The Ocean

The Global Partnership for Oceans


The Global Partnership for Oceans is a growing alliance of governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and private sector interests committed to addressing the threats to the health, productivity, and resilience of the world’s oceans.


It aims to tackle widely documented problems of overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss. Together these problems are contributing to the depletion of a natural resource bank that provides nutrition, livelihoods, and vital ecosystem services.

Why We Need Marine Reserves



Ninety percent of the large predators in the ocean are gone and their populations have collapsed. The reason for this is that we have taken too many fish out of the sea, and we keep taking more before the remaining populations are able to reproduce.


Watch this video where Mel, the “very weird” fish, will show you how marine reserves can help fish populations recover, and why we need many more.


Learn More

Ocean Videos

Ocean Topics

Your Ocean

  • Photo: Clown anemonefish

    For Kids

    Learn about the ocean with activities, photos, and games.

  • Photo: A school of fish and a shark swim in a coral reef.

    Ocean Education

    Bring engaging and important ocean learning to your classroom.

Marine Recreation Workshop

  • Photo: Diver encounters Southern Right Whale

    Online Toolkit

    National Geographic Education Programs supports the marine recreation community through a shared goal of raising public awareness about ocean conservation and inspiring people to help protect the vital natural resources that the ocean provides.

Engage, Conserve, Restore

  • Photo: Sunset at waterfalls

    Freshwater Initiative

    The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.