Oceana in New England

06/08/2026

If you want to understand the Problem with Plastic, this is a a fabulous event with experts on this critical issue that you do not want to miss. Hope to see you there! Don't forget to RSVP!

🚨EVENT NEXT WEEK🚨 Beantown area peeps, please join our president Judith Enck at the Brookline Booksmith in MA on Weds, June 17 for a free talk about our new book “The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late.” We hope to see you there and then.

This event is free and open to all but please RSVP in advance: https://www.beyondplastics.org/events/brookline-booksmith

🏷️ Judith Enck, The New Press, Brookline Booksmith

06/01/2026

FINAL CALL!! Deadline is tomorrow! please submit comments TODAY to help protect North Atlantic right whales.

In 2008, NOAA issued the Vessel Speed Rule. It established two types of management tools to slow large boats and protect North Atlantic right whales from boat strikes.

But now, NMFS is considering possible deregulatory action to modify and modernize the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule.

Oceana is urging NOAA to make demonstrable improvements in its whale risk strategy such as realignment of slow zones, inclusion of more boat types, and improved enforcement.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Submit YOUR substantive public comment to the Federal Register before the June 2nd deadline here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2026-0364-0001

Rare North Atlantic right whales just wrapped up their annual calving season!

But as they migrate north with 23 new calves, the U.S. government may soon remove a key protection that enables these gentle giants to travel safely.

NOAA is considering weakening the 2008 vessel speed rule that helps reduce the risk of catastrophic boat strikes that are a threat to whales and people alike.

With only around 380 of these gentle giants remaining, we cannot afford to roll back these protections.

Defend these gentle giants: https://oceana.ly/4mu4RIt

05/15/2026

"We can let the North Atlantic right whale slip quietly into memory, or we can act with the urgency this moment demands. Defending and strengthening the Vessel Speed Rule is one of the simplest, most effective steps we can take to protect these whales and the ecosystem they support."

In 2008, NOAA issued the Vessel Speed Rule. It established two types of management tools to slow large boats and protect North Atlantic right whales from boat strikes.

But now, NMFS is considering possible deregulatory action to modify and modernize the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule.

Oceana is urging NOAA to make demonstrable improvements in its whale risk strategy such as realignment of slow zones, inclusion of more boat types, and improved enforcement.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Submit YOUR substantive public comment to the Federal Register before the June 2nd deadline here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2026-0364-0001

Read the full article in the Coastal Review here:
https://coastalreview.org/2026/05/i-grew-up-on-this-coast-i-wont-watch-right-whales-disappear/

Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales face a crisis they can’t outswim — and a recent move by the federal government threatens to make a dire situation even worse.

05/15/2026

Enough is enough! Our oceans are drowning in plastic pollution. We need strong policies at the State and Federal level to reduce the production and use of single use plastics.

In Massachusetts, unlike some of our neighboring states, we still do not have a statewide ban on plastic foam, plastic bags, and black plastic. Contact your MA Representative today and urge them to include these items in the Governor’s environmental bond bill aka the “Mass Ready Act” (S.3064)

Act Now by sending a message directly to your representative using our online petition: https://act.oceana.org/page/180670/action/1?ea.tracking.id=field

05/14/2026

Some businesses are already turning the tide on plastic by modeling reuse methods and advocating for policy changes that scale up those solutions. In an effort to highlight some of the businesses pursuing solutions, Oceana is telling their stories through a blog series: Businesses Breaking Up with Plastic.

Check out our first featured business, Cup Zero!

Single-use plastic and plastic foam

05/04/2026

Sharing pics from the pellet count done on May 2 in Gloucester, MA by our friends at Seaside Sustainability.

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

On May 2, people around the world participated in the 2nd international plastic pellet count.

These pea-sized pellets, which are the building blocks for most plastic products, are regularly spilled during manufacturing and transportation. Each year over 490,000 tons of these pellets flood the world's oceans and environment.

Oceana joined our friends from Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) and Environment Massachusetts at M Street Beach in Boston - we searched for 20 minutes and found 0 pellets during our survey event.

Our friends from Seaside Sustanability hosted a similar cleanup and found pellets at Cripple Cove in Gloucester.

Events like these are a strong reminder of the importance of community science and how people can come together to protect our blue world. Thank you to everyone who participated!

You can help! Urge your member of Congress to pass the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act:
https://act.oceana.org/page/190056/action/1?ea.tracking.id=field

04/30/2026