Our Seas Our Future

Description

Our Seas Our Future, OSOF, is a volunteer-run environmental conservation initiative in New Zealand focused on coastal and marine protection.

It raises awareness of the marine environment through advocacy, education and research, and supports local action for positive change. Its work includes social media campaigns, beach clean-up events, educational resources, policy submissions on marine issues, and support for postgraduate marine researchers. Named campaigns cover climate action, plastic pollution, sustainable seafood and the creation of more marine reserves. It also runs youth programmes, including a marine film competition and a leadership programme, and works with partner NGOs on conservation projects.

OSOF began in November 2011 as a social media campaign started by Noel Jhinku to engage the public on coastal and marine issues. It later ran coastal clean-up events, starting in Dunedin, and expanded to other regions of New Zealand including Christchurch, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, mainly through environmental education in schools and communities. In 2016 the Our Seas Our Future Charitable Trust was formalised and incorporated in New Zealand. The organisation is geographically dispersed across Aotearoa New Zealand, run by volunteers and a Trust Board.