Photo: Andy Sharpless
Before the New Year, Oceana’s board of directors sat down for an end of year assessment and to chart our plan for 2012. It’s always amazing (and important) to look back on the accomplishments of a busy year. For us, these reflections justify the hard work we put into protecting the world’s oceans each day and reaffirm our mission to make sure they remain abundant, full of life and free from pollution.
2011, to briefly recap, was a year of many victories for Oceana. At home we helped pass the U.S. Shark Conservation Act which bans shark finning in U.S. waters. On a state level we spearheaded a campaign that helped pass the California ban on the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins. We helped pass similar shark finning legislation in Chile and defeated a second coal-fired power plant from being built along the coast of Northern Chile, a few miles from the Choros-Damas and Chañaral island marine reserves, and near the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve. The list, I’m happy to report, goes on.
While we’re incredibly proud of these victories, 2012 is all about looking forward. Right out of the gates we’re planning new European expeditions, again on the Oceana Hanse Explorer and the Oceana Ranger. They’ll allow us to explore, document, film and photograph threatened underwater habitats to support our efforts to protect the Baltic and other critical areas in European waters.
At the other end of the world, our colleagues in Chile are inching closer and closer to fully protecting the waters around Easter Island and expanding protections already won around Sala y Gómez Island. Make sure to catch the new National Geographic documentary “Lost Sharks of Easter Island” which profiles Oceana’s efforts to make this a reality!
It’s quite the agenda we have lined up, and this barely scratches the surface. So make sure to stay tuned at Oceana.org and, and if you haven’t already, become a Wavemaker to make your voice heard!
For the Oceans,
Andy Sharpless
CEO, Oceana
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