Defend Them All is working to protect our ocean species.

37%

Sharks & Rays

36%

Reef Corals

27%

Selected Crustaceans

are threatened with extinction.

Among the biggest threats to our ocean species are overfishing (both targeted and bycatch), climate change, and commercial and urban development.

While the life history, feeding preferences, and behaviors of most animals that inhabit the ocean are yet to be discovered, it is well-understood that every aquatic species plays an essential role in their ecosystem, and that without them, processes that sustain life would struggle to persist. Overexploitation for food, bycatch, habitat degradation, inadequate regulatory mechanisms and other manmade factors, including contaminants, pose significant threats to the continued existence of countless marine species around the globe. Compounded by climate change and ocean acidification, a drastic change to our relationship with these systems must be prioritized before balance and stability are no longer within reach.

Laws and policies that underpin current ocean conservation efforts have been successful at many levels, but have left behind many species that are difficult for the general population to connect with. Polar bears and sea otters have served as the faces of conservation in the marine environment because of their expressive and relatable characteristics. However, species like sharks, rays, squid, and corals are less understood and/or often assumed to be a threat to humans. By bringing awareness to lesser known species and the specific ways anthropogenic activities affect them, we believe broader reform can be achieved.

Endangered Species Advocacy

DTA is working to secure protection for the Tope Shark and Whitespotted Eagle Ray and their critical habitats in U.S. waters. In addition to pursuing federal protections, our holistic approach combines policy work at various levels of government alongside community-based initiatives. Given that these species migrate across international boundaries and spend significant portions of their life cycles in vulnerable shallow, nearshore habitats with high human activity, education campaigns in key coastal communities are essential for the long-term recovery and survival of these important marine species.