Mark J. Spalding
Committing to a Better Future
Gathering to talk about ocean issues, climate change, and other challenges to our collective well-being is important—face to face workshops and conferences bolster collaboration and foster innovation—especially when the purpose …
Recovery and Restoration after Hurricane Maria
Seventeen named storms struck the greater Caribbean region in 2017—wreaking havoc on human communities and natural resources alike. So many families lost loved ones, their livelihoods, and their homes—it is …
Our Ocean and the Future of Plastic
In July, I spent four days at The Klosters Forum, an intimate small-town setting in the Swiss Alps that fosters more innovative collaborations by bringing together disruptive and inspirational minds …
Science Diplomacy and our Shared Legacy
Three nations share the Gulf of Mexico abundant resources—Cuba, Mexico, and the United States. It is our shared heritage and our shared responsibility because it is also our shared legacy …
A Plastic Ocean
On January 21, TOF Board members Joshua Ginsberg, Angel Braestrup, and I participated in a Salisbury Forum event focused on plastic waste in the ocean. The event began with the …
Offshore Drilling Action
My late grandmother was a big believer in the old adage “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” She knew that relying on one skill or one industry or …
MMPA and Dire Harm
For most of the past two and a half decades, I have dedicated my energy to the ocean, to the life within, and to the many people who also dedicate …
My Year of Islands
Dear Friend of the Ocean, For me, 2017 was the year of the island, and thus of expanded horizons. The year’s site visits, workshops and conferences took me to islands …
It’s Not Just the Big Ones
For those who care about our ocean, the life within, and the human communities that depend on a healthy ocean— the specter of expanding industrial use of the ocean threatens …
In Memory of a True Ocean Hero
Dear TOF Community, Marine Scientist, Michelle Ridgway was one of the first people I met when I began working in Alaska nearly 20 years ago. In our most recent work …
Making a Splash in 2017
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear friends of the ocean and other members of The Ocean Foundation Community, I am pleased to present our Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2017 …
Climate Resilience and The Future
Climate Resilience and The Future @COP23 #oceanforclimate #becausetheocean In the wake of the major Atlantic hurricanes and the resulting damage to human and marine communities alike, The Ocean Foundation …
