Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is the tool used to establish maximum fishing limits during a certain timeframe and for each one of the species controlled by management plans. Scientific recommendations for each marine area specified by the FAO (ICES fishing areas) are used to establish catch possibilities. Currently, the TAC system is not working correctly … Read more
In fall 2008, Oceana embarked on two expeditions to the cold-water fjords of Chilean Ptagonia surrounding the community of Tortel. The team’s goals were to gather information about the species that inhabit the fjords, with the ultimate goal being to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the region. Using an underwater remote-operated vehicle (ROV), … Read more
Cruise ships generate an astonishing amount of pollution: up to 25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets and 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks, galleys and showers each day. Currently, lax state and federal laws allow cruise ships to dump untreated sewage from toilets once the ships is three miles from shore. Within three miles, cruise … Read more
Discards and bycatch are two problems that are closely related. Bycatch is the portion of the catch that is not comprised of the fishery’s target species and the FAO defines discards as the portion of the catch that is thrown back into the sea. In fact, bycatch is usually discarded. This happens when: – the … Read more
In January 2009, Oceana made its first expedition to Chile’s Juan Fernández Archipelago, which is most known for having been the home to the sailor Alexander Selkirk for four years, which may have inspired the novel Robinson Crusoe. Oceana’s ultimate goal is to ban bottom trawling in the region’s vulnerable marine ecosystems. The expedition crew … Read more
Open ocean aquaculture, without strict environmental regulation, poses a serious threat to marine life, fisheries, and the health of the oceans in general. Aquaculture facilities can be significant sources of pollution, including excess feed, fish waste and dead fish. This waste can spur excess algae growth, clouding coastal waters and altering seafloor ecosystems. The high … Read more
One of the most important problems fisheries management faces is illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU fishing). Vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities do not comply with safety measures on board, do not use legal fishing gear, do not follow fisheries management regulations and do not comply with regulations on quotas, fishing areas, closed seasons … Read more
The Oceana Ranger is a vital piece of Oceana’s campaign work in Europe. Custom-made in 1986 as a hospital ship, the Oceana Ranger was donated to Oceana by board member Steve McAllister. Since then, its crews have sailed from the Pacific to the Mediterranean doing invaluable research and documenting illegal fishing, habitats and marine species … Read more
Marine life and ocean ecosystems are threatened by renewed interest in oil drilling in the ocean spurred by a period of high gasoline prices. Expanded offshore drilling increases the risk of oil contamination to wildlife and communities, and contributes to economic losses and climate change. The risks are especially serious in the Arctic, a unique … Read more
The extensive use of Bottom Trawling and dredges for commercial fishing causes more direct and avoidable damage to the ocean floor — including deep-sea coral and sponge communities and other unique and sensitive seafloor marine life — than any other human activity in the world. Bottom trawls and dredges are so destructive because they effectively clear-cut everything … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
