The Ocean Foundation

09/30/2026

Climate Week NYC brought a lot of big ideas about the future of shipping, including nuclear-powered cargo ships. Our President, Mark J Spalding, spent the week in those conversations and shares what he learned in a new blog.

Mark writes about the practical changes that can cut shipping emissions today, the debate over which fuels will power ships in the decades ahead, and the questions he kept asking about nuclear propulsion. Who is liable if something goes wrong? Who insures it? Who is responsible for a wreck decades from now? He connects these questions to the Ocean Heritage Initiative's work on Potentially Polluting Wrecks (PPWs). Many of these World War II-era wrecks are corroding with fuel still in their tanks, and some are now leaking oil. Mark's point is that the risks need clear answers before the first nuclear-powered merchant ship is launched, not after.

Read Mark's reflections here: https://oceanfdn.org/at-climate-week-i-kept-thinking-about-shipwrecks/

The Ocean Foundation President Mark J. Spalding shares his reflections on conversations around the shipping industry at NY Climate Week 2026.

09/28/2026

The Ocean Foundation’s Ocean Science Equity (EquiSea) Initiative has launched EquiSea’s 2026 Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) Cohort - bringing together 22 ocean acidification and carbonate chemistry researchers from 17 countries.

The Ocean Foundation believes local scientific leaders worldwide are essential to building a strong scientific mCDR community and advancing high-quality research on carbon storage potential and ecosystem impacts.

Through this program, cohort members are deepening their scientific expertise in mCDR research, exploring actionable tools for project design and ex*****on, and building lasting collaborations through knowledge exchange and cross-regional connections. Cohort participants are completing an online mCDR course, participating in an interactive workshop and networking event with subject-matter experts, and attending the 6th International Ocean in a High CO₂ World Symposium.

Please join us in welcoming these accomplished researchers into The Ocean Foundation community. We look forward to introducing the 2026 cohort over the next couple of months and sharing more about their work and expertise.

09/25/2026

🌊 We’re in San Francisco for the !

Ben Scheelk and Manuel Merello of our Blue Resilience Initiative are taking part in the Restore America's Estuaries 2026 Summit alongside our partners from Puerto Rico's DRNA and Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust (VCHT).

A great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and bring our collective coastal resilience work into the conversation. 🇵🇷🌎

09/24/2026

There are always consequences of war. The oil spills occurring as a result of the war in Iran threaten a multitude of ocean habitats and marine life.

A recent spill in Oman is impacting “one of the world’s most important loggerhead turtle nesting sites, and habitat for the Arabian Sea humpback whale, the only non-migratory humpback population on Earth,” as our president, Mark J Spalding, has been raising the alarm about.

“More than a dozen tankers have been damaged or destroyed in and around the Strait of Hormuz since Aug. 31, according to a USA TODAY analysis of reports from the United States military, Reuters and maritime organizations.”

The environmental consequences of war can extend far beyond the battlefield, and far beyond the duration of the conflict. We are seeing this through The Ocean Foundation’s Ocean Heritage Initiative (https://oceanfdn.org/initiatives/ocean-heritage-initiative), where we are working to understand and address the risks posed by potentially polluting wrecks left behind from WWII that still contain oil and other hazardous materials decades later.

Read the full article: https://www.thestate.com/news/nation-world/world/article317338299.html

As hostilities in the Middle East drag on, the trail of damaged or destroyed oil tankers and energy facilities is increasingly raising concerns about the oily mess the conflict is leaving behind.

09/21/2026

President Mark J. Spalding and EquiSea Program Manager Meagan Gary are representing The Ocean Foundation at .

Meagan is speaking on a panel tomorrow morning hosted by and moderated by Simmone Shah of TIME entitled, "By what measure: Who gets to define success for climate solutions?"

Let us know if you would like to connect!

09/19/2026

La Reserva Bahía de Jobos (JBNERR) les invita a participar de una reunión pública en modalidad híbrida el sábado 19 de septiembre de 2026 de 10:00 am a 12:00 m. En esta se presentará el borrador del Plan de Manejo y se dará a conocer la fase de comentarios públicos. La reunión se llevará a cabo en el Centro de Visitantes en el poblado histórico de Aguirre en Salinas, PR-703, km. 2.3.
¡Los esperamos!

09/16/2026

We are excited to welcome Lauren M. Gaiser to The Ocean Foundation!

Lauren joins our Blue Resilience Initiative team as a Program Operations Associate. She survived her first week at TOF and hit the ground running! In her new role, she supports general operations, knowledge management, fundraising, and monitoring and evaluation for BRI.

We’re thrilled to have her on the team and look forward to all she’ll bring to our work. Welcome, Lauren! 🌊

09/15/2026

Welcome to The Ocean Foundation Mia!

Mia joined our team in July as the Chief Operating Officer. In her role, Mia supports the Foundation’s organizational effectiveness and works to strengthen the systems, partnerships, and resources that enable ocean-focused projects and initiatives to advance their work.