ABOUT

At the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade, the Ocean continues to be under siege. A lack of judicial enforcement of marine protection obligations and a predominant anthropocentric worldview informs Ocean governance and undermines the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Climate litigation has set a precedent with an undeniable lesson: assertive legal enforcement is necessary to transform protection obligations from rhetoric into genuine action. Like a powerful current, our actions are gaining strength and momentum.​

With its 4 departments, OVL is tackling the main impediments for effective marine protection: laws that go unenforced, decision making that puts human interests above the health and integrity of marine ecosystems, a lack of understanding of and respect for diverse knowledge systems and worldviews, and an inadequate understanding of the deep and interconnected human-Ocean relationship.