What it is
Ocean Conservancy is one of the oldest and most respected ocean advocacy organizations in the United States, founded in 1972. Their research library includes annual International Coastal Cleanup reports (the world's largest volunteer effort, collecting data from 100+ countries), policy briefs on ocean acidification, fisheries management, and Arctic conservation, plus their Trash Free Seas program that has catalogued over 370 million pieces of debris since 1986.
Why we picked this
What sets Ocean Conservancy apart is the depth of their data. The annual Trash Index is the single most cited dataset on marine debris composition globally, used by policymakers, researchers, and brands designing packaging alternatives. Their work directly influenced the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. For anyone entering ocean conservation, their reports provide the empirical foundation everything else builds on.
Key takeaways
- The International Coastal Cleanup has mobilized over 17 million volunteers across 153 countries since 1986, collecting 350+ million pounds of trash.
- Food wrappers, cigarette butts, and plastic bottles consistently rank as the top three debris items found on beaches worldwide.
- Ocean Conservancy's Trash Free Seas program has directly informed legislation in 12 countries on single-use plastic bans.