What are the biggest threats facing the ocean?

The ocean is essential for the survival of all living things. It regulates our climate, is home to over 260,000 species and provides millions of people in coastal communities with a livelihood. 

But it’s at a breaking point after decades of industrial fishing, oil and gas drilling and plastic pollution. 

Less than 3% of the ocean is currently labelled ‘protected', yet even in these supposed safe havens, the most destructive forms of fishing are decimating the ocean floor and harming everything in their way. 

One million turtles, seals, dolphins and seabirds are killed by fishing every year and many more die from eating plastic or being entangled in it. 

Oil and gas drilling is another threat to our ocean—destroying marine habitats and fuelling climate change. With rising ocean temperatures, coral reefs are experiencing mass bleaching, fish populations are vanishing, and the sea is losing its power to absorb carbon, accelerating a deadly cycle that puts all life at risk. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you believe the ocean should be brimming with life—not destroyed for profit—now is your chance to act. 

    Donate now    

How will my donation make a difference?

Our movement is using the power of the law to hold governments and corporations to account for polluting, overfishing, and destroying the ocean’s future. But we need your help to take on even more cases to restore marine habitats.    

Your gift will help fuel legal challenges, advocacy campaigns, and research initiatives that push for stronger nature protection policies, hold governments and companies to account, and build a safer future for everyone. 

Together, we can take on the polluters who threaten the delicate balance of the ocean that sustains life on Earth. 

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Here’s why other people have joined the ClientEarth community: 

"We like ClientEarth’s international reach and its collaborative, considered approach. For the average cost of a pint of beer a month, we feel our contribution represents value for money and a positive ripple towards a better world and future."    

- Garrick and family, UK    

 

"I have faith in what they are doing! I believe that they are taking action to hold big corporations accountable for their own actions and in doing so, helping the planet to be healthier and helping humans live happier, better quality lives."  

- Lisa, US  

 

"I admire and support the lawyers of ClientEarth who have come together to commit their work to their conscience and the generations to come (rather than working for law firms on the side of destructive industries). Keep up the good work, please!"   

- Matthias, Germany  

 

"I support ClientEarth with a regular gift because I care about the future of people and planet. ClientEarth uses a very powerful tool, the law, to make change. I support many charities but ClientEarth acts in a way many others don't."    

- Barney, UK  

 

Join our movement fighting for a healthier and greener future:

    Join today     

 

NB: We will allocate your donation to the area of greatest need, ensuring it has the most significant impact possible.

 

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Join the legal fight for our ocean

From overfishing and plastic pollution to oil and gas drilling, corporate greed is pushing the ocean to the brink. But together, we can make a difference. 

 

How does joining ClientEarth help protect the ocean?

Our ClientEarth movement is mounting - and winning! - legal actions to protect the ocean. We've taken 43 legal actions to defend marine habitats and waterways, including: 

  • Blocking a new offshore fossil fuel project in Italy that would have threatened endangered marine species like dolphins and turtles

  • Taking legal action against the Spanish, Dutch and French governments for allowing bottom trawling in ocean sanctuaries 

  • Fighting Europe’s largest plastics facility to stop the flow of plastic at the source 

We have plans to launch even more legal actions to protect the ocean.

But we can only continue this vital work with the support of ocean defenders like you. 

Donate today and join a community of ocean defenders.

Your support could help:

✓  Hold governments accountable for failing to protecting the ocean  ✓  Take big polluters to court ✓  Lobby for stronger environmental law

Donate now to power the legal fight:

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