Marine Policy & Law List

ECO is a network of fifty-plus large and small environmental organisations in New Zealand, as well as several hundred individuals. 'The core of ECO's work is promoting and strengthening community environmental action, and working collaboratively towards better government policies and management decisions. ECO also works on global issues such as climate change, Antarctica, and oceans.' Amongst their focus areas related to marine issues, are: protection of the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean in Antarctica, expansion of aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, protection of coastal areas, oceans policies and marine protection.

Ecologistas en Accion is a confederation of more than 300 environmental groups in towns and cities in Spain. It is part of the so-called social ecologism, which holds the view that environmental problems have their origin in an increasingly globalized production and consumption model, from which other social problems also derive, and that must be transformed if an ecological crisis is to be avoided. To this end, it carries out awareness campaigns, public or legal complaints, while at the same time developing concrete and viable alternatives in each of the areas in which it carries out its activity. In addition to the local groups, there are thematic areas integrated by volunteers from different groups, one being about the Marine Environment.

The Ecology Action Centre is a member-based environmental charity in Nova Scotia taking leadership on critical issues from biodiversity to climate change to environmental justice. Their coastal team works and advocates to protect coastal ecosystems and to help Nova Scotians understand the risks of coastal climate change and the adaptation options available. Their Marine programme aims to protect the marine ecosystem and maintain sustainable fisheries which support coastal communities and livelihoods. Here they focus on three main areas: i. Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, advocating for fishing and aquaculture policies and practices that minimize harmful impacts on the marine ecosystem. ii. Marine Protection, supporting and advocating for marine protection and pollution reduction in the marine environment, both within Canadian waters and on the high seas. This includes marine protected areas, protection from bottom trawling. iii. Sustainable Seafood, working towards increasing consumer and retailer access to properly labelled, sustainable seafood choices, including SeaChoice.

Eco-union is an environmental association founded by a multidisciplinary group of professionals and eco-activists. The association's focus is on the transition towards sustainable development models in the Euro-Mediterranean region through the linkage of economics and ecology. Projects include Blue Tourism, a project focused on the analysis and evaluation of coastal and maritime tourism at the global level. It comprises a regional sector review, as well as scalable regional initiatives to strengthen maritime governance and environmental management in the coastal and maritime sector.

Environment America is a policy and action group which advocates for the whole environment. Their Clean Water Network and Oceans campaigns have a direct impact on marine life. Via their Oceans Campaign they advocate against new oil and gas drilling in the oceans, and to phase out existing ocean drilling operations. Their stated goal is to 'Protect our oceans and marine wildlife by creating marine wildlife refuges, places where life can gain a foothold on survival'.

A general environmental group with a marine campaign, the US-based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is known for its work in the area of global warming, ecosystem restoration and oceans. In addition to working with fishing communities to offer transitional and financial support, the organisation's goals include the curbing of overfishing and also begin sustainable fishing models in several countries. EDF has national offices in New York and Washington, and several regional offices in the USA, and also in London in Europe, and in China, Mexico and Indonesia.

Under the banner 'Protecting people and planet. Environmental security is a human right', EFJ has a strong marine component, supported by the view that the pressure which is being placed on the ocean is putting the lives and livelihoods of billions of people across the globe at risk. Their ocean campaign focuses on combatting illegal and unsustainable fishing, and the human rights abuses resulting from these activities, and protecting the coastal communities and wildlife that depend on the ocean.

Fauna and Flora International aims to change the policy and behaviour that contribute to biodiversity loss by engaging a wide range of governments and non-governmental organizations, and by raising the profile of biodiversity within the wider global development debate. This includes marine biodiversity.

Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 with the mission to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida's coastal ecosystems through education, research and advocacy.

FoProBiM is an apolitical, non-governmental, non-profit organization headquartered in Haiti and was officially recognized by the Haitian government in 1995 as a foundation working on environmental issues in the areas of sustainable development, education, research, monitoring, and advocacy. Focus includes raising awareness, educating and capacity building at the government, community and individual levels to preserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods as well as conducting scientific research and environmental monitoring.

Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups. Their Brussels office coordinates the network's joint campaigns, and pushes for action by the EU to protect people and planet. With many European countries with extensive coastlines, there is a strong marine component to the network. Projects in individual countries are included in their websites.

Friends of the Earth (International) (EWNI) is an international membership organisation, with members spread across the world. Its main parent body, Friends of the Earth is primarily an advocacy group, with most of its activities focused in UK. Its advocacy programs focus on environmental issues (including the marine environment), highlighting their social, political and human rights contexts.