The “Ocean Wavemakers” who are they? In 1984 many people were not happy with the pollution and wanted to figure out why it was happening so they could stop it. Now, Clean Ocean Action or COA is a broad-based coalition. It consists of boating, business, community, conservation, diving, environmental, fishing, religious, service, student, surfing, and women’s groups.
Just like any good company or business, in the case of a non-profit there is a chain of command and a process in how things work. With guidance and support from COA’s board of trustees COA staff begin researching and digging into the effects of pollution.
Their information and data helps them formulate a plan of action. This leads them to formulating policy and regulations to eliminate a site of pollution. This is when the Ocean Wavemakers come in and do their part. Participating business, concerned businesses, educators from a clean ocean, and concerned citizens step in at press events, rallies, making phone calls, and testifying at public hearings so they know their voice is heard.
What have they accomplished? In 41 years the COA has accomplished so much. Overall their efforts have closed 8 ocean dump sites: but that’s not all they’ve done. Successful campaigns for them include:
- Improve programs and laws that protect public health at swimming beaches.
- Reduce plastics and litter that pollute waterways, spoil beautiful beaches and harm or kill marine life including turtles, whales, seals, birds and fish.
- Protect coasts from oil and gas drilling in the ocean including Maine to Florida.
- Establish the nation’s first Clean Ocean Zone to start a national chain reaction for all coasts.
- Reduce toxins in waterways to ensure fish and shellfish are free of pollution and safe to eat.
- Educate and motivate citizens from the small to the tall.
Over the past 41 years Clean Ocean Action has made it their mission to help protect, clean and maintain our oceans.
How can you help? There are two ways you can join and help the battle up front. You can volunteer or you can sign up to be an intern with the coalition. Supporting can be in many different ways. You can make a one time donation, become a concerned business supporter, make a planned gift, tributes, employers match and in-kind donations. Whether it’s none, all or just signing up for the email alerts for Clean Ocean Action its a win.
For more information about what they do: https://cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=2
For more more information about supporting or volunteering: https://cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=126
To reach their home page: https://cleanoceanaction.org/be-the-solution-to-ocean-pollution