People used to think that the oceans were so vast and marine animals so plentiful that humans could not damage marine ecosystems. We now know that is not true and our oceans are vulnerable. Many populations of whales are depleted or threatened with extinction like northern right whales of which 350 remain. All seven species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered. 

Destructive overfishing, pollution and habitat damage are putting important marine animals at risk. Many populations are in serious decline. One important way to save these magnificent species is to end destructive overfishing.    

A respected group of marine scientists recently predicted that at the current rate of fishing most commercially valuable fish species will collapse in the next 40 years all over the world. In U.S. waters about one quarter of all fish stocks are depleted and many are not being rebuilt to healthy levels.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is currently finalizing rules regulating fishing practices in our oceans.  Large multi-national fishing companies are pushing them to keep rules lax so they can continue business as usual.  It is critical that they hear from the public in a big way to ensure they come out with rules that will help restore our oceans health.   

One of our key tactics is collecting and delivering at least 50,000 public comments (and tens of thousands more in coalition with other concerned groups) to the director of the National Marine Fisheries Service calling for strong, clear rules that stop overfishing and hold commercial fishing operations accountable for going over annual catch limits.