Oceana is gearing up for its highly anticipated 16th annual SeaChange Summer Party, which will be held on Saturday, July 22 at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, California. This event holds special significance for the ocean-conservation nonprofit as it celebrates the iconic actor Morgan Freeman as its guest of honor.
Six years ago, Freeman stood alongside Oceana on Capitol Hill, advocating for a bill that aimed to ban the buying and selling of shark fins. Fast forward to December 2022, and Congress passed the legislation, which was subsequently signed into law by President Joe Biden. This momentous achievement marks a significant step in protecting sharks, who are relentlessly hunted for their fins, primarily used in shark-fin soup.
Andrew Sharpless, the CEO of Oceana, expresses his gratitude towards Morgan Freeman, stating, “We’re honoring him for truly being there when we needed him – standing with us, our campaigners, and introducing legislation that is now law.” The collaboration between Oceana and the Humane Society played a crucial role in pushing for the bill’s passage. Sharpless explains that this legislation sends a powerful message to the international community, signaling a collective desire to end the inhumane and unsustainable demand for shark fins. An estimated 73 million sharks are caught annually for the shark-fin trade, depleting their populations and disrupting marine ecosystems.
The decline in shark populations is just one example of the threats facing oceans worldwide. The CEO highlights a recent study involving 150 researchers and 400 reefs, revealing a 60% decrease in populations of five common shark species over the past 50 years. This alarming trend necessitates stronger action to protect these vital creatures.
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The SeaChange Summer Party, hosted by actress June Diane Raphael, will also honor Paul Naudé, founder of the Vissla surf brand and environmental advocate. Naudé, who is also the president of the Surf Industry Members Association, has made significant contributions to the preservation of the ocean and its ecosystems. The event will culminate with a captivating musical performance by the renowned band Third Eye Blind.
Sharpless proudly shares that over the years, the SeaChange Summer Party has successfully raised nearly $19 million for ocean conservation. He anticipates another prosperous fundraising event this year. Additionally, Oceana will be holding its fifth annual Rock Under the Stars party in Los Angeles on August 12. Hosted by Keith Addis, president of the nonprofit’s board, this event will feature a performance by The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi).
The threats facing the oceans are intensifying as global temperatures continue to rise. In June of this year, the world experienced the hottest June ever recorded. Oceana acknowledges the detrimental effects of warming oceans, emphasizing the impact on coral reefs. When ocean temperatures rise, coral bleaching occurs, leading to the expulsion of symbiotic creatures that help build and sustain the reefs. If the heat event is brief, the reefs may recover. However, extended periods of high temperatures can result in the irreversible death of coral reefs. The repercussions of hot oceans extend beyond coral, serving as a catalyst for hurricanes and other violent weather events.
Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, generated by burning fossil fuels, further exacerbate the threats to oceans. Oceana emphasizes that the oceans have played a vital role in mitigating climate change by absorbing a significant portion of the emitted CO2. However, this absorption alters the ocean’s chemistry, resulting in increased acidification. This acidification poses a serious risk to creatures that rely on calcium carbonate to build shells, including some mollusks and coral reefs. Additionally, small organisms at the bottom of the food chain also face the impact of acidification caused by CO2.
As a campaigning organization, Oceana focuses on achieving national policy changes that protect and restore the oceans. With advocacy teams in ten countries worldwide, Oceana works tirelessly to secure habitat protection, establishing marine parks that safeguard against threats such as overfishing, deep-sea mining, and oil drilling. Oceana has successfully fought against offshore oil drilling, preventing the opening of U.S. coastlines to oil leasing. Currently, the nonprofit is engaged in a critical battle in Belize to protect the second-largest reef in the world from offshore oil drilling.
In addition to its conservation efforts, Oceana actively campaigns to protect biodiversity affected by commercial fishing nets, specifically drift gill nets and set gill nets. These nets, designed to catch fish, often ensnare dolphins, whales, turtles, and other marine life, causing their death by drowning. Oceana achieved a significant victory last year by getting drift gill nets banned in the California ocean. Now, they are fighting to eradicate set gill nets, which remain a threat to marine life.
In the face of mounting challenges, Oceana remains at the forefront of ocean conservation. With support from key figures in the entertainment industry and passionate individuals worldwide, Oceana continues its vital work to preserve and restore our oceans, ensuring their health and longevity for generations to come.
