started!
#1 Moorea Coral Gardeners https://coralgardeners.org
Baby coral fragments are collected from healthy reef areas, these fragments are then put into a reef nursery area (see video below) for approximately one year. After a year of growing big and strong they’re taken to an area of distressed reef and planted. The new pieces of reef grow and revitalize the struggling reef and ecosystem. Amazing. You can even adopt a baby coral, there are five different species to choose from.
There are now over 40 Coral Gardener projects around the world.
#2 Bye Bye Plastic Bags https://byebyeplasticbags.org
We all know where single use (and multiple use) plastic bags–and plastics in general–end up: in the ocean. Two Indonesian sisters decided to do something about that. Melati and Isabel started Bye Bye Plastic Bags, a youth-driven NGO aimed at banning plastic bags on their home island of Bali, and Bye Bye Plastic Bags was born. There are now over 50 teams across the globe focusing on eliminating plastics, educating people, and empowering youth.
Thanks to their persistence and passion, Bali went plastic free in 2022. To learn more about their amazing organization and projects watch the video below!
#3 SeaForester https://www.seaforester.org
SeaForester is working to replant sea kelp by seeding small rocks with seaweed spores, waiting until they’ve grown hardy in special nurseries, then scattering the starts from boats wherever kelp beds need reforesting. No diving necessary. Easy. Kind of. As with any new method, trial and error are necessary, along with persistence and hard work. SeaForester is based in Portugal and has projects going in Portugal and Norway. Why is this important? In addition to greater fish populations and increased biodiversity, kelp forests can reverse acidification in ocean waters and capture carbon at least five times more efficiently than land forests (think global warming).
Watch the video below, t’s fun and informative!
#4 SeaTrees https://sea-trees.org
There’s so much to say about SeaTrees it’s almost easier to tell you to click the link to their website and you can read all about what they’re doing (which you should anyway, it’s impressive!).
But here goes…
They replant Mangrove forests, replant kelp beds, employ hundreds of local people all around the globe, they replant coral, restore watersheds, protect endangered species, and have sequestered 635K+ metric tons of carbon through their efforts.
I’m sure I’ve left some things out.
16 active projects world wide, multiple communities supported and now looking at improved biodiversity, which means more abundance and healthier communities.
That’s a good start.
SeaTrees is based in California. If you go to their Wipe out your Climate Impact page there are a variety of ways you can neutralize your carbon footprint. You can spend different amounts to wipe out your driving footprint, even wipe clean a whole year of your carbon footprint.
Check out their blog as well, there are lots of interesting stories to read. Here are two great videos to watch as well.
#5 Oceana https://oceana.org
I’ll finish up my brief list of favorites with the international organization Oceana, the “giant in the room” of conservation groups. They have the funding, the track record, the skill, and the passion to have won over 275 victories for the oceans of the world. They have put under protection almost 4 million square miles of ocean. They have a legal team and work globally with offices, activists, lawyers and scientists in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central and South America and Asia.
Check out their website, it’s a wealth of information about the amazing things Oceana is doing, and has done.
Here’s a great video they’ve put out.
And that’s my brief list. I’ve obviously left out many, many good people and groups doing great work. Check out the longer list below for more amazing organizations.
PADI AWARE Foundation https://www.padi.com/aware
Blue Marine Foundation https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com
Marine Conservation Institute https://marine-conservation.org
Surfrider Foundation https://www.surfrider.org
Bahamas Plastic Movement https://www.bahamasplasticmovement.org
The Marine Mammal Center https://www.marinemammalcenter.org
Sea Life Trust https://www.sealifetrust.org
Reef Check https://www.reefcheck.org
Global Ghost Gear Initiative https://www.ghostgear.org
Ocean Defenders Alliance https://www.oceandefenders.org
Greenpeace https://www.greenpeace.org/international
Five Gyres https://www.5gyres.org
Ocean Conservancy https://oceanconservancy.org
Coral Reef Alliance https://coral.org
Sea of Change https://seaofchange.com
None of these organizations can operate without–you guessed it–money. So, if you have an extra five, or ten, or 25 dollars, or more, donate, or adopt a coral baby, or volunteer, and don’t forget to tell your friends and family. Helping the ocean feels good!
Written by Marc Tepe