The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation to ban the domestic shark fin trade. This action addresses shark finning, a cruel practice where fins are removed at sea and the shark's body is discarded. While finning is illegal in U.S. waters, fins are still traded, often imported from countries with inadequate protections.

The global shark fin trade is a primary driver of declining shark populations worldwide, impacting an estimated 73 million sharks annually. This unsustainable demand has led to over 90% declines in some populations, threatening one-third of species in major trade hubs with extinction. The U.S. ban aims to mitigate this devastating impact.

Music by Adam Lindquist.

NOAA Fisheries has finalized regulations protecting over 140,000 square miles of U.S. West Coast seafloor from destructive bottom trawling. These safeguards, effective January 1, 2020, cover vital habitats like corals, sponges, and rocky reefs, crucial for marine life and ocean ecosystems.

This action follows a 2018 vote by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, spurred by scientific input and advocacy from Oceana. The new rules will more than double existing protections, making 90 percent of the West Coast seafloor off-limits to bottom trawling.

Music: Alex Arcoleo via Audio Network

The Fried Egg Jellyfish, also known as Egg-Yolk Jellies, earns its name from its distinctive appearance. Its translucent bell features an elevated yolk-yellow center, resembling a cracked egg floating in water. Discover more in our [Marine Life Encyclopedia](http://bit.ly/32JnAp9).

Join our community of Wavemakers by subscribing to our channel. Stay connected with us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/oceana/), [Twitter](http://twitter.com/oceana), and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/oceana/).

Deep-sea footage from Nautilus Live shows marine life scavenging a baleen whale carcass. Explore more about marine life in our Encyclopedia: http://bit.ly/2oc1zBb.

Join our community of Wavemakers! Subscribe to our channel and connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceana/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/oceana Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceana/.

Sea turtles and other marine life are threatened by the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (PFMC) consideration of permits for destructive pelagic longlines. This deadly fishing gear, capable of stretching 60 miles with thousands of hooks, was banned on the West Coast for decades due to its proven harm to air-breathing animals. Reintroducing such reckless and wasteful practices is irresponsible.

Urge the PFMC to reject West Coast pelagic longline permits and protect vulnerable marine species. Take action now: http://bit.ly/31ph3zg

Stay connected with us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Throwaway plastics are devastating our oceans. Join Oceana's movement to reduce plastic pollution at its source, saving marine life. Your help enables our plastic-free victories.

Ready to #BreakFreeFromPlastic? [Learn more here](http://bit.ly/32POrQV).

Become a Wavemaker! Subscribe to our channel and connect with us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/oceana/), [Twitter](http://twitter.com/oceana), and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/oceana/).

Researchers discovered an Iridigorgia Soft Coral at 5,450 feet deep within the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Footage was provided by Nautilus Live.

Join our community of Wavemakers by subscribing to our channel. Stay connected with us on social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Mangroves are flowering trees found along tropical coastlines, rooted in salty, often submerged sediments. While their upper trunks, branches, and leaves live above the waterline, their lower trunks and extensive prop roots are frequently covered by seawater.

Learn more in our Marine Life Encyclopedia.

Join our community of Wavemakers! Stay connected with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Pygmy seahorses are masters of disguise. Extremely small and poor swimmers, they rely on camouflage for survival.

Help protect these unique animals by joining Oceana: [https://bit.ly/2kIqs5y](https://bit.ly/2kIqs5y)

Sea turtles frequently mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and ingesting them is often fatal. This plastic pollution poses a deadly threat to marine life.

To protect these creatures, we must #BreakFreeFromPlastic by significantly reducing plastic production. It's time for collective action.

Support Oceana's efforts and take the pledge here: https://bit.ly/2m4aMKe

Parrotfish species produce a mucus cocoon for protection against parasites while they sleep. This defensive barrier can take up to an hour to create for a single night's rest.

To learn more about parrotfish, explore Oceana's Marine Life encyclopedia: Oceana Marine Life Encyclopedia.

North Atlantic right whales, decimated by whaling until 1935, now face extinction. Only about 400 remain, with fewer than 100 breeding females, primarily threatened by commercial shipping and fishing.

To reverse this decline, these whales require protection from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. Key solutions include reducing vertical fishing lines and mandating slower ship speeds.

Music by Adam Lindquist: http://adamlindquist.com/

North Atlantic right whales, once decimated by whaling, now face extinction with only about 400 remaining, including fewer than 100 breeding females. Commercial shipping and fishing pose the primary threats.

To reverse this decline, urgent protection from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes is essential. Reducing vertical lines from fishing gear and mandating slower ship speeds are critical steps.

Music by Adam Lindquist: http://adamlindquist.com/

North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling, banned in 1935. Now, the species faces extinction, primarily from commercial shipping and fishing threats.

With only about 400 whales remaining, including fewer than 100 breeding females, urgent protection is vital. Reducing vertical fishing lines and requiring ships to slow down are crucial steps to prevent entanglements and ship strikes, helping to reverse their decline.

Climate change is making our oceans more acidic, threatening most marine animals. Conversely, jellyfish thrive in warmer waters, posing a risk of ocean takeover if climate change remains unchecked.

Help protect our oceans. Join Oceana: https://bit.ly/2kA7bTV

Nudibranchs, a type of sea slug, are renowned for their vibrant colors, which they acquire from their diet.

Discover more about these fascinating creatures in Oceana's Marine Life Encyclopedia.

Sea stars are not always docile. The sunflower sea star, the ocean's fastest and largest, is a formidable predator, capable of eating almost anything in its path.

Join Oceana to help protect incredible animals like the sunflower sea star. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2lEjmPU

California sea lions swim at top speeds of 25 miles per hour, making them the fastest among all seals and sea lions.

For more fascinating facts about these marine mammals, explore Oceana's Marine Life Encyclopedia: Oceana's Marine Life Encyclopedia.

Coral reefs are among the planet's most diverse ecosystems, akin to rainforests. Despite covering less than 1% of the seafloor, they sustain over 25% of all marine life.

However, these vital ecosystems are severely threatened, particularly by plastic pollution. Join Oceana to help protect them: #BreakFreeFromPlastic.

Three Southern Resident orcas are presumed dead, further diminishing their critically endangered population. Only 73 individuals now remain in this struggling pod.

Oceana is dedicated to protecting these starving orcas. Join us to support their survival efforts.

Learn more and get involved: https://bit.ly/2kyNITF