Ocean and Marine Wildlife Protection Organizations
These non-profit ocean and marine wildlife nonprofit organizations are involved with saving our oceans and protecting marine wildlife from the many threats that keep our oceans and marine life healthy, including: Waste and garbage, destructive fishing practices, plastic pollution, destruction of marine habitat, and toxic pollution and chemicals. One of the best ways you can contribute to marine conservation is by joining one of these groups and donating to the cause.
Here is a list of some of the best and most effective marine/ocean conservation organizations.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a non-profit, environmental NGO that is on a mission to save the world’s coral reefs. The organization works collaboratively with communities to reduce direct threats to reefs in ways that provide long-term benefits to people and wildlife. In parallel, CORAL is actively expanding the scientific understanding of how corals adapt to climate change and is applying this information to give reefs the best chance to thrive for generations to come. Their broad expertise uniquely positions them to rally the conservation community around scalable and effective solutions for coral reefs around the world.
Dolphin Project is a non-profit charitable organization, dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide. Founded by Richard (Ric) O’Barry on Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the organization aims to educate the public about captivity and, where feasible, retire and/or release captive dolphins. The mission of Dolphin Project is to end the exploitation and slaughter of dolphins, as dolphins are routinely captured, harassed, slaughtered and sold into captivity around the world – all in the name of profit. Dolphin Project works not only to halt these slaughters, but also to rehabilitate captive dolphins for retirement and/or release, investigate and advocate for economic alternatives to dolphin slaughter, and to put a permanent end to dolphin captivity.
Fin Free is a grassroots, collaborative, community-oriented global campaign addressing the mass slaughter of sharks caused by the high demand for shark products. Their goal is to broaden their reach to let people in the community take part, no matter who they are, what they do or where they live, to change the fate of sharks, forever.
Ghost Fishing’s mission is to physically remove nets, fishing gear, and other marine debris from the ocean worldwide; to work to recycle marine debris, and investigate and document their actions to solve these problems; and to ensure diving safety and share their knowledge of best practices.
The mission of Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. They “bear witness” to environmental destruction in a peaceful, non-violent manner and use non-violent confrontation to raise awareness and the level and quality of the public debate. The organization claims they are not tied to any political or commercial interests of any kind.
The Aquarium’s Conservation and Science programs are tackling some of the most critical issues affecting ocean health. They bring decades of expertise and relationships in ocean science, policy and markets to the task of helping save species, develop sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, reduce the ocean’s plastic pollution, address climate action for the ocean, and support a thriving ocean wildlife in the years to come.
Oceana is the largest organization in the world solely devoted to marine conservation. It was established in 2001 by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Oak Foundation, Marisla Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Since its founding, Oceana has achieved hundreds of concrete policy victories for marine life and habitats. As part of its campaigns, Oceana is involved in efforts to end major sources of ocean pollution such as oil, mercury, aquaculture and shipping emissions. In addition to that, the organization also campaigns for the protection of vulnerable places in the oceans, including the Arctic, the Aleutian Islands, the Mediterranean and Chile’s Juan Fernandez Islands, among others.
Ocean Conservancy is a leading ocean advocacy group working to protect marine habitats, ocean wildlife, and coastal communities. The organization focuses on long-term science-based solutions that promote a healthy ocean, abundant wildlife, and thriving coast communities, educating the public and advocating for policy changes for the health of our oceans.
Project Seahorse is a marine conservation group dedicated to securing a world where marine ecosystems are healthy and well-managed. They turn cutting-edge research into highly effective conservation actions through collaboration with governments, local communities, and other stakeholders. As the IUCN global authority on seahorses and their relatives, they work to protect seahorses, and through seahorses, support marine conservation more broadly.
Save The Sharks mission is to better protect the status of the world’s oceans through one positive shark interaction at a time. Founded In 2010, their goal is to better the status of the world’s oceans through successful and positive shark interactions, local grassroots conservation, and world-wide education and awareness.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Established in 1977, Sea Shephard’s mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. The Society uses 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.
SeaLegacy combines decades of experience in conservation, photography, and communications, with the latest digital and social technologies, to build a healthy future for our oceans. SeaLegacy uses photographic and film documentation to fuel global campaigns to create sustainable change. As a community they try to amplify and fund inspiring projects around the world, creating healthy and abundant oceans, one solution at a time.
Founded in 1957, Freedom for Animals is one of the UK’s longest-running charities working to protect animals. Through a combination of undercover investigations, research, campaigns, political lobbying and education, their work for animals focuses predominantly on issues affecting those individuals held captive in circuses and zoos, as well as those used in the television and film industry and the exotic pet trade. Their goal is to encourage a more compassionate attitude and relationship between humans and other animals, by working for a world without caged animals.
Shark Angels mission is “to lead a positive, contagious movement to save sharks – and the oceans. We are a passionate, global community that believes in the power of education, media and local grassroots campaigns. We raise awareness to the critical issues, educate children, change perspectives, and empower and connect advocates to act locally to save sharks and the critical ecosystems they support.”
Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and more than 400 scientists, they impact conservation in 79 countries and territories across six continents. Their mission is to conserve the land and waters on which all life depends. Their vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.
The Seahorse Trust was set up in 1999 as an umbrella organization to preserve and conserve the national world, especially the marine environment using Seahorses as their flagship species. They work in partnership with many organizations and people from all over the world and it is this unique partnership that allows them to benefit from the natural world so well.
The Seahorse Trust makes a difference through education, conservation and lobbying for protected areas and to have marine and terrestrial species protected.
The World Wildlife Fund is another one of the world’s leading conservation organizations and works in over 100 countries. WWF’s works globally, involving action at every level—local to global. Their actions draw from the latest science to ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Among the WWF’s top priorities in the area of marine conservation are working with fishers, fishing companies and scientists around the globe to understand and meet sustainability standards; working with organizations around the world toward the goal of expanding the extent of mangrove cover around the world 20% by the year 2030; and safeguarding the Arctic through advancing climate-smart, sustainable development, and securing permanent protection for ecologically critical areas.
Photo Credit: hhyunma on Pixabay.com
