The ocean keeps us - and our planet - alive. However, threats ranging from illegal fishing and overfishing to the climate crisis have put immense pressure on our planet’s blue, beating heart. Ocean defenders worldwide fight to protect the ocean, but they often lack the resources to expand their efforts. We partner with five leading ocean conservation organizations to remove these obstacles and amplify their impact. Through strategic support, funding, leadership and advocacy training, we strive to unlock their full potential.
What we do
Local NGOs working with coastal communities have a deep understanding of the threats facing our ocean and the expertise needed to protect it. For years, they have listened to the concerns of the people who depend on the ocean and supported them in addressing the consequences of the climate crisis and destructive ocean-related projects, such as mining, fossil fuel or petrochemical development. They have built trusted relationships and partnered with communities to develop projects that grow their livelihoods while respecting their environment. Despite their skills and commitment, limited funding, political constraints, and uneven power dynamics often restrict their ability to deliver a large-scale impact.
We have identified five high-potential organisations working on ocean conservation in West Africa and Southeast Asia, and developed a targeted leadership programme to expand their reach. Through in-person and remote workshops, mentoring and material support, we aim to equip these leaders with the resources and capacity they need to drive change at the national and global level.
We help organisations to spotlight marine conservation issues. We provide bespoke, targeted training, equipment and skill-sharing workshops to share our experience on research, film, communications and strategic advocacy. This enables our partners to create impactful reports that capture attention and prompt action.
We strengthen organisational resilience. We help ensure our partners’ structures allow them to thrive in the long term. We work with them to anticipate and prepare for challenges, including by diversifying their funding and communications strategies, refining their security practices and building roadmaps to drive strategic change.
We grow their network and leadership role. Our partners are deeply rooted in their communities and know the value of inclusivity. Recognising their leadership, we work to increase the opportunities they have to take grassroots concerns to the highest decision makers.
The challenges facing ocean defenders
In their efforts to safeguard oceans, defenders encounter several obstacles. By seeking to hold corporations and governments accountable, they expose themselves to various risks - including harassment and threats, violence, lawsuits and criminalisation.
Besides insecurity, ocean defenders’ actions can also be constrained by a lack of visibility, limited access to powerful allies and gaps in their technical expertise (legal, security, digital). They also have few opportunities to attend training that is adapted to their context and needs.
By sharing contacts, providing funding and adapted expertise, EJF clears these obstacles and allows ocean defenders to thrive.
Where we work
The waters of Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines and Liberia are hotspots for both marine biodiversity and for marine exploitation, including illegal fishing. EJF has worked in these countries for years, an experience that has given us an in-depth understanding of the issues and positioned us with a network of allies. This experience means we are well-positioned to navigate national contexts and intricacies and now help elevate other organisations to do the same.
Among our many other ocean campaigns, we work to reduce illegal fishing and support coastal communities in Liberia, tackle destructive fishing and associated human trafficking in Thailand’s seafood sector, and clean up the ocean with our Net Free Seas project in Thailand and Indonesia. This work aligns with the efforts of the local leaders we support, and our partnerships will further develop them.
The ocean defenders we support make a difference by
- Restoring mangrove and marine ecosystems and protecting coral reefs
- Campaigning for better laws and enforcement to protect the ocean
- Educating the next generation on ocean conservation
- Strengthening coastal communities’ resilience
- Advocating for fishers’ rights at the national and global level
- Working with fisheries industry to develop fairer and more sustainable practices
- Monitoring human rights
Our ocean at risk
The ocean produces around half of the world’s oxygen, more than all of the world’s forests. Despite its vital importance, it is threatened like never before. By 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
From the climate crisis and pollution to unsustainable, industrial and illegal fishing, entire ecosystems are on the verge of extinction.
The global ‘blue’ economy is also marred with exploitation and human rights violations. While more than 3.5 billion people rely on the oceans as their primary source of food and income, thousands work as modern-day slaves in the fishing industry.
To prevent even more destruction to people and planet, it is urgent we change the way we interact with our ocean and support the coastal communities on the frontlines who want to protect it.
