Oceans
The world’s oceans support countless forms of life. Unfortunately, oceans and the tens of millions of people who live near them are under threat from oil spills, air pollution, sewage releases, industrial ocean fish farming, and unnatural ocean noise.
Oceans
Friends of the Earth has won regional, national and international limits on air, water and oil pollution from cruise ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, ferries and recreational water craft. We were instrumental in achieving the establishment of air pollution limits for ships near the coasts of the U.S. and Canada, which prohibit the use of dirty bunker fuel — unless alternative compliance methods are employed, such as shorepower or other pollution reduction technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our oceans face multiple major threats, including:
- Plastic pollution
- Climate change and ocean warming
- Offshore oil and gas drilling
- Overfishing
- Cruise ship pollution
- Deep-sea mining
- Habitat destruction and biodiversity loss
These threats can damage marine ecosystems, harm wildlife, and impact coastal communities.
Friends of the Earth works on issues including:
- Plastic pollution
- Offshore drilling
- Emissions from ports
- Shipping
- Cruise ships
- Marine biodiversity protection
Cruise ships can cause significant environmental harm because they:
- Produce large amounts of air pollution and greenhouse gases
- Dump wastewater and sewage into oceans
- Generate plastic and food waste
- Harm marine ecosystems and coastal communities
- Burn heavy fuels that cause climate change and harmful health impacts
We publish our annual cruise ship environmental report cards evaluating major cruise lines which you can find here.
Friends of the Earth supports policies that:
- Reduce plastic pollution
- Protect port communities
- Safeguard endangered whales and other impacted species
- Lift up Arctic Indigenous voices
- Ban or limit offshore oil and gas drilling
- Strengthen cruise ship environmental regulations
- Protect marine habitats and biodiversity
Improve ocean conservation and clean water protections
Friends of the Earth opposes policies that:
- Expand offshore drilling and fossil fuel extraction
- Weaken ocean and marine protections
- Allow unchecked cruise ship pollution
- Support plastic production
- Reduce protections for marine wildlife and ecosystems
- Marine carbon dioxide removal and other forms of marine geoengineering
Friends of the Earth recommends:
- Reducing plastic production and waste
- Expanding marine protected areas
- Ending offshore drilling expansion
- Strengthening cruise ship pollution standards
- Rapidly and equitably transitioning away from fossil fuels
- Protecting marine biodiversity
- Supporting stronger international ocean protections
Take Action
Tell EPA to address the plastic crisis now
Stop the cruise industry from destroying the Arctic
Media
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We’ve been defending the Earth and fighting for a healthy and just world for more than 45 years. But we need your help to keep going. Become a friend of the earth and join the movement to protect our planet and all its inhabitants.
Resources
Choose A Greener Cruise
Millions of Americans take cruise vacations every year. Yet, most travelers don’t realize that taking a cruise is more harmful to the environment than many other forms of travel. Our Cruise Ship Report Card lets vacationers decide which cruise to take based on environmental and human health impacts.
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