Thousands of eel traps, a type of ghost gear, were discovered floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). These funnel-shaped devices continue to "ghost fish," causing entanglement, ingestion, and habitat damage, severely impacting marine life, including endangered species. Discarded fishing gear constitutes the largest component of the GPGP.

Recent research, analyzing over 21,000 pieces of derelict gear, identified large offshore fleets as primary sources, with smaller coastal fisheries contributing less. The study highlighted the extreme durability of this gear, which can persist for years and travel vast ocean distances, underscoring the urgent need for cleanup efforts.

The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill devastated California's coast, catalyzing the environmental movement. We highlight five of the worst U.S. oil spills, demonstrating that where drilling occurs, spills follow, harming our oceans, marine life, and coastal communities.

Oppose the U.S. government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling: https://oceana.ly/ProtectOurCoasts

While Interceptors can stop a vast majority of plastic flowing into oceans from rivers, another significant source we must address is lost fishing gear. The scale of this problem is immense; for instance, lost longline nets alone could stretch 750,000 km, equivalent to a round trip to the moon.

To tackle this, we are conducting extensive research to understand its origins. We have also joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) to actively shape policies and initiatives aimed at solving this critical environmental issue.

Brown pelicans, once decimated by the feather trade and toxic pesticides, made a remarkable recovery. Following the U.S. ban of DDT and habitat protections under the ESA, their populations rebounded, leading to their full removal from the endangered species list by 2009.

Leading up to Endangered Species Day on May 15, we're highlighting marine animals protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Join us in defending this landmark law and species like these: https://oceana.ly/ESA

Indonesia hosts our first river Interceptor, Interceptor 001, in Jakarta’s Cengkareng Drain, alongside Interceptor 020 in the nearby Cisadane River.

Lessons learned from these deployments are now shaping future in-country and global efforts.

Indonesia is a key focus of our 30 Cities Program, with planned deployments in Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), and Tasikmalaya (West Java). The country already hosts our first river Interceptor, 001, in Jakarta’s Cengkareng Drain, and Interceptor 020 in the Cisadane River. Since deploying Interceptor 001 in 2019, we've partnered with local authorities and communities, adapting solutions to scale operations. Interceptor 020 exemplifies this adaptive approach, providing crucial insights for future efforts in Indonesia and worldwide.

Stay updated by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Learn more and support us at The Ocean Cleanup. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

The marine iguana is the world's only lizard that forages in the ocean, a remarkable adaptation making it a truly unique reptile.

Explore more about marine iguanas in our Marine Life Encyclopedia.

Interceptor deployments are planned for the Philippines as part of our 30 Cities Program.

The first Interceptor will be deployed in the Meycauayan River in the coming months. This aims to prevent trash from the Manila Bay Region from flowing into the ocean.

On Daram Island, Philippines, illegal fishing has severely depleted local fisheries, causing malnutrition. A group of women are now bravely confronting these practices at sea to protect their community and livelihoods. This is their inspiring story.

Learn more about Oceana's vital work in the Philippines: https://ph.oceana.org/. Get involved by subscribing for updates: https://oceana.ly/subscribe, or become a Wavemaker to support ocean conservation: https://oceana.ly/4rGhn8Z.

This year, your monthly donation has approximately 2.5x the impact. Thanks to more Interceptors and efficient operations, we now collect significantly more trash for every dollar.

As our impact grows, so does yours. Take action today: https://visit.theoceancleanup.com/4twyITw. Note: No AI was used in the video; bottles are 3D animated for illustration.

Sea otters are remarkable for their use of rocks as tools to crack open shells.

Explore more about these fascinating marine mammals in our Marine Life Encyclopedia: oceana.ly/seaotter

Our blue planet's oceans cover over two-thirds of its surface, connecting us all. Yet, these vital waters are increasingly under threat.

Oceana works to protect marine life, coastal communities, and our climate. This critical mission requires collective effort, as we cannot succeed alone.

Help our mission reach like-minded people.

Share this video.

Inspired by a picture book, Max Romey journeyed to a remote Alaskan beach for marine debris, discovering a more complex story. Five years prior, an ocean plastics cleanup on Kayak Island left him overwhelmed. While the issue remains intricate, sharing the "big picture" now helps him envision collaborative solutions.

Learn more through Max's videos: No Lost Shoe, Give A Beach A Bottle, and Trailbound Alaska.

UNEP has partnered with syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey for a video series addressing ocean litter.

Trash, even from upstream, travels hundreds of miles to remote oceans, causing billions in damage and threatening marine life and human health.

The "Two Minutes on Oceans with Jim Toomey" series uses animation and humor to simplify complex scientific issues for the public. View additional videos at: www.rona.unep.org/toomey

Join a filmmaker and a world record free-diver on an epic global adventure.

They travel the earth, uncovering the shocking impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and marine life.

"Plastic Pollution, Our Oceans, Our Future," a short film by Christopher Hanson (USA), secured 3rd Prize in the 2016 Film4Climate Global Video Competition, presented by Connect4Climate and partners.

This film features 17 Hawaiian students examining plastic pollution's impact on their beaches and envisioning a sustainable future for the oceans, as Hawaii considers banning single-use polystyrene.

For more information, visit the official Film4Climate website, see all winners, or read the World Bank press release.

Today marks 16 years since the Deepwater Horizon blowout, the worst oil spill in U.S. history. This disaster, like others, underscores a critical truth: where there's drilling, there's spilling.

Such incidents devastate our oceans, marine life, and coastal communities. We are highlighting five of the worst U.S. oil spills to emphasize this risk. Join us in opposing the U.S. government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling: Protect Our Coasts.

To date, we have successfully intercepted over 12,000 kg of trash.

We are continuously working on efficiency improvements to enhance these efforts.