Life Below Water

“Tomás! Come on, the ship is leaving—we have to go,” Rodrigo yelled.

“Ah, what’s the point, Rodrigo? The fish are going to dry out within the next couple of months, and we’ll have to leave anyway.”

Half a year ago, Tomás thought there was no hope for their homes. He had started packing to leave. But just as he was finishing, trucks showed up outside the city meeting area.

Within a few weeks, they were all briefed on what areas to avoid when fishing and were leased eco-friendly gear that wouldn’t harm their environment.

So, within those six short months, the fish population didn’t dwindle—instead, it grew to higher levels than even their parents had seen. With a few simple changes and a wealth of new knowledge, they were able to save their community, preserve their culture, and protect the way of life that would continue to inspire future generations.

Nonprofits working on Goal 14:

1. Oceana
   • URL: oceana.org
   • About: Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, advocating for policies that reduce overfishing, protect marine ecosystems, and preserve biodiversity in the seas.
2. Marine Conservation Institute
   • URL: marine-conservation.org
   • About: The Marine Conservation Institute works to safeguard marine biodiversity through science, policy advocacy, and creating marine protected areas to conserve ocean life and ecosystems.
3. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
   • URL: seashepherd.org
   • About: Sea Shepherd actively defends ocean wildlife and habitats by intervening in illegal activities such as poaching and overfishing, focusing on direct action to protect marine life.
4. The Ocean Cleanup
   • URL: theoceancleanup.com
   • About: The Ocean Cleanup develops technology to rid the world’s oceans of plastic waste. Their mission is to tackle pollution at the source, cleaning up the ocean for future generations.
5. World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
   • URL: worldwildlife.org
   • About: WWF works globally to conserve marine habitats and protect endangered marine species, advocating for sustainable fisheries and promoting responsible practices to safeguard ocean ecosystems.
6. Blue Ventures
   • URL: blueventures.org
   • About: Blue Ventures partners with coastal communities to design and implement sustainable conservation solutions that protect marine ecosystems while promoting livelihoods and long-term resilience.
7. The Coral Triangle Initiative
   • URL: coraltriangleinitiative.org
   • About: The Coral Triangle Initiative focuses on preserving the biodiversity of one of the world’s most vital marine ecosystems through collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices and marine protection.
8. International Marinelife Alliance
   • URL: imal.org
   • About: This nonprofit works to protect marine life and ensure sustainable practices in ocean conservation, with a focus on preserving coral reefs and supporting communities in marine resource management.
9. Marine Conservation Group
   • URL: marineconservation.org
   • About: Marine Conservation Group advocates for the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity, engaging in public education and active conservation projects to address issues like habitat destruction and overfishing.
10. Wildlife Conservation International
    • URL: wildlifeconservation.org
    • About: This organization works globally to protect marine species and habitats through research, advocacy, and policy development, focusing on the sustainable use of ocean resources.