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Oceans cover 71% of our planet. They provide and regulate rainwater, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food and the oxygen in the air we breathe. Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’ focuses on the world’s oceans, but is intricately connected to all the other sustainable development goals. Marine life continues to be affected by threats such as overfishing, plastic pollution and increasing water temperatures.
A Rocha’s marine and coastal work
A Rocha works around the world to study, protect and restore marine habitats and biodiversity, raise awareness of marine pollution, develop resources and build capacity in support of coastal areas.
We study and protect a fascinating variety of wetland and marine eco-systems: a Portuguese estuary, Ghanaian mangrove forests, Canadian salmon rivers and seagrass beds, Kenyan coral reefs, British beaches and kelp forests, and New Zealand rocky shores, to name just a few. We have conducted beach clean-ups from the Cape Region to Florida. Work to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems might seem small compared to the scale of the threats, but it is significant. It restores habitats and engages people in understanding and caring for these precious and increasingly threatened ecosystems.
Our focus areas
Biodiversity and Beauty
In Kenya A Rocha has been creating the first habitat map for Watamu Marine National Park, and revealed a number of redlisted species. We study rockpool habitats which house endemic biodiversity rare in the Western Indian Ocean, such as the crisp pillow coral Anomastraea irregularis.
- Read about our work with sharks in Kenya.
- FInd more Watamu stories and pictures on the A Rocha Kenya website.
- In New Zealand, A Rocha re-establishing the Karioi mountain for seabirds.
Ocean of Plastic Hope
- A Rocha addresses plastic pollution around the world partnering with local civic groups to clean beaches, and conducting microplastic and nurdle research.
- Read about our microplastic work in Florida
- Use our Plastics toolbox including a beach cleanup guide.
Health, Wellbeing and Livelihoods
Connected to our environmental education work A Rocha researches and provides access to the health and wellbeing benefits of blue spaces. In Kenya, Ghana and Madagascar we involve local communities in marine governance. For example, our field study centre in Kenya is helping restore livelihoods and bring the community together in managing a marine protected area.
Climate Change
- Through A Rocha organization Climate Stewards, we encourage people to offset emissions and benefit the ocean.
- In partnership we assist local NGOs in mangrove restoration projects (for example in Ghana).
- We monitor coral reefs for bleaching impacts in Kenya (which you can support through Gifts with A Difference).
- We create resources to help churches think about climate change.
Find out more about marine conservation
- Dr Robert Sluka’s Grove booklets, ‘Hope for the Ocean’ and ‘Marine Plastics’ are available to buy and download.
- Read an article on Seaspiracy in the A Rocha blog.
- Watch a video about Bob Sluka and his work
- Explore resources which church leaders could use on overfishing and plastic pollution.
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We would love to keep you updated by email with new videos and inspiring stories from around the world, as well as opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
Get our email updates
We would love to keep you updated by email with new videos and inspiring stories from around the world, as well as opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
