Expanding Ocean Literacy and Public Awareness
One of the most significant barriers to
progress in the marine conservation sector is a
lack of real understanding about the
vulnerability and connectivity of ocean
systems. It is easy to think of the
oceans as vast, almost unlimited sources of
food and recreation with abundant animals,
plants, and protected spaces. Thus, it
can be difficult to see the destructive
consequences of human activities along the
coast and below the surface. This lack of
awareness creates a significant need for
programs that effectively communicate how the
health of our oceans relates to climate change,
the global economy, human health, and our
quality of life. The
following are the funds
and projects hosted at The Ocean
Foundation that are dedicated to expanding
ocean literacy and public awareness.
Blue Climate Solutions - A program dedicated to advancing policy that promotes the roles coastal and ocean ecosystems play as natural carbon sinks, including the conservation of ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, mangrove swamps, and salt marshes. We also seek to promote marine science that further explores the role natural ocean ecosystems play in mitigating the effect of climate change - donate now!
1Planet1Ocean - A project of TOF's resident Ocean Doctor, Dr. David E. Guggenheim, 1planet1ocean is a project created to explore, restore and sustain the oceans through strong international partnerships, offering solutions to the problems our oceans face. The Ocean Doctor's current initiative is his 50 Years - 50 States - 50 Speeches expedition - donate now!
Blue Legacy International - a global campaign that recognizes that the beauty, power, and life-sustaining essence of our water planet is in danger. It also recognizes that we, as individuals and communities, have the power to protect and heal our most valuable resource. Inspired and led by famed environmental spokeswoman Alexandra Cousteau, Blue Legacy International will leverage traditional and emerging media platforms to reach the broadest audience possible, across cultures and geographic regions - donate now!
Deep Surface - Through a new multimedia artistic perspective, this concert/performance seeks to remind the audience about the Sea's importance to humanity, the essential role it plays in our planet's existence, and the necessity of its preservation - donate now!
"Weird and Wild Under the Sea" - A book project by Dr. Ellen Prager. This book will examine some of the ocean’s strangest creatures, explore the role each plays in the ocean ecosystem, and examine how the great diversity of life in the sea supports the planet, human life, and society. This Project will include production of the book, as well as a promotional campaign to include media, public and educational presentations - donate now!
The Ocean Project - An international network of aquariums, zoos, museums, and conservation organizations working to create an understanding among their visitors and members of the significance of the ocean and the role each person plays in conserving our blue planet for the future. TOP's two most significant endeavors are their sponsorship of World Ocean Day and their ongoing Seas The Day initiative - donate now!
Ocean Connectors - Home to one of the busiest border crossings in the world, San Diego serves as an international hub in an ever globalizing world. The development of locally focused values together with a sense of global awareness is crucial to creating a conservation ethic in today’s youth. Ocean Connectors crosses borders and cultural boundaries to create links and a shared sense of stewardship between students in San Diego and Mexico - donate now!
Ocean Revolution - An international program designed to connect, inspire, and empower a new wave of young leaders to find creative solutions to protect the world's oceans. High school students from all over travel to meet marine experts, participate in hands-on field experiences, and return to their home school to establish ocean awareness programs. Ocean Revolution goes beyond and supplements formal education to provide the guidance, networking and mentoring for those who wish to delve deeper and learn from like-minded individuals - donate now!
SEEtheWild - This program connects travelers with wildlife conservation sites that directly benefit from the visit and provide an authentic wildlife-viewing experience. SEEtheWild does this by partnering with leading tour operators to offer unforgettable experiences that directly benefit animals and the organizations protecting them. Originally SEE Turtles, we have recently expanded our program to include other wildlife adventure travel as well - donate now!
"The Vertebrates Conceit" - A book project by Wendy Williams. This book discusses the scientific speculation that cephalopods – creatures that separated from humans on the evolutionary time line more than a billion years ago – may share with us some high-level traits of intelligence. This type of intelligence has traditionally been associated only with vertebrate species, but new science is showing otherwise. A second theme of the book is a plea for the protection of the oceans, since we have little idea of ocean ecology and know next to nothing about the life that survives deeper than roughly 100 feet below the ocean’s surface.
"The Eye of the Whale" - A public education and outreach project relating to Douglas Abrams's book, "Eye of the Whale," which was published in August 2009. The book is fact-based fiction and was written to inform people who might not otherwise be informed about the dangers of chemical toxins in our environment, especially the oceans. The project involves an educational and outreach campaign about the health of our oceans and the health of all species, including humans. This book is being used as an outreach tool by organizations to further their marine and ocean education efforts - donate now!
"Atlantic Salmon - Lost at Sea" - Lost at Sea will be a film that takes the viewer on an epic journey through the oceanic kingdom of the Atlantic salmon – king of fish – in an attempt to unravel the mystery of their life at sea. Populations of salmon are plummeting to critical levels, even going extinct in some southern rivers. The cause is mortality at sea. For the very first time, using the latest DNA technology, scientists are able to track the salmon from the rivers, through the estuaries and into the vast North Atlantic and back again in hopes of finding an answer before it is too late. This film tells the most complete story of the life of Atlantic salmon – something not possible before - donate now!
Blue Climate Solutions - A program dedicated to advancing policy that promotes the roles coastal and ocean ecosystems play as natural carbon sinks, including the conservation of ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, mangrove swamps, and salt marshes. We also seek to promote marine science that further explores the role natural ocean ecosystems play in mitigating the effect of climate change - donate now!
1Planet1Ocean - A project of TOF's resident Ocean Doctor, Dr. David E. Guggenheim, 1planet1ocean is a project created to explore, restore and sustain the oceans through strong international partnerships, offering solutions to the problems our oceans face. The Ocean Doctor's current initiative is his 50 Years - 50 States - 50 Speeches expedition - donate now!
Blue Legacy International - a global campaign that recognizes that the beauty, power, and life-sustaining essence of our water planet is in danger. It also recognizes that we, as individuals and communities, have the power to protect and heal our most valuable resource. Inspired and led by famed environmental spokeswoman Alexandra Cousteau, Blue Legacy International will leverage traditional and emerging media platforms to reach the broadest audience possible, across cultures and geographic regions - donate now!
Deep Surface - Through a new multimedia artistic perspective, this concert/performance seeks to remind the audience about the Sea's importance to humanity, the essential role it plays in our planet's existence, and the necessity of its preservation - donate now!
"Weird and Wild Under the Sea" - A book project by Dr. Ellen Prager. This book will examine some of the ocean’s strangest creatures, explore the role each plays in the ocean ecosystem, and examine how the great diversity of life in the sea supports the planet, human life, and society. This Project will include production of the book, as well as a promotional campaign to include media, public and educational presentations - donate now!
The Ocean Project - An international network of aquariums, zoos, museums, and conservation organizations working to create an understanding among their visitors and members of the significance of the ocean and the role each person plays in conserving our blue planet for the future. TOP's two most significant endeavors are their sponsorship of World Ocean Day and their ongoing Seas The Day initiative - donate now!
Ocean Connectors - Home to one of the busiest border crossings in the world, San Diego serves as an international hub in an ever globalizing world. The development of locally focused values together with a sense of global awareness is crucial to creating a conservation ethic in today’s youth. Ocean Connectors crosses borders and cultural boundaries to create links and a shared sense of stewardship between students in San Diego and Mexico - donate now!
Ocean Revolution - An international program designed to connect, inspire, and empower a new wave of young leaders to find creative solutions to protect the world's oceans. High school students from all over travel to meet marine experts, participate in hands-on field experiences, and return to their home school to establish ocean awareness programs. Ocean Revolution goes beyond and supplements formal education to provide the guidance, networking and mentoring for those who wish to delve deeper and learn from like-minded individuals - donate now!
SEEtheWild - This program connects travelers with wildlife conservation sites that directly benefit from the visit and provide an authentic wildlife-viewing experience. SEEtheWild does this by partnering with leading tour operators to offer unforgettable experiences that directly benefit animals and the organizations protecting them. Originally SEE Turtles, we have recently expanded our program to include other wildlife adventure travel as well - donate now!
"The Vertebrates Conceit" - A book project by Wendy Williams. This book discusses the scientific speculation that cephalopods – creatures that separated from humans on the evolutionary time line more than a billion years ago – may share with us some high-level traits of intelligence. This type of intelligence has traditionally been associated only with vertebrate species, but new science is showing otherwise. A second theme of the book is a plea for the protection of the oceans, since we have little idea of ocean ecology and know next to nothing about the life that survives deeper than roughly 100 feet below the ocean’s surface.
"The Eye of the Whale" - A public education and outreach project relating to Douglas Abrams's book, "Eye of the Whale," which was published in August 2009. The book is fact-based fiction and was written to inform people who might not otherwise be informed about the dangers of chemical toxins in our environment, especially the oceans. The project involves an educational and outreach campaign about the health of our oceans and the health of all species, including humans. This book is being used as an outreach tool by organizations to further their marine and ocean education efforts - donate now!
"Atlantic Salmon - Lost at Sea" - Lost at Sea will be a film that takes the viewer on an epic journey through the oceanic kingdom of the Atlantic salmon – king of fish – in an attempt to unravel the mystery of their life at sea. Populations of salmon are plummeting to critical levels, even going extinct in some southern rivers. The cause is mortality at sea. For the very first time, using the latest DNA technology, scientists are able to track the salmon from the rivers, through the estuaries and into the vast North Atlantic and back again in hopes of finding an answer before it is too late. This film tells the most complete story of the life of Atlantic salmon – something not possible before - donate now!