Our blue planet's oceans cover over two-thirds of its surface, connecting us all. Yet, these vital waters are increasingly under threat.

Oceana works to protect marine life, coastal communities, and our climate. This critical mission requires collective effort, as we cannot succeed alone.

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Inspired by a picture book, Max Romey journeyed to a remote Alaskan beach for marine debris, discovering a more complex story. Five years prior, an ocean plastics cleanup on Kayak Island left him overwhelmed. While the issue remains intricate, sharing the "big picture" now helps him envision collaborative solutions.

Learn more through Max's videos: No Lost Shoe, Give A Beach A Bottle, and Trailbound Alaska.

UNEP has partnered with syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey for a video series addressing ocean litter.

Trash, even from upstream, travels hundreds of miles to remote oceans, causing billions in damage and threatening marine life and human health.

The "Two Minutes on Oceans with Jim Toomey" series uses animation and humor to simplify complex scientific issues for the public. View additional videos at: www.rona.unep.org/toomey

Join a filmmaker and a world record free-diver on an epic global adventure.

They travel the earth, uncovering the shocking impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and marine life.

"Plastic Pollution, Our Oceans, Our Future," a short film by Christopher Hanson (USA), secured 3rd Prize in the 2016 Film4Climate Global Video Competition, presented by Connect4Climate and partners.

This film features 17 Hawaiian students examining plastic pollution's impact on their beaches and envisioning a sustainable future for the oceans, as Hawaii considers banning single-use polystyrene.

For more information, visit the official Film4Climate website, see all winners, or read the World Bank press release.

Today marks 16 years since the Deepwater Horizon blowout, the worst oil spill in U.S. history. This disaster, like others, underscores a critical truth: where there's drilling, there's spilling.

Such incidents devastate our oceans, marine life, and coastal communities. We are highlighting five of the worst U.S. oil spills to emphasize this risk. Join us in opposing the U.S. government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling: Protect Our Coasts.

To date, we have successfully intercepted over 12,000 kg of trash.

We are continuously working on efficiency improvements to enhance these efforts.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, capable of reaching lengths of nearly 65 feet.

Explore more about these impressive creatures in our Marine Life Encyclopedia.

The Ocean Cleanup's Research team has reached a significant milestone, releasing 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Science is central to understanding ocean plastic pollution—its scale, sources, and behavior. This research has informed cleanup strategies, from mapping the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to identifying polluting rivers and understanding industrial fishing, helping trace pollution origins and guiding effective interventions.

As global cleanup efforts scale, our focus will shift from diagnosing the problem to measuring and demonstrating our impact. Committed to open science, all publications are publicly accessible on our website. Learn more about this achievement from Head of Research, Laurent Lebreton: https://visit.theoceancleanup.com/4mDjLML

Green turtles faced extinction due to heavy hunting until the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provided a lifeline in the 1970s.

Leading up to Endangered Species Day on May 15, we will highlight five marine animals protected by the U.S. ESA. Join us in defending this landmark law and these species.

Learn more and take action here: https://oceana.ly/ESA

Scientists recently captured rare underwater footage of a Greenland shark in Arctic Canadian waters, offering a unique glimpse into the world of this elusive species.

Belonging to the "sleeper shark" family due to their slow growth and low activity, Greenland sharks are remarkable for their extreme longevity. With some individuals estimated to live nearly 400 years, they are recognized as the longest-lived vertebrates on Earth.

Learn more: https://oceana.ly/3PVSOaT

Our work continues in Jamaica.

In Kingston, nine Interceptors prevent trash from flowing into the Caribbean Sea.

Narwhals, often called "unicorns of the sea," are known for their distinctive "horn," which is actually an elongated tooth. Learn more about these fascinating marine mammals in our Marine Life Encyclopedia: oceana.ly/narwhal

Footage is courtesy of O’Corry-Crowe G et al. (2025) Use of tusks by narwhals, Monodon monoceros, in foraging, exploratory, and play behavior. Front. Mar. Sci. 12:1518605. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1518605

Sonia Kwami, Oceana's new leader in Ghana, is committed to protecting Ghana's fisheries. Raised in an ocean-dependent community, she understands how healthy waters sustain livelihoods and the impact of depletion.

At a crucial time for Ghana's coastal communities, Sonia spearheads Oceana's on-the-ground efforts, viewing her leadership as a continuation of a lifelong dedication to environmental justice.

Learn more about Oceana’s work in Ghana: ghana.oceana.org. Subscribe: oceana.ly/subscribe. Become a Wavemaker: oceana.ly/4rGhn8Z. Connect on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Kelp forests are towering underwater ecosystems, reaching heights of 175 feet. These vital environments provide food and shelter for thousands of marine species.

Beyond supporting diverse marine life, kelp and other marine algae actively capture and store carbon dioxide. This makes these ecosystems crucial in the fight against climate change.

On a remote North Pacific atoll, albatross chicks are dying, their bodies filled with plastic.

Chris Jordan's film, "Albatross," unflinchingly portrays this tragedy, while also inspiring a deep appreciation for life on Earth.

The Arctic tern holds the record for the longest migration of any animal on Earth.

To learn more about these incredible birds, explore our Marine Life Encyclopedia: oceana.ly/arctictern

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