Topic

Ocean Conservation

Life on Earth depends heavily on its magnificent and complex ocean ecosystems.  But the seas are suffering from overfishing, loss of key habitat—such as coral reefs—and the depletion of important species from sharks to small fish that are the basis for the entire food web.

Pew’s ocean work includes efforts to create large marine reserves; end illegal fishing; protect key species such as penguins, sharks, tuna and forage fish; and establish policies that protect, maintain, and restore the health of marine ecosystems.

Ocean, People, Planet
Protect Marine Life Ocean, People, Planet

There is only one ocean, essential to the life of everyone on Earth—and it faces perils like never before

Featured Facts

475,000km2
Australia
Australia’s Macquarie Island Marine Park encompasses frigid waters support incredible wildlife diversity, including penguins, fish, seals and whales.
100K
Cape Town Agreement
More than 100,000 people are killed fishing each year—nearly 300 fatalities a day.
55.14kt
Blue Carbon
North Carolina's seagrasses sequestered around 55.14 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent, comparable to removing roughly 12,270 automobiles from the roads for one year.
$40B
Tuna Fisheries
Marine fisheries are a significant component of the global economy; tuna fisheries alone are worth more than $40 billion annually.
1 in 5
Illegally Fishing
Fish caught globally are caught illegally, with a total cost to coastal nations between U.S. $10 billion and $23 billion a year.

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