Why Support MCBI?

MCBI is outspent and outnumbered by many major ocean players, yet has a disproportionately large impact on how people and nations treat the world’s oceans. Basing all we do on the latest marine science means we put our effort where it’s most needed. Not being too big permits streamlined priority-setting, nimble responses to rising threats and strong teamwork without the bureaucracy that often plagues large organizations. With bold vision and few impediments to action, MCBI has become a major catalyst for change in the oceans. Grants and donations to MCBI really make a difference.

What our funders say about us
“Marine Conservation Biology Institute has rapidly become an important and influential voice in the world of marine conservation. MCBI occupies a unique niche — straddling the worlds of science and advocacy and doing so in a way that brings the best of contemporary conservation science to efforts to protect the global marine environment.”
– Joshua Reichert, Ph.D., Director, Conservation Program, Pew Charitable Trusts

“Elliott Norse is one of the planet's most brilliant, meticulous, hard-working, passionate defenders of the marine environment. MCBI is a grantee of the Bullitt Foundation, and we are proud of having been able to support its vital mission.”
– Denis Hayes, President and CEO, Bullitt Foundation

“I couldn't be more pleased and proud of this accomplishment by you, MCBI, and the others. Your leadership really made this (the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument) happen.  You guys do amazing things with a small budget. Both of us and our board have been very impressed by all that you have done from the beginning, and we wish you great success in the future.
- C. Wolcott Henry III, President, Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation

“As always, I am so grateful for all MCBI does to raise the consciousness of more and more people around the world.  What you at MCBI have to say is a message that must be heard.  I am proud of how we have been involved and can only look ahead with gladness as our partnership grows.”
- Sonia E. Baker, President, Edwards Mother Earth Foundation

“MCBI is a great group, a long time Marisla hero and fighter for the oceans.  Thanks for all you are doing for the oceans... and the planet.”
- Herbert M. Bedolfe III, Executive Director, Marisla Foundation

MCBI makes things happen in the oceans, where it counts
Since our birth in 1996, MCBI has made bottom trawling a global environmental issue, hosted two symposia on marine conservation biology, spurred President Clinton to issue Executive Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas, secured the listing of the white abalone as an endangered species, published the first national assessment on the status of deep-sea corals, published the world’s first textbook on marine conservation biology, played a key role in getting President Bush to establish the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, and more. See our impressive accomplishments.

Selected projects in need of funding

• Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
  From 2004-2006 MCBI worked with a coalition of NGOs to help secure the designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, the biggest piece of ocean ever fully protected.  These waters are home to the Hawaiian monk seal, whose population is declining despite being protected under the Endangered Species Act.  Now we need to develop the strongest possible ecosystem-based management plan for the Monument to ensure that the protections we envisioned are not eroded by the commercial fishing industry and other threats, and to recover monk seal populations before they become extinct.  MCBI needs $376,000 to cover anticipated costs in the next 12 months.
• National Marine Sanctuary Act reauthorization
  Since 1972, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary program has been the US government’s leading means of protecting places in the sea.  MCBI’s in-depth analysis “The history and evolution of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act,” published in the Environmental Law Reporter in 2004 showed that Congress has so weakened the Sanctuary program that it offers little real conservation benefit.  MCBI and The Ocean Conservancy joined forces to save the Sanctuaries Act earlier in 2006 from further weakening, and MCBI wants a stronger Sanctuary Act reauthorized in the next Congress.  A grant of $150,000 would allow us to assemble a coalition of conservation groups, a strategy and action plan to get desperately needed improvements to the Sanctuaries Act.
• Bottom trawling
  Ten years of MCBI work has shown that bottom trawling is the world’s most destructive fishing method, and has led to closure or proposed closures to trawling of huge areas of deep seafloor, especially those inhabited by deep-sea corals and sponges.  This Fall, for the first time ever, the US Congress will vote on legislation to protect deep-sea corals from trawling, and for the first time ever, the UN General Assembly is likely to vote on a moratorium on bottom trawling on the high seas.  MCBI needs about $115,000 to continue our leadership on bottom trawling for the coming year.
• MCBI Postdoctoral Fellows
  In 1998, MCBI became the first environmental organization we know of to offer advanced practical training to recent Ph.D. marine scientists, a practice other environmental organizations have since duplicated.  We’ve made it a win-win relationship with our three Post-docs thus far.  They learn to apply their academic knowledge in the real, messy world of ocean policy and politics, while other MCBIers learn the latest thinking from the academic world.  MCBI wants to hire a new Postdoctoral Fellow early next year.  Salary, benefits and start-up research monies for an MCBI Postdoctoral Fellow cost us about $85,000 per year.
• MCBI 2007 financial audit
  MCBI wants to ensure our funders and the IRS that we continue to be fiscally sound and accountable.  The 2007 audit of our finances by Jacobson Jarvis, a specialist in not-for-profit accounting, will cost approximately $9,000.  A grant for this amount would free us to devote more resources to protecting the oceans.

Of course, the best kind of gift to MCBI is general support, which allows us to put your money to work where it’s needed most.

To help MCBI save the oceans, please visit our Donate section.