Oceana in the Southeast

10/06/2026

Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are on the verge of extinction. Only around 380 of these whales remain, but some in Congress are moving a bill to delay critical protections for the species.

These whales don’t have time to wait. Join us in telling the U.S. Senate to stop this bill and give these whales the protections they deserve: https://oceana.ly/4dGCTpO

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10/02/2026

Solemi Hernandez, Oceana Florida Field Representative, gave a presentation in Spanish today about Oceana’s work to protect our oceans at the Miccosukee Arts & Science Symposium 2026.

Thank you, Love The Everglades Movement!

10/02/2026

United States Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Ashley Moody (R-Florida) introduced legislation today that would protect parts of the Gulf of Mexico off Florida from offshore oil and gas drilling.

The Protecting Florida’s Offshore Military Readiness Act would prevent any interference that could impede the federal government’s ability to maintain military readiness through training and other activities within the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) in the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore drilling.

Oceana thanks Senators Scott and Moody for this important legislation that will protect oceans from expanded offshore oil and gas drilling. Congress must pass this bill and continue working to protect Florida’s coastline, and all our coastlines, from the Trump administration’s misguided offshore drilling proposal.

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Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are seeking a moratorium on oil and gas production in a huge swath of the Gulf used for military training.

09/30/2026

Oceana in Georgia Field Representative Sheyla Ravelo Perez visited the Gray’s Reef Discovery Center in Savannah meeting with our partners at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. 🌊
Thank you to Sarah Porter and the Gray’s Reef team for the warm welcome and behind-the-scenes tour of the beautifully renovated Discovery Center. Looking forward to continued collaboration and exploring new opportunities to engage and inspire coastal communities.

09/30/2026

Last week, Oceana in Georgia Field Representative Sheyla Ravelo Perez represented Oceana at the Georgia State of the Coast Conference, joining coastal leaders, scientists, policymakers, and community partners to discuss the future of Georgia's coast. The conference provided an opportunity to make 20+ strategic connections, gain valuable insights, and identify new opportunities for collaboration in support of healthy oceans and coastal communities. 🌊

09/25/2026

Alex Aines, a marine scientist with Oceana, said that killing coral can be bad, even for commercial fishers.

“It’s not just beautiful coral, it’s also a really important habitat,” Aines told WMNF. “They provide spawning and nursery grounds for species including snapper, sea bass, grouper, sharks, shrimp. Species that support Florida’s commercial and recreational fisheries. … It’s one of the building blocks of the ecosystem.”

Coral preservation is personal for Aines. “As a scuba diver, I think when I’ve gone down on dives, coral reefs are my absolute favorite thing to see. There’s so many small organisms that live in and around the coral. … It’s always absolutely teeming with life.”

The plan would allow fishers to drag heavy nets across Florida’s ocean floor near the world’s last ivory tree coral reef structures.

09/25/2026

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries proposed to reopen 14 square nautical miles of fragile coral reef habitat in the Oculina Bank off Florida’s Atlantic coast to shrimp trawling. The area is the only known place in the world where rare ivory tree corals form massive, high-density, deep-water reef structures.

Oceana Marine Scientist Alex Aines issued the following response to this proposal:

“Reopening the Oculina Bank to trawling places one of the crown jewels of U.S. oceans at potential risk and could destroy some of the last remaining ivory tree coral structures on the planet. This fragile and critically important area has been rightfully protected for more than 40 years, and there’s simply no good reason to reopen portions of it now or ever.

“These unique and ancient coral colonies can be hundreds of years old but can be wiped out by a single pass of a trawl net. NOAA Fisheries’ proposal puts a unique habitat unlike anything in the world at risk of eradication, putting not just these corals at risk but also the economically valuable commercial and recreational fish populations that rely on them for survival. NOAA Fisheries must not move forward with this short-sighted move to sweep the Oculina Bank into history.”

Learn more and sign up for updates:

Q: Can you fish the Oculina Banks? A: To protect the fragile deep sea coral reef, the only fishing gear allowed within the Oculina Habitat Area of Protected Concern is fishing gear that does not touch the seafloor. Bottom longlines, bottom trawls, pots, and traps are prohibited, and vessels may not....

09/25/2026

This month, Oceana exhibited at the Southwest Florida Water Summit 2026. Oceana Field Representative, Solemi Hernandez, educated participants about Oceana’s work and connected with other environmental partners in Florida.

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https://usa.oceana.org/takeaction/

09/20/2026

On August 26th, Oceana joined with Endangered Species Coalition to co-host a Lunch & Learn at the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada, Florida.
Senior Field Representative Cat Uden educated Florida Keys stakeholders including fishermen, scuba divers, environmentalists, business leaders, and local elected officials about the BOEM 5 year oil and gas offshore oil leasing program and the proposed threat to the eastern Gulf.

The entire Florida Congressional Delegation signed a letter, led by Senator Rick Scott, opposing opening up drilling in the eastern Gulf. Floridians are united in keeping oil spills away from their coasts. 🦀🐙🦐🐬🐠

Find out more:
https://usa.oceana.org/climate-and-energy-grassroots-opposition-offshore-drilling-and-exploration-atlantic-ocean-and-3/

09/18/2026

A bedrock environmental law is being dramatically rewritten, and now some of our most beloved and endangered marine life could pay the price.

“The Endangered Species Act will no longer protect the habitat, the home of the species it’s trying to keep from going extinct, which doesn’t make any sense,” said Nora Ives, a marine scientist with Oceana.

The Trump administration is rescinding the definition of “harm” from the Endangered Species Act, a bill that has been the law of the land for more than 50 years.

“These changes take the teeth out of this law, and what is the value of listing a species if you can’t protect its home?” Ives said.

WPLG Local 10

South Florida’s diverse marine life isn’t just an economic driver through tourism.