About Us
After a 1999 study discovered that less than 0.5% of all resources spent by environmental nonprofit groups in the United States went to ocean advocacy, a group of leading foundations — The Pew Charitable Trusts, Oak Foundation, Marisla Foundation (formerly Homeland Foundation), Sandler Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund — banded together.
To fill the gap, they created Oceana: an international organization focused solely on oceans, dedicated to achieving specific, time-bound policy victories that help protect and restore the world’s oceans.
The Ocean Law Project — also initiated by The Pew Charitable Trusts — was absorbed into Oceana in 2001. In 2002, Oceana merged with American Oceans Campaign, founded by actor and environmentalist Ted Danson, to more effectively address our shared mission of protecting and restoring the world’s oceans.
Since its founding, Oceana has expanded its campaigns to nine coastal countries and the European Union and protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.
Why the Philippines?
The Philippines lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity. Its waters host some of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems—including vibrant coral reefs, expansive mangrove forests, and extensive seagrass beds. The country is home to 500 to 600 species of reef-building corals and over 2,000 species of marine shore fish. With 7,641 islands, enclosed seas, and rich coastal habitats, the Philippine archipelago supports an incredible variety of marine life—from sea turtles and whale sharks to small reef fishes and deep-sea organisms.
These waters also sustain highly productive fisheries, providing food and livelihoods to millions of Filipinos. As of 2022, the Philippines ranked 11th among the world’s top fish-producing countries, with a total annual production of over 4 million metric tons from capture fisheries and aquaculture. Fish remains a staple in the Filipino diet, accounting for about 56% of animal protein intake and around 12% of total food consumption.
Decline in fish catch due to overfishing and illegal fishing activities also remain a problem. Enforcement of the existing laws and regulations continues to be an obstacle to stop the destruction of marine habitats and restore fisheries abundance.
Millions of Filipinos rely on fish for food with 2.5 million municipal fishers in coastal communities dependent on fishing for their livelihood. These are compelling and critical opportunities for Oceana to work in the Philippines to restore its fisheries abundance. Achieving food and livelihood security for Filipinos requires marine conservation, habitat protection and science-based fisheries policies that are implemented in close partnership with local communities
Oceana in the Philippines
Working closely with the government, academe, civil society, and fisherfolk, Oceana upholds science-based policies to ensure that sustainable fisheries and vibrant marine ecosystems will secure the Filipino people’s food and livelihood.