This summer many people will flock to the beach to enjoy its vast benefits, but what most don’t realize is that these wonderful summer escapes are under attack and by none other than humans themselves.

It’s believed that humans pour over 5 million metric tons of plastic into the ocean each year.

It might seem hopeless to save our oceans after so much destruction, but the good news is that they can be saved. Oceana is working tirelessly to help protect this beautiful part of our world.

Created in 2001 by a group of various foundations, like the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Oceana was designed to help spread ocean activism when it was basically non-existent at the time.

As one of the largest ocean conservation organizations, it works to help preserve and protect not only the ocean waters, but its diverse ecosystems and wildlife by conducting research in various areas to help better understand them and what we can do to help save and defend them.

Oceana focuses on many key issues affecting the oceans today like pollution which doesn’t involve just plastic, but dangerous gases, medicines, and oil.

They also help to show people other issues they might not know about that are affecting the ocean, like overfishing which can not only destroy fish but the habitats they live in. Oceana works to help stop overfishing by teaching local fishermen how to responsibly catch fish and work with their local community to keep the seafood they catch within it to help stop hunger.

Oceana does extensive research of marine issues and makes sure they have enough proof so they can show that these issues really do exist and need to be fixed. They ensure that there’s always a solution to the problems they’re researching which can be implemented safely.

Oceana also offers their own magazine and many scientific publications which dive into certain topics about marine life and health. This organization has many different regional spots throughout the world, in the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and the Philippines where it engages with the local communities and gives them resources to help defend and protect their special part of the ocean.

In a startling new report, it’s believed that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Oceana is working toward helping to prevent this and many other tragic things from ever happening thanks to their ongoing activism and research.

They have already safeguarded more than 3.5 million square miles of ocean water and are destined to do even more significant things for this majestic natural wonder.

To learn more, visit Oceana or follow them on Facebook.

RACHEL KESTER is a Journalism major who lives in Virginia. She loves spending her summers at the beach and capturing its natural beauty through photographs. She blogs at Musings of a Coffee Addicted Bibliophile.