The oceans are vast, but not immune to human influence. We have altered or destroyed many marine ecosystems and driven million-year-old species to the brink of extinction. According to a study published in Science, less than 4 percent of the oceans remain unaffected by human activity.

Funding a variety of ocean conservation efforts, The Waitt Foundation’s goal is to raise global awareness about declining marine resources through scientific research, protection, and policy change. From understanding how healthy ocean ecosystems work, to strengthening and expanding the world’s Marine Protected Areas to promoting sustainable fishing practices, we invest in ocean conservation projects with the potential for significant and measurable impacts. We hope to inspire people to make informed decisions in support of a healthy marine ecosystem.

We can restore our oceans to their former glory. In many cases, laws governing fishing and pollution already exist – we simply need to enforce them.

Awarding over $8 million to date for worldwide ocean conservation efforts and projects, the Waitt Foundation has provided grants to several prestigious scientific research institutions to help them continue their work in safeguarding the oceans.

Current grantees include the following organizations:

- Bren School of Environmental Science
- Environmental Defense Fund
- National Geographic Society
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Ocean Conservancy
- Pew Environment Group
- Rare Conservation
- Sargasso Sea Alliance
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Previous ocean conservation project support:

National Geographic Society — To support their Oceans Programs and Initiatives. Through global exploration and research, many efforts are already underway to address the most challenging issues confronting our oceans today…

Fish Film Company Limited -- To help produce and market The End of the Line, the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans…

Blue Ocean Institute — To develop the “FishPhone,” a sustainable seafood text-messaging service…

Conservation International — To strengthen and expand the Abrolhos Marine Protected Area Network in Brazil…

Global Greengrants Fund — To promote Sustainable Fishing and marine biodiversity…

Greenpeace — To address the Polar Oceans via a global network of marine reserves…

Ocean Conservancy -- To continue the momentum for a U.S. Marine Aquaculture Plan…

Oceana -- To create Marine Protected Areas to preserve the world’s oceans for the benefit of future generations…

A Decade of Marine Exploration Revealed

The Census of Marine life has released the findings of ten years of research.