In 2025, The Ocean Cleanup achieved a record-breaking year, removing over 25 million kilograms of waste from aquatic environments, bringing their total catch to 46 million kilograms. They also deployed two new Interceptors in Honduras and Panama.

Expanding their mission, the organization launched the 30 Cities Program to stop one-third of river plastic emissions into oceans, and introduced Coastal Sweeps for legacy plastic near shores. Developing new technologies further solidified 2025 as their most impactful year yet.

Watch their year-in-review video and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Learn more and support them at theoceancleanup.com. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Our core mission is to achieve clean and healthy oceans for future generations. This commitment drives all our efforts.

To realize this vision, we employ a systematic approach: developing cutting-edge technology, rigorously testing its efficacy, and continuously iterating based on results. This ensures maximum impact in our fight for ocean preservation.

The oceans are signaling an urgent need for environmental action.

Addressing this crisis requires essential ocean-based solutions, which are critical for achieving a one-third reduction in global emissions.

Professor Laura Fleming, a physician and epidemiologist, underscores the vital role of oceans. Covering 70% of Earth's surface, these environments are essential for sustaining human life.

She emphasizes that biodiversity, particularly within marine ecosystems, is crucial for the ongoing development of new medications.

The Ocean Panel's Blue Paper envisions a sustainable ocean economy over the next 25 years, exploring future employment across various sectors. Drawing on expert consultation and data, it offers guidance for stakeholders to achieve this vision.

A just transition, prioritizing inclusion and fairness, is crucial. The paper highlights key challenges: data limitations, skills gaps, insufficient training and education (especially in developing nations), regional infrastructure disparities, and inadequate funding and institutional capacity.

Dr. Oliver Ashford of the WRI Oceans Program will host a webinar on the future workforce in a sustainable Ocean Economy.

Panelists will discuss major economic aspects influenced by the health and fate of our oceans.

Designated the 'Year of the Ocean,' 2025 marks a pivotal moment for global ocean conservation, featuring major milestones and breakthroughs.

This summary highlights key events, including the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the UN Ocean Decade midpoint, and bold commitments from Brazil and new BlueNDC countries.

For more details, visit: oceanpanel.org/news/

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.

Rising chronic diseases are partly linked to hazardous chemicals leaching from plastic food packaging and utensils. While food packaging pollutants are a public health concern, research on a strong causal link between plastics and conditions like infertility or immune disorders is still developing. TEDx events are independently organized; guidelines are available here.

In her TEDx talk, Dr. Jane Muncke explains chemical migration from plastic food contact materials and discusses regulatory gaps. She advocates for inert materials like glass and stainless steel. As Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum (FPF), Dr. Muncke co-founded the organization to share scientific information on food packaging’s health and environmental impacts. Learn more about TEDx at ted.com/tedx.

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/

This clip, from *Advancing Australia* Season 1, Episode 1: "Sea of Plastic," highlights marine biologist Nicole Nash. Inspired by rampant plastic waste, Nash launched the 'Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef' campaign, advocating for a ban on plastic straws from commercial boats operating in the region.

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, clearing the way for this historic agreement to enter into force. This landmark moment for ocean protection is the culmination of over two decades of advocacy by Greenpeace and its global supporters.

Despite claiming to be a leading ocean protector, Australia has not yet ratified the treaty. Given its significance, Australia should prioritize joining the 60 nations that have committed to this crucial protection agreement.

The ocean, our life support system, is facing a hidden crisis. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens marine life, human rights, and food security. This illicit activity accounts for nearly one-fifth of all seafood, worth up to $23.5 billion annually, while 90% of fish stocks are already overexploited or fished to their limit.

We have solutions to scale transparency at sea. The Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency offers real, simple, and affordable ways to bring accountability. We urge governments to urgently implement this charter to deliver the transparency needed for a healthy ocean. Learn more: https://fisheriestransparency.net/

Whales, often called gentle giants, play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our oceans and the entire planet. Their significant contributions are essential for marine ecosystems.

To protect these magnificent creatures and all other marine animals, it's vital to support NOAA. This U.S. federal agency is dedicated to ensuring their safety and well-being. Speak up for marine life by defending NOAA: https://oceana.ly/4dyLVUD.

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.

Oceana's expedition research with Blancpain has unveiled significant findings about marine biodiversity off Southern California.

The discoveries exceeded expectations, revealing a world of secrets within the ocean's depths.

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.