Oceans

The oceans regulate our climate, provide for billions of people and are home to so much biodiversity.

But they’re under threat from climate change, industrial fishing, plastic pollution, and the threats of deep sea mining. Ocean protection can’t wait any longer.

Turtle in East Pacific Ocean. © Alex Hofford / Greenpeace

What We’re Facing

Our oceans are in crisis — and so are we. The very systems that sustain life below water are being pushed to collapse. Oil exploration, the effects of global warming, land reclamation projects, and plastic pollution are causing extremely negative impacts on marine ecosystems and marine life.

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its worst bleaching event to date with studies showing 93 percent of the reef being effected. Bleaching is caused by the warmer temperature of the waters brought about by the El Nino system. This current event gives a window into the impacts of climate change. Additionally parts of the reef have been damaged by cyclones, the severity and frequency of which will also increase with  global temperature rise. The Australian Federal Government and the Queensland State Government this year granted approvals for the Carmichael Coal Mine, the largest ever in Australia, which will export coal through the Great Barrier Reef. The emissions from the burned coal directly contributes to the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef.

While the severest bleaching occurred in the northern parts of the reef, this documentation was captured in the mid section, at Green Island and Fitzroy Island, both just off the coast of Cairns.

Coral reefs at risk

Malaysia, part of the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine region on Earth, now has only 47.83% live coral cover left. (Source)

Catch on board FU YUANG YU 380 Chinese fishing boat. Chinese and Guinean mixed crew, sort the fish. 
Greenpeace is on tour in West African waters to address the problem of overfishing in the region.

Barely protected, yet exploited

Though they cover nearly half the planet, only 1% of the high seas are protected — leaving fragile marine habitats exposed to industrial fishing, deep-sea mining, and unchecked exploitation. (Source)

A skimmer with Clean Gulf Associates skims oil that leaked from a flow line at one of Shell's drilling sites about 90 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico.  The company says about 88,200 gallons of oil leaked from the line.

Oceans are absorbing our damage

Our oceans absorb about 30% of the CO₂ we produce, but they’re reaching a breaking point. Acidification, rising temperatures, and habitat degradation threaten marine life — and our climate stability. (Source)

What We’re Building Together

We envision living, thriving oceans, where marine life is protected, coastlines are resilient, and the people who depend on the sea are treated with dignity, not exploited.


No plastic, no poison

Ban single-use plastics and industrial waste, such as oil spill, that choke our oceans and poison marine ecosystems.


End forced labour at sea

No one is exploited for profit. Migrant fishers work with dignity, while coastal communities lead and benefit from sustainable oceans.


Thriving marine ecosystems

Safeguard biodiversity hotspots like Malaysia’s coral triangle from destructive fishing and pollution.


Protected blue planet

Coral reefs, fish populations, and biodiversity bounce back — protected from overfishing, deep-sea mining, and pollution.

Our Work for Oceans

From bold global action to direct public engagement, we work across borders to protect and restore our oceans.

Greenpeace Seoul held an Ocean Drone show on 18th, August at Seoul Forest Park in Korea to engage people and push the global leaders for a strong Global Ocean Treaty at UN BBMK IGC5 in New York from 15th to 26th, August 
Embroidered Ocean: Sea creatures such as whales, sea turtles, penguins, and messages of ocean protection with 300 drones in the Seoul sky highlight the urgent need for Ocean protection.

Global Oceans Treaty

After years of tireless campaigning, a historic agreement was reached to safeguard marine life in international waters. We continue pushing governments to ratify and enforce it, turning promises into protection.

Greenpeace volunteers share their knowledge of the Rainbow Warrior with visitors on the ship's helideck in Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Ship Tours

Our iconic Rainbow Warrior ship has sailed through Southeast Asia’s rich waters, from Indonesia and Malaysia, bringing the call for ocean protection to life. At every port, we work with local communities, amplify their stories, and build momentum to safeguard our seas.

Purple Seastar discovered at the "Unnamed" seamount. 

Greenpeace will gather scientific evidence of the diversity, distribution and connectivity of fauna in Arctic deep-sea ecosystems in the mining area - with particular focus on vulnerable, rare, endemic and undescribed species - in order to trigger international, regional and national conservation protocols.
© Solvin Zankl / Greenpeace

Deep Arctic Expedition

Globally, Greenpeace is conducting a deep sea expedition to the Arctic for the first time with a team of scientists from various renowned research institutions. We will explore the deep sea, to protect it with scientific evidence ensuring it remains safe for generations to come.

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Together we are part of a growing, global movement determined to bring about the changes our planet desperately needs.