Founded in 1996 by Dr. Amanda Vincent and Dr. Heather Koldewey, Project Seahorse aims to secure a world where marine ecosystems are healthy and well-managed. Their focus on saving seahorses, securing the world's shallow seas, and training conservationists to continue this important work is what they're all about. Check out some more of the great work they are doing inside. 

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.

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. 

Florida is known as the "Fishing Capital of the World," but in recent years, the world-renowned fisheries of the coastal estuaries and Everglades have been in decline as a direct result of decades of water mismanagement. To raise awareness about a unique ecosystem on the verge of collapse, we released the Everglades Bracelet in partnership with Captains For Clean Water, a nonprofit organization who's been on the front lines of the fight for the restoration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.

4ocean and Project AWARE recently reunited to #DiveAgainstDebris. With more than 54,000 participants worldwide, each and every dive brings new things to the surface that don't belong in the ocean environment. The data these divers collect is placed in a database that allows scientists to study what many refer to as "Garbology." Check out the video update to see us in action!

4ocean, in partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, is part of a very unique expedition to attach satellite tags to whale sharks so that their movements and behaviors can be analyzed, which will hopefully give us a better understanding of their migratory patterns and way of life.

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. 

What happens from the time leatherbacks are hatchlings to the time they're adults? That's exactly what our partner, Florida Atlantic University® Marine Research Lab, is trying to find out. They're one of the only institutions in the world to successfully raise leatherback hatchlings in the lab. Here's why that matters.

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.

For our May 2019 bracelet, we had the chance to showcase an animal that generally doesn't get a lot of attention when it comes to ocean conservation––the incredible octopus. But thanks to "Octo Girl" and her research, these animals may play an even bigger role in the future health of coral reefs and the ocean. 

The leatherback sea turtle is one of the oldest living turtle species in the world, dating back to the time of dinosaurs. Their adaptations for life in the open ocean have served them well for millennia, however, the same characteristics that once helped these ancient creatures to survive are now causing them some real modern problems.

It was a chance meeting between a marketer and a famous musician that sparked the passion to change the future of the ocean and led to the creation of our partner organization, Ocean Conservancy®, a global force for ocean conservation. Check out some of the incredible programs they are involved in and find out who that famous musician was.

In early April 2019, the 4ocean team had the pleasure of attending the Coral Restoration Foundation™ "Raise the Reef" Gala to help support the amazing work they are doing to restore and protect coral reefs in the Florida Keys and around the world. It was a night of insight and inspiration that will ultimately lead to the type of immediate action we need to save these precious underwater ecosystems for future generations.

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.

At 4ocean, we love the Great Barrier Reef because it is such an incredibly complex and biodiverse ecosystem. Threatened on many fronts, immediate action is necessary to save this natural treasure for future generations. Discover what our non-profit partner, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, is doing to save the Reef. They have some amazing projects that are in progress and you can check out some of their videos inside, too. 

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.

Over the winter, we had a chance to follow up with our 4ocean Legacy Partner, Save the Manatee Club, to see all the great work they are doing with manatees at Blue Springs State Park in Florida. The number of manatees there on one particular day set an all-time record high and with more than 50 calves being born, we are hoping this is a sign of a stable and growing population. Check out the video of the trip!

It is so important for the future of sea turtles that we research and follow them through their entire life cycle to make sure we understand the threats they face and what we can do to help them recover. In this post, we revisit the FAU Marine Research Lab to check in on their baby sea turtles from last year and the research being done to brighten their future. 

Manta Rays are some of the most majestic creatures in the ocean. However, they are under threat from many directions and it takes organizations like our partner, the Oceanic Preservation Society, to bring their plight to life through films and education efforts.

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. They are under threat from a myriad of man-made causes including ocean plastic and trash. We have partnered with The Marine Mammal Center to support the Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian monk seal hospital which is helping to save these amazing creatures. Here are 10 facts about Hawaiian monk seals so you can get to know and love them just like we do.

Kilo was found orphaned and starving on a privately owned island in Hawai’i but was released back into the wild after 7 months of care at Ke Kai Ola, the Hawaiian monk seal hospital opened by The Marine Mammal Center. Now she's the newest member of the 4ocean family!