Marine Conservation - Protecting Our Oceans and Coasts for People and Nature

Less than 1% of our world's oceans are currently protected.
With your help, we can conserve marine habitat around the world.

Once considered a limitless and inexhaustible resource, oceans are in jeopardy. The demands of a growing population are damaging marine ecosystems and depleting ocean and coastal resources. New and innovative approaches are needed now to maintain and restore the biological wealth of the world's oceans and coasts.

What The Nature Conservancy Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy is turning the tide of coastal degradation and shaping a future of healthy oceans. With the leadership of our Global Marine Initiative, we work with partners around the world to find lasting solutions that benefit marine life, local communities and coastal economies by:

Conserving ocean and coastal ecosystems will improve water quality, protect diverse marine habitat and benefit economies and livelihoods of coastal communities for generations. Through science, market-based strategies, restoration and resilient habitat protection, The Nature Conservancy finds innovative, lasting solutions for marine conservation.

What's New:

Urban Whales: Migratory Routes as Busy as Highways
Are we running out of room for whales and other marine animals in the Gulf of Maine? See our plan to help.

From Sea to Plate
Can conservationists, fishermen, chefs and consumers work together to find new ways of living off our waters while keeping nature healthy? In three Atlantic Coast communities, I found hopeful examples of people doing just that.

Spreading Hope Through
Reef Resilience Training
The Nature Conservancy and partners are leading workshops for reef managers around the world about the impacts of climate change on reefs and what strategies they can take to address issues like bleaching.

Shellfish Reefs at Risk
More than 85 percent of oyster reefs have been lost due to destructive fishing practices and other threats. Find out more in a comprehensive report from The Nature Conservancy.

What You Can Do

Get the facts and tips you need to help the Conservancy change the course for our oceans and coasts and the people who depend on them.

Go Deeper

Download our brochure for an overview of what we're doing to protect the world's oceans.

Images (left to right, top to bottom): Lagoon at the Palmyra Atoll © Robert Schallenberger; Clown fish in anemone © Daniel and Robbie Wisdom, Scientists © David Wachenfeld/Triggerfish Images

What's New:

Urban Whales: Migratory Routes as Busy as Highways Are we running out of room for whales and other marine animals in the Gulf of Maine? See our plan to help.

From Sea to Plate Can conservationists, fishermen, chefs and consumers work together to find new ways of living off our waters while keeping nature healthy? In three Atlantic Coast communities, I found hopeful examples of people doing just that.

Spreading Hope Through Reef Resilience Training The Nature Conservancy and partners are leading workshops for reef managers around the world about the impacts of climate change on reefs and what strategies they can take to address issues like bleaching.

Shellfish Reefs at Risk More than 85 percent of oyster reefs have been lost due to destructive fishing practices and other threats. Find out more in a comprehensive report from The Nature Conservancy.