Our Wavemakers secured major victories for the oceans in 2025.

However, the work continues. Join Oceana to protect the world's oceans: Oceana.org/join

Artist and documentarian Chris Jordan premiered his film ALBATROSS in Charleston, SC, alongside his "Midway" exhibition at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Jordan aims to connect with and inspire audiences through his work.

The documentary explores Midway Atoll, an isolated Pacific island situated within the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It offers an intimate look at native Laysan albatrosses, whose existence is gravely threatened by global plastic waste.

Volunteers preparing for virtual lobby meetings on the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) will gain expert insights from James Campbell, J.D., Director of Federal Affairs & Strategic Counsel at Megafire Action. He will address common Democratic concerns regarding FOFA.

This in-depth session, moderated by Dana Nuccitelli, CCL's Research Manager, will provide clear, informed talking points. These will help build understanding, find common ground, and strengthen your impact on Capitol Hill.

Learn more: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/healthy-forests/fix-our-forests/

Ben Blom, MF '10, Director of Stewardship and Restoration at Save the Redwoods League, will deliver a presentation.

His talk is titled "Restoring Redwoods: The Roles Humans Can Play in Repairing Iconic Forests."

The Global Ocean Treaty has reached its 60th ratification, allowing this historic agreement to enter into force. This marks a landmark moment for ocean protection worldwide.

Greenpeace and thousands of supporters globally have championed this significant achievement for over two decades.

Despite claiming to be a leading ocean protector, Australia has not yet ratified the treaty. Given its importance, Australia should prioritize joining this crucial protection agreement.

The Brazilian Amazon faces widespread illegal encroachment, devastating ancient trees for export and exploiting rare resources. This critical issue impacts us all.

Indigenous forest guardians Marçal Guajajara and Puyr Tembé tirelessly defend their home from deforestation. Their struggle contrasts with an illegal logger, desperate for survival, and a landowner striving to preserve his property's ecosystem, yet ignored by authorities.

These diverse perspectives highlight the global economic links connecting Amazonian goods to consumers worldwide.

Addressing plastic pollution necessitates distinguishing between two fundamental challenges. The first is the inherent problem of plastic production itself, encompassing its scale and the materials utilized.

The second, separate challenge involves the effective management of plastic waste once it has been created and discarded. Recognizing these distinct issues is crucial for developing targeted and comprehensive solutions.

Oceana's new report reveals a concerning projection: The Coca-Cola Company's plastic use is set to exceed 9.1 billion pounds annually by 2030 if current practices remain unchanged.

This highlights an urgent need for Coca-Cola to implement significant changes and address its escalating plastic problem immediately.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) comprises two limbs. Its upper limb transports warm, tropical waters northward, releasing heat influencing European weather. The lower limb carries cold, dense waters southward at depth.

Driven by solar radiation, the AMOC's upper limb features vigorous currents like the Gulf Stream, flowing north along the Atlantic's western boundary. These currents, forming eddies, carry heat towards higher latitudes, reaching the Nordic Seas to cool and densify.

In regions like the Labrador Sea, these cooled, dense waters plunge via convection to 1000-2000m. This forms the Deep Western Boundary Current, the AMOC's lower limb, flowing slowly southward along the continental slope. Further south, this deep flow is disrupted by topography and eddies, losing its structure.

The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, a 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist, protects 35 million hectares of forest across 30 Indigenous nations in Peru and Ecuador. Led by Uyunkar Domingo Peas, it champions planetary rights and highlights Indigenous peoples' vital conservation role.

Inspired by "moonshots," Prince William launched The Earthshot Prize to inspire a decade of planetary repair. It celebrates human ingenuity, proving environmental challenges can be overcome.

Watch The Earthshot Report on BBC iPlayer or PBS. More at earthshotprize.org; follow on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Dr. Akira Miyawaki proposes a disaster prevention plan to create authentic, self-sustaining tide embankment forests using native trees. These forests are designed to survive strong tsunamis and protect lives, contrasting with less effective man-made forests. A video explains this concept through interviews and animations, demonstrating the superior protection offered by native species. The initiative has inspired many volunteers, including Venerable Hioki from Rinnoji Temple, who believes these principles align with Buddhist teachings.

Venerable Hioki, the 44th Abbot of Rinnoji Soto Zen Temple and Association Chairman, was deeply moved by Dr. Miyawaki's proposal. He has since led local residents in planting over 33,000 native trees of more than 50 species around Rinnoji Temple. Committed to global education, he teaches children and adults worldwide about the vital importance of forests through media and public appearances.

The Miyawaki method, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is an accelerated afforestation technique. It creates dense urban forests in 20-30 years, significantly faster than conventional methods. By planting diverse native species closely, plants grow upwards, resulting in a forest that is 30 times denser, grows 10 times faster, and becomes maintenance-free within three years.

To implement this method, select a site at least 4 by 3 meters that receives a minimum of eight hours of daily sunlight. The process involves soil preparation, purchasing native plant species, forest design, plantation, tying plants to support sticks, and initial watering and monitoring.

Oceana, alongside actor Sam Waterston, invites you to champion our oceans.

Join them in taking action against the urgent plastic pollution crisis.

Can you identify the various ocean fish species presented?

Your expertise is requested to accurately name and categorize these marine creatures.

Identify the group to which each animal belongs.

Welcome to our identification quiz.

Test your knowledge: how many ocean animals can you recognize solely by their eyes?

Thanks to your invaluable support, Oceana secured significant victories for our oceans throughout 2024.

Your dedication as "Wavemakers" was absolutely critical in making these achievements possible.

Join us as we reflect on the collective impact we made this year.

Deep in the ocean, a variety of marine creatures are preparing for a substantial feast.

Driven by instinct, they await the perfect moment to satisfy their hunger with a significant meal.

You wouldn't want to be a male anglerfish! Their existence is one of the most extreme examples of sexual parasitism in the animal kingdom.

Upon finding a female, the tiny male anglerfish bites into her, permanently fusing his body to hers. His circulatory system merges with hers, and he gradually degenerates, losing his eyes, fins, and most internal organs. He becomes little more than a sperm-producing appendage, sustained by the female, with his sole purpose being to fertilize her eggs when needed. It's a bizarre and ultimate sacrifice for reproduction.

Spooky season's festive spirit isn't confined to land. Its playful reach extends far beyond our shores.

Even the vast ocean embraces the Halloween fun, with its mysterious depths and unique, sometimes eerie, creatures.

From coastal waters to the deep blue, it seems everyone, and everything, gets into the spirit. 🎃