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Oceana’s New York Gala
Raises
Over $1.6 Million to Protect and Restore the Oceans
Ted Danson, Sam Waterston, Susan and David Rockefeller, and
Maya Gabeira celebrate restoring the oceans at
Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room
On Tuesday, September 13, distinguished business,
philanthropic, and cultural leaders gathered at Rockefeller
Center’s Rainbow Room for Oceana’s annual New
York Gala to celebrate and support the
organization’s mission to restore the health and abundance
of the world’s oceans.
The event raised over $1.6 million in support of Oceana’s
global campaigns and featured an esteemed group of speakers
and attendees, including Oceana Board Member and
master of ceremonies Ted Danson,
gala chairs Susan Rockefeller and David Rockefeller,
Oceana Board Chair Sam Waterston,
Big Wave Surfer and Oceana Board Member Maya Gabeira,
among others. Over the past nine years, Oceana’s New York
Gala has raised more than $13 million to help deliver policy
victories for our oceans.
This year’s event, which returned Blancpain as Presenting
Partner, celebrated a “wave of victories” for our oceans.
“In just over 20 years, Oceana has won more than 225
victories that stop overfishing, habitat
destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened
species like turtles, sharks, and whales,”
Waterston said.
“For everywhere that we make progress, there are forces pushing back: oil
polluters, the plastics industry, bad actors in commercial
fishing and aquaculture, politicians that refuse to stand up
for our oceans. Enough is enough. Oceana continues to push
forward for the sake of our oceans, for all their remarkable
and wondrous inhabitants, and for future generations,” he
added.
In just the last year, following campaigning by Oceana and
its allies, California enacted the boldest plastic reduction
policy in the nation, Canada implemented new legal
safeguards that require depleted fisheries to be rebuilt,
and the National Marine Fisheries Service reinstated
protections for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine
National Monument in New England waters to
protect critical habitat.
“Oceana is restoring wild fish populations so that people
have access to a healthy and climate-friendly protein that
can feed local communities, provide critical nutrition, and
support livelihoods,”
Oceana Board Member Susan Rockefeller told guests.
“Because of your support and because you are here tonight, Oceana can
deliver tangible results every day for the oceans, for our
planet, and for the next generation.”
This year’s gala honored ocean conservation philanthropy,
Marisla Foundation.
As one of the original five foundations that established
Oceana in 2001, Marisla’s leadership and generosity has
created marine protected areas, strengthened fisheries
policies, restored habitats, and stopped ocean pollution
around the world.
“The oceans are essential to our existence, but historically
we haven’t done a very good job at paying them back,”
said Beto Bedolfe, Executive Director of the Marisla Foundation and
Oceana Board Member.
Sara Lowell, Marine Conservation Director at the Marisla
Foundation and Oceana Board Member added,
“That is why Marisla Foundation is so committed to Oceana – because they
get stuff done. While our seas face many threats, we remain
optimistic thanks to the victories Oceana has secured. Thank
you, Oceana, for fighting to protect and restore ocean
abundance for future generations.”
The evening concluded with a dance party led by musical
guest
The Rakiem Walker Project.
As Presenting Partner and Oceana’s exclusive watch partner, Blancpain, donated
two of its renowned Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe watches to the
event auction. Through its ocean exploration and
conservation initiative, the Blancpain Ocean Commitment,
Blancpain has co-financed 21 major scientific expeditions,
including recent Oceana expeditions to the Alacranes and
Bajos del Norte reefs in Mexico. The two organizations work
closely together to further their important contributions to
expanding marine protected areas and presenting
award-winning documentaries, photo exhibits, and
publications.
Oceana
is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated
solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant
and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in
countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish
catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing,
habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of
threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s
campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means
that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal,
every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and
help feed the world.
Visit
www.oceana.org
to learn more.
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