Oceans
In all four oceans and throughout the waters of 18 countries, WCS marine scientists are working to conserve coral reefs, tropical fishes, and ocean giants such as humpback whales, sea turtles, elephant seals, and sharks. WCS focuses on conserving some of the most biodiverse and ecologically intact wild places remaining on Earth, along coastlines that offer the best chance for viable, long-term conservation of marine life. Addressing the complex relationships between the ecosystems of the sea, coast, and areas inland, WCS links marine and land management initiatives in comprehensive conservation strategies. Whether helping to preserve traditional fishing practices in Fiji, training a corps of marine biologists at our research facility on Belize’s Glover Reef, or protecting the great penguin rookeries of coastal Argentina, WCS is helping to save the world’s seas for the sake of marine life and people alike.
Featured Countries
The recent discovery of nearly 6,000 rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the mangroves of Bangladesh, on the edge of the Indian Ocean, highlights the importance of the country’s marine environment and the need for more research into the status of its threatened species.
Away from the crashing surf of its beaches, along miles of mangroves and lagoons, the landscape of Belize blends almost seamlessly with the Caribbean, while submerged coral reefs continue the subtle transition farther out to sea.
Fiji’s coral reefs are renowned worldwide and are among the
more diverse and intact in the Pacific Ocean. Strong
cultural traditions and a national commitment to expanding the country’s marine protected areas offer outstanding
opportunities for conservation in the face of persistent challenges.
The warm equatorial waters of Gabon provide habitat for
West African manatees, humpback whales, and dolphins, and its coastline is an important nesting ground for sea turtles. As offshore oil and commercial fishing industries grow, however, these marine species are coming under increasing threat.
The Indonesian archipelago lies at the heart of the world-renowned Coral Triangle. Its reefs encompass
more than 500 species of corals and shelter an astounding
10,000 species of invertebrates and plants. The Coral
Triangle is also a crucial source of income for millions of Indonesians and
others.
Kenya, which straddles the equator between the Indian Ocean and Lake
Victoria, may be better known for its lions and giraffes, but the country also has six reserves designed specifically
to protect its important marine environments. These include mangroves, coastal wetlands, lagoons, and coral reefs.
Madagascar's long
coastline (3,100 miles) and “upstream” location from eastern and
southern Africa make its aquatic ecosystems among the region’s greatest
conservation priorities. The island nation
sits in the Indian Ocean, and its coastal waters support humpbacks, dugongs, sea turtles, and sharks.
No animals better
reflect the health of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coastline than its sea turtles—the critically
endangered hawksbill and endangered green, loggerhead, and
leatherback turtles. But many of the country’s coastal communities count on
green turtles for income and a protein source.
The reefs of Papua New Guinea, part of the Coral Triangle, remain relatively healthy, despite coastal
communities’ long-term dependence upon them for food and livelihoods.
However, a growing population and an expanding
export trade for wild-caught fish are putting new
pressures on the fragile marine ecosystems.