Ocean Conservation Society

Ocean Conservation Society Ocean Conservation Society conducts scientific and educational projects leading to the protection of our oceans. and around the world.
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http://www.oceanconservation.org
http://www.oceanconservation.org/involved/adopt.htm
http://www.oceanconservation.org/donate/donate.htm WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Ocean Conservation Society is a nonprofit organization conducting long-term marine mammal research and educational projects for the protection of the oceans and marine wildlife. We study dolphins, whales, and other species in the wild and

use our scientific data to bring about policy changes, raise public awareness, and protect these animals for future generations to appreciate. THE INSPIRATION BEHIND OUR WORK
Our future depends on the understanding that we are part of an interdependent system. The spirit of our research is to help us to know more about our place in nature. We must respect our planet and leave space for other species to thrive. As we learn more, we are committed to teaching others what we know, as our hope for coming generations lies in their understanding and appreciation of our environment. One of our main goals is to aid in the implementation of sustainable development strategies toward a healthy future for our oceans. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS OUR FOUNDATION
Conservation - We focus on field studies that have a measurable conservation impact. We are the only nonprofit conducting long-term, year-round research on marine mammals off Los Angeles, California. Collaboration - We share our data with other research institutions to better understand trends, identify important habitats to inform decisions about Marine Protected Areas, and protect marine mammals. Publications - We’ve published 30+ peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals to help answer important research questions and draw accurate conclusions based on professionally conducted experimentation. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Over the decades, we’ve conducted numerous educational, capacity-building and outreach programs and campaigns, earning a Certificate of Commendations by the City of Los Angeles, plus many other awards for the quality of our research and conservation work. Our educational programs are built on a foundation of science – we not only raise public awareness of marine environmental issues but also stimulate active social engagement in them. This approach helps us inspire decision-makers and the public to take action toward the conservation of these magnificent ocean species and the only Planet we have. We are committed to widely sharing what we’ve learned about the marine life we study and the need to protect them through a variety of media and initiatives:
1. Mentorship & Training - The OCS team, led by Dr. Maddalena Bearzi, actively mentor and train our volunteers to become confidently involved in hands-on marine mammal research and educational outreach activities.
2. Educational Outreach - We conduct seminars, workshops and community events geared for all educational levels, and have lectured in the U.S. Online + Offline - We develop online educational campaigns and offline components, including pamphlets and books. We highly engage with media via hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, tv and radio appearances, including the National Geographic Newsroom. Ocean Conservation Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit:
Tax ID #95-4691853. Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please, check our website at www.oceanconservation.org to learn more!

OCS cartoon of the week
05/24/2026

OCS cartoon of the week

MORE BAD NEWS FOR WHALES - More Gray Whales Are Visiting San Francisco Bay, and Many Die ThereA recent study revealed th...
05/15/2026

MORE BAD NEWS FOR WHALES - More Gray Whales Are Visiting San Francisco Bay, and Many Die There

A recent study revealed that gray whales in San Francisco Bay are dying at alarming rates. Nearly 1 in 5 whales that come into the Bay don't make it out alive, and many are being killed by ship strikes. But why are the gray whales there in the first place?

Climate impacts are decimating the Arctic food chain. Arctic sea ice is melting earlier, and phytoplankton are disappearing far too soon. As these impacts travel up the food chain, hungry gray whales are changing their long-traveled migration routes in search of food … including journeying into the foggy, heavily-trafficked waters of San Francisco.

The Arctic may be thousands of miles away from San Francisco Bay, but the ecosystem problems happening there have impacts more far-reaching than first meets the eye.

🗞️ Read more about these recent whale deaths in The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/climate/gray-whales-san-francisco-bay.html

📸 The New York Times

The animals might be entering the Bay in search of food as climate change disrupts traditional sources. They face huge risks from ships in the area.

SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY -Cloacal diving... Hiding in plain sight!Researchers report for the first time repeate...
05/13/2026

SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY -
Cloacal diving... Hiding in plain sight!

Researchers report for the first time repeated observations of remoras (Echeneidae) cloacal diving behaviour in manta rays.

original paper: Hiding in Plain Sight: Evidence of Echeneidae Cloacal and Gill Diving Behavior in Manta Ray Hosts
Open-access - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.73548

© 2026 the Author(s). Published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) license.

Here we document seven observations of Echeneidae cloacal diving behavior in manta rays and one observation of gill attachment behavior. These observations span all three currently described species ...

The Unlikely Rescue of Timmy, the Stranded WhaleThe whale was stuck in an exposed hollow off the island of Poel, near Wi...
05/03/2026

The Unlikely Rescue of Timmy, the Stranded Whale

The whale was stuck in an exposed hollow off the island of Poel, near Wismar, Germany. Several scientists said that an ailing humpback should be left to die in peace. A motley crew of privately funded rescuers disagreed.

Read this article about the rescue of Timmy the Whale:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-unlikely-rescue-of-timmy-the-stranded-humpback-whale

Based on information from the organizers and the funders of the rescue effort, Timmy the humpback whale was released into the ocean by the captain of the tugboat and his crew at approximately 8:45 am, local time, May 2nd.

image: the whale lies stuck in an exposed hollow off the island of Poel, near Wismar, Germany. Photograph by Philip Dulian / dpa / Getty

Three coastal bottlenose dolphins just off Malibu, California, during one of the our latest research surveys.Image: 2026...
04/23/2026

Three coastal bottlenose dolphins just off Malibu, California, during one of the our latest research surveys.

Image: 2026maddalenabearzi/OCS (under NOAA permit)

04/22/2026
NEWS - After gray whale dies 20 miles inland in WA, experts fear for speciesThree gray whales have turned up dead in Sou...
04/06/2026

NEWS - After gray whale dies 20 miles inland in WA, experts fear for species

Three gray whales have turned up dead in Southwest Washington this week, a worrying sign that these ocean dwellers are struggling to bounce back after years of drastic death counts and dwindling birth rates, according to experts.

One gray whale amazed and confounded onlookers for days after winding up 20 miles inland in the Willapa River. The whale was found dead in the river Saturday near Raymond, in Pacific County. Researchers suspect hunger may have driven the whale to new hunting grounds.

Read full article here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/after-gray-whale-dies-20-miles-inland-in-wa-experts-fear-for-species/

Image: A gray whale is seen in the Willapa River on Saturday. (Courtesy of Todd John) - The Seattle Times

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Marina Del Rey, CA

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