Ocean advocacy organization Oceana has created the National Business Coalition for the Ocean to unite businesses to support policies intended to protect the ocean.
Formed earlier this year, the coalition leverages the voices of businesses to help win policy victories. Any size business across the United States is encouraged to join, including restaurants, scuba dive operators, or any specialty is welcome.
There is no fee to join and businesses can decide on what issues matter most to their business.
Oceana is currently working on several campaigns. One currently highlighted at this year’s DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida is the plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale.
Currently the most endangered whale, there are only around 360 remaining. The two main threats to this species are ship strikes and fishing activities. Oceana is working to reduce vessel strikes by increased federal regulations on vessel speeds and management areas as well as enhance compliance.
Regarding fishing, entanglements are the leading cause of deaths. Oceana is recommending improved fishing gear and practices to reduce entanglements in addition to implementing time-management to close fisheries when right whales are known to aggregate or during sightings.
For more info on the National Business Coalition for the Ocean, go to Oceana.org/BusinessCoalition.
