The Ocean River Institute helps people and groups make a difference where they live through environmental stewardship and science.

Many environmental issues are best addressed by people taking action in their own communities and regions, not by large, national entities. However, localized or newly formed groups often need help to achieve their goals. Thats where ORI comes in.

ORI maintains a network of Partners,connecting them with resources and services to help them maximize their impact, expand their capacity, and weather unanticipated setbacks. ORI Actions and Events offer opportunities to make a difference for environments and wildlife.

The Ocean River Institute is a 5-star rated environmental nonprofit on Greatnonprofits.org. You are welcome to visit our page on this site, read what others are saying about our efforts, write your own review and share with friends.

Discover how, with the knowledge of Rachel Carson and the courage of Achilles, individuals are making a difference for healthier oceans, rivers, watersheds and skies. Rob Moir talks with practitioners in the field on Voice America internet radio. Choose to download from thirty-four podcast episodes of Moir's Environmental Dialogues, Ocean River Shields of Achilles described at www.oceanriver.org. Also available free on iTunes, search "Moir's".

The Ocean River Institute?s ?Save Our Oceans and Rivers? Causes page on Facebook is growing in members. You may also write to us and invite friends to join us on ORI?s Fan page on Facebook. Twitter OceanRiverRob for fast breaking news and updates from ORI?s director and founder Rob Moir, Ph.D.

On Dec 20th 2010 the Senate and on Dec 21st the House passed the Shark Conservation Act to promote the conservation of sharks internationally and provide a more equal playing field for U.S. fishermen. The bill closes loopholes in a ban on shark finning imposed by then-president Clinton.

First, vessels are prohibited from having custody, control, or possession of shark fins without the corresponding carcass. Second, it is a violation of law if the total weight of shark fins landed or found on board exceeds 5 percent of the total weight of shark carcasses. Third, and most particularly, all sharks landed must have their fins naturally attached.

With more than 90% of the sharks already absent from world oceans, this legislation is a big step for sharks. If one is going to kill and harvest a shark, one must use the whole shark. The bill legislates public shame under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act with the identification and prominent listing of nations that have fishing vessels that have not adopted a regulatory program for the conservation of sharks that is similar to the U.S.

Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud in their film Oceans show from underwater the dropping into the ocean of a shark with dorsal and tail fin cut off. The shark is still alive and sinks despite attempting to swim. The cameraman/diver follows the shark down to a sandy bottom where the shark continues to try to swim to no avail. Such images are not easily forgotten. Now shark finning legislation enacted by the Senate and House outlaws such terrible treatment of sharks.

The oceans need your help said the December 14th ORI eAlert. Please tell your Senators to take action for harmful algal blooms, turtles, sharks and the wellbeing of oceans. On December 20th and 21st Congress acted for sharks thanks in part to your help.

ORI ecostewards wrote 28,500 letters to decision-makers in 2010. The most letters (5,612 or 21% of ORI letters) were written in support of belugas, the magnificent whistling and chirping white whales of Cook Inlet, Alaska. You demanded critical habitat designation of their home waters. That decision is still pending.

Our Indian River Lagoon (FL) campaign to save dolphins suffering from excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution was second with 18% of the letters written. Participation was 15% in the Green Slime, Red Tide Nevermore campaign. Nearly tied for second (17%) was No New Drilling combined with Let?s Federalize the Clean Up. A three way tie for third goes to the National Endowment for Oceans, a National Ocean Policy and Take Harmful Chemicals Out of Drinking Water. You also wrote letters in 2010 to build a salt marsh on Chelsea Creek, protect blue fin tuna and Atlantic wolfish, save the British Virgin Islands, the Westfield River and Stellwagen Bank. These and other actions are described on our website at www.oceanriver.org. Here one may also subscribe to ORI's free eAlerts.

When you write and join with ORI?s efforts, decision-makers listen. They listen because your letters are thoughtful and heartfelt. Many took the time to put the issue into their own words. Decision makers do not always decide the way we want. However, decisions are informed by the articulate populace, us, speaking up from across the nation. Thank you for enabling ORI to make positive differences for oceans, rivers, and wildlife!

Rob Moir, Ph.D.(Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England) founder and executive director of the Ocean River Institute has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who as the Environmental Entrepreneur Executive of the year, 2010.