History

Oceana Environmental History:

Oceana began as the Pew Charitable Trust Ocean Law Project after environmental studies done in 1999 showed that under 1% of environmental groups put their green resources towards advocating for the world's oceans. Oceana began as the legal wing, but when Ted Danson, American actor, founded the American Oceans Campaign, the two groups were merged to make the Oceana mission more effective. Oceana came about in 2001 to clearly identify environmental ocean problems, go green solutions and to put those green solutions into action. Oceana was founded by the Turner Foundation/Marisla Foundation/Oak Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Focus of Activities

Oceana - Go Green Activity Focus:

Oceana - Environmental Mission

The Oceana mission is to restore/protect the world's oceans, environmentally through go green solutions and advocating international/green/environmental ocean protection/laws. Oceana aims to create green strategic environmental campaigns with specific environmental objectives. Oceana environmental campaigns aim to combine green advocacy and environmental policy/legal/scientific approaches to reach the Oceana environmental objectives. Oceana aims to achieve their green environmental accomplishments within 2 to 5 years.

Current and Future Environmental Oceana Projects

Oceana focuses on stopping seafood contamination/mercury pollution/damaging trawling/driftnetting and climate change. Oceana advocates environmental ocean type changes/green ocean conservation/cutting bait/bycatching limitations/Arctic protection/environmentally-friendly waste management (cruise ships)/saving sea turtles and protecting ocean life.

Oceana - Green Funds' Allocation

Oceana environmental revenues are balanced between fundraising/quality/revenue and other costs.

Notable Achievements

Oceana - Notable Environmental Achievements:

• 2006 - Oceana prevented the ending of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States
  
• 2009 - the 15-year Oceana campaign for a World Oceans Day is designated by the UN
  
• 2009 - Oceana lobbying brings about official US legislation for the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2009

Celebrity Supporters

Oceana Go Green Celebrity Supporters:

• Aaron Peirsol
  
• Amanda Beard
  
• Beau Bridges
  
• Jeff Goldblum
  
• Kelsey Grammar
  
• Nicolas Cage
  
• Noah Wyle
  
• Pierce Brosnan
  
• Sam Waterston
  
• Ted Danson

Governance & Financial

Oceana Environmental Governance/Structure/Size:

Oceana is an independent/international/environmental/non-profit organization that has online activists/members in more than one hundred and fifty country worldwide. Oceana offices are located in South America/Europe and North America. The Oceana organisation consists of international advocates/lawyers/economists and marine scientists. Oceana also has a publishing wing which publishes international reports on environmental and other green issues that affect the world's oceans, ocean life and fragile ocean eco-systems. Oceana provides a frequent newsletter to all members and staff. Oceana also publishes a mini-guide on the seafoods found throughout the world's oceans.

Regions / countries which benefit

Regions Benefitted By Oceana Environmental Actions:

All the world's oceans

How to donate

Oceana - Making Green Donations:

Anyone can make donations to the Oceana go green/environmental activities and projects that protect/restore the oceans of the planet earth. Oceana accepts monetary donations via their online form, with a choice of a one-time show of support or monthly payments starting at $35, in all major currencies. Alternatively, supporters of Oceana can purchase Oceana memberships by signing up via phone (toll-free, 1-877-762-3262) or printing the online form found at http://www.Oceana.org and mailing a money order or cheque to: Oceana, Membership Department 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20036-1722, U.S.A.

References

• “Oceana, Leading Marine Organization, to Open Belizean Office”, TransworldNews.Com, online article, 2009, http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=88453&cat=12
• “Audrey Matura, The Environmentalist”, 7NewsBelize.Com, online article, 2009, http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=13986
• “Oceana (Non-Profit Group)”, Wikipedia.Org, online article, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceana_(non-profit_group)