Mark J. Spalding
Statement on Environmental Risks from Shadow Fleet Operations in Caribbean Waters
Photo taken by Jeffry Surianto.
The Skipper Seizure: When Good Ships Get Caught in the Shadow Fleet Dragnet
The recent U.S. seizure of the Venezuelan oil tanker Skipper raises uncomfortable questions about how sanctions enforcement can inadvertently undermine the very maritime safety standards that protect our ocean. While …
COP30: A Turning Point for Ocean-Climate Action?
As the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change concludes in Belém, Brazil, the ocean community has reason for both cautious optimism and …
The Lighthouses of Maine
Steadfast, serene, immovable, the sameYear after year, through all the silent night -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Lighthouses have their own enduring attraction. For those who come from the sea, it is …
Getting in Rhythm with Summer
June is Ocean Month and is the first full month of summer in the northern hemisphere. Usually, that is a hectic time for anyone in ocean conservation as gatherings are …
Reconnecting with the Sea
Those of us who spend a lot of time in windowless conference rooms discussing the future of the ocean often find ourselves regretting that we don’t have more time on, …
The $3.2 Trillion Blue Economy That Too Many Investors Are Missing
Reflections from World Ocean Week 2025 As I write this, I am struck by the convergence of conversations I’ve had this week. From the Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco …
An Ocean Of Gratitude – Mark J. Spalding
When I stand next to the ocean, her magic once again influences me. I feel the deep mystical pull of my spirit toward the water’s edge, which has always been …
When Titans Collide: The Hidden Environmental Cost of Shipping Disasters
Introduction The vast blue highways of our global ocean carry nearly 90% of global trade, with massive vessels traversing international waters day and night. While these maritime thoroughfares are essential …
Ticking Time Bombs Beneath the Waves: Racing to Prevent Catastrophic Pollution from WWII Shipwrecks
Maritime meetings in Malta have a unique historical context—the island’s recorded maritime history stretches back more than 7 thousand years. Some say that the design of traditional Maltese fishing boats, …
TOF President’s Statement on Federal Funding Freeze on Foreign Aid
29 January 2025 Thank you to all who have donated to help us through the crisis caused by the abrupt halt in federal funding for our work with small island …
The Ocean Foundation’s Strategic Value to U.S. National Interests
Introduction On January 22, 2025, Secretary of State Rubio issued a press statement on the “priorities and mission of the Second Trump Administration’s Department of State.” In it, he said, …
