Seahorses are one of the most endearing, mystical, and beloved of all marine animals. Their strange shapes, vastly different appearances, and unique locomotion have mystified humans for centuries. To this day, however, our base of knowledge surrounding these amazing creatures is still relatively limited and we are just now really beginning to understand the depths of their existence. Read on to learn more about seahorses and the many threats they face.
Located about 40 miles south of San Franciso on California's central coast, Monterey Bay is home to one of the cutest and most iconic marine mammal species in the Pacific Ocean: the southern sea otter. Although this species is listed as "threatened," Monterey Bay continues to be one of their strongholds and much of the sea otters' success there can be attributed to the diligent work of our partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Read on to learn more about their important work and to see more of these adorable creatures.
Part of the 4ocean DNA has always been about giving back to organizations that share our vision of a clean ocean –– those organizations that are working in their own way to protect and preserve the great deep blue and all the creatures that live within it. We believe that giving back is not about what we do individually as a company but is about the end result of a collective set of ideas and actions working in conjunction for the desired outcome. That is why we have partnered with 1% for the Planet. Check out the story inside.
Cleaning the ocean is hard work for our captains and crews. Over the last couple of years, as we've continued to scale up our cleanup operations in high impact areas, it became clear that we needed to up our technology game. So we got to work building the new custom 4ocean Mobile Skimmer, which will be a powerful new tool in the fight against ocean plastic.
When it comes to marine mammals and the cuteness factor, the beloved sea otter is definitely up there at the top of the list. However, don't let their adorable faces distract you from the fact that sea otters also play a very important role in the health of their local ecosystems. For the remaining populations around the world, the conservation of this keystone species is critical and must remain a high priority if sea otters are to survive the many challenges facing them today. Warning: Adorable Photos Inside.
Ever wonder what it's like to be part of a 4ocean Cleanup Crew? Well, here's your chance to spend a day in the life! Follow the 4ocean Haiti team as they prepare for the day, clean up the ocean and coastlines, and sort all the plastic and trash they find during their cleanup. It is a lot of work and we do it 7 days a week!
Back in November of 2018, we were so excited about the launch of the 4ocean Ocean Plastic Recovery Vessel and totally fired up to start cleaning up massive amounts of plastic pollution from river mouths and the ocean. But, we quickly learned that she just wasn't quite ready to start her mission. So, it was back to the shipyard for some modifications. Check out all the new things we needed to get her back underway.
When 4ocean began in January 2017, we had no idea that within a couple of years there would be 4ocean Cleanup Operations on two continents and the Caribbean. The 1-Year Anniversary of the 4ocean Haiti location passed just a short time ago so we sent our video and photography team south to capture the milestone and the ensuing celebration –– boy what a party it turned out to be!
We teamed up with the Miami Police Department Marine Division and their Youth Police Explorers to clean up Pace Picnic Island in Miami's famous Biscayne Bay, which is home to many endangered species and other fish and animals that need protection from ocean plastic pollution. And, wow, wait until you see some of the things that we found during the cleanup.
When most people think about the Florida Everglades, the last thing they probably think about is Disney World, EPCOT, and Universal Studios. But the reality is, just south and east of these world-famous Orlando theme parks, there is a little-known waterway called Shingle Creek winding its way behind such luxurious resorts as the Ritz Carlton, the Rosen, and JW Marriott. Surprisingly enough, this is where the water story begins –– this is where Everglades begins. And unfortunately, where the problems begin, too.
There is a man, an adventurer, an incredible athlete that is out in the middle of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch today free swimming in the vast blue expanse of the now infamous trash gyre to raise awareness about and help advance the science of plastic pollution in the ocean. This expedition is called The Vortex Swim and it is helping move the needle on the science of ocean plastic pollution.
Whale sharks' enormous size may deter most predators, but it doesn't protect them from ocean plastic pollution. While they're the biggest fish in the sea, whale sharks are most threatened by the tiniest plastic particles polluting the ocean: microplastic.
SeaTrees are a new concept in ocean conservation from SustainableSurf.org. These "regenerative" projects create an #OceanPositive effect because they protect and restore critical habits that sequester carbon at up to 5x's the rate of terrestrial forests. Learn more about SustainableSurf.org and what you can do to plant your first SeaTree.
The 4ocean team hit the water in an attempt to help break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Underwater Cleanup. It was a group effort that included people from all over the world coming together for one purpose –– to clean the ocean. Having pulled thousands of pounds of trash and debris from the ocean, check inside to see just how many people it took to set the new mark.
Each year we mark World Oceans Day on our calendar knowing that it's one of our biggest opportunities to reach millions of people around the world at once with our message of a cleaner ocean. This year, New York City, the United Nations, the Peace Boat, and Rockaway Beach played host to the 4ocean team for the weekend and as it turns out, World Oceans Day 2019 was an adventure beyond our wildest expectations.
Traveling 80 miles across the Gulfstream in the Atlantic Ocean can be a daunting task in a boat. Now think about making that same crossing on a paddleboard — intimidating, right? Now imagine that you have cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that causes damage to your lungs as well as other organs. Do you think you could make it?
If you guessed a group of incredibly dedicated and eco-aware 5th graders from Princeton Day School in New Jersey, you'd be correct! The students discovered 4ocean on the internet and began to research exactly what it is that we do. See how our inspiration is helping them raise awareness about the ocean plastic pollution crisis and how their effort has grown into something even bigger!
Octopuses are part of the "cephalopoda" class of mollusks, which literally means "head-foot," and they're some of the most intelligent and elusive creatures in the ocean. They have an uncanny ability to disappear into their surroundings to escape predators or to hunt for their prey, but ocean plastic pollution is threatening their habits all over the world. Inside, there are links to some awesome videos we put together that will amaze you and leave you heartbroken at the same time.
As complex of an ecosystem as the Everglades is, the history and politics of how it came to be in such a dire state may be even more complex. But there simply isn't enough room in this short post to get into all of that. Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the Everglades need our help. So take a stand and support Everglades restoration now!
We are happy to introduce 4ocean Bali, 4ocean Haiti, and 4ocean Florida Instagram channels for Cleanup Operations! We can't wait to begin sharing more information on a regular basis about these operations, the amazing teams, all of the upgrades we are doing in these locations as well as some local stories that just make you feel good about what we are doing there. Make sure to add each one of them and stay tuned for more updates.
When one of our daily cleanup crew members from 4ocean Miami found a bird that didn't quite look right, he jumped into rescue mode and ferried the sick gull over to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Rescue Station for a little rehab and recovery. Check out the video of the story inside!
We're educating the world about a global icon: the Great Barrier Reef. Not only that, but we are also supporting a nonprofit that is out there on the front lines keeping an eye on the changes happening to the Great Barrier Reef and creating solutions for its preservation.
It's always great to get out on the water with one of our 4ocean Captains to see how it is out there on the front lines these days. We got a chance to join Captain Denise Salas and her crew to get a bit of perspective and see how they are making a difference every day.
In our Meet the Team Blog Series, we will take a look at some of the 4ocean employees cleaning up the ocean and coastlines around the world. We all know the problem of ocean plastic pollution is a complicated one, but we have people like Captain Louie out there every day tackling the problem head-on!