Oceana’s work: Exploring and protecting El Hierro

El Hierro, the southernmost, westernmost, and youngest island of the Canary Islands (Spain), is a volcanic wonder rising from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. While 90% of its structure lies submerged, its waters are teeming with extraordinary marine biodiversity. Oceana has long recognized the ecological importance of these well conserved ecosystems, conducting research to … Read more

Multiple EU countries are failing to stop destructive fishing in Protected Areas, analysis finds, as several face legal action

NGOs call for evaluation of Marine Action Plan and new rules to strengthen protection of EU seas Brussels – No EU country has comprehensive plans to phase out destructive fishing, like bottom trawling, from marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030, a new analysis released today by marine NGOs Oceana, Seas At Risk and ClientEarth reveals. … Read more

Extending the limit on deep-sea bottom fishing in the Mediterranean to preserve vulnerable habitats

The report highlights the ecological risks of deep-sea bottom fishing in the Mediterranean, emphasizing that activities below 800 meters threaten vulnerable marine ecosystems. Oceana supports extending these protections to safeguard biodiversity hotspots and enhance the Mediterranean’s climate adaptation capabilities. Version in French Version in Spanish Version in Arabic Version in Turkish

Nature charities back UK pressing ahead with world-leading sandeel protections, despite EU legal pressure

19 UK and 16 EU conservation groups, are today announcing their strong support for the UK Government committing to closing Scottish and English North Sea waters to sandeel fishing, in the face of EU opposition to the action. The nature groups (including the RSPB, ClientEarth, Oceana, Birdlife International, and the Marine Conservation Society) are calling … Read more

Finding a home for sharks

If you want to protect sharks, you need to protect the places they call home. It’s easy to identify many marine animals’ homes. Clownfish, like our friend from Finding Nemo, oddly enough, don’t tend to stray too far away from their favorite anemones in coral reefs. The same goes for seahorses, who often live their … Read more

Over 14,600 Square Kilometers of Deep-Sea Habitats Protected from Bottom Fishing in the Northeast Atlantic