Photo credit: Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society

Our oceans and coastal waters may appear healthy when viewed from the surface, but beneath the waves lies evidence of an inescapable fact. Water quality is contaminated, marine habitats are shrinking and fish populations are in decline.

• About 40% of U.S. estuarine and coastal waters are no longer fishable or swimmable.
• Half the world's wetlands have already been destroyed, and about 60% of the planet's coral reefs are at risk of being destroyed during the next thirty years.
• Historically abundant fish species in the northeast US are now at the lowest levels on record.
• Over a billion people in the world are without access to clean water.

Under the leadership of renowned explorer and naturalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society is uniquely positioned to influence worldwide action in response to these and other environmental concerns. Jean-Michel has spent much of his life exploring the world's oceans. Initially with his father, and later on his own expeditions, he has visited all corners of the planet – observing the interrelationship between mankind and nature, and documenting the slow deterioration of once vital ecosystems.

The objective of Global Ocean Network is to be a voice for the ocean, to inspire its protection and improve the quality of life for us all. Using cutting-edge technology, advanced communications, exploration, in-depth research, partnerships, and education through inspiring images and stories, Global Ocean Network will shift perception toward sustainable policies in all ocean activities.

Global Ocean Network is Ocean Future Society's comprehensive, multi-phased ocean exploration and communications project that will dramatically alter the way the public and the scientific community view the planet. Through the creation and deployment of a network of research vessels, land and ocean-based technology, Global Ocean Network will report, record and monitor worldwide environmental events, in real time. A high-tech communications web of satellites, the internet, interactive kiosks and broadcast media will bring powerful images of these events to the world’s attention, raising awareness of threats to the planet and encouraging global action. Global Ocean Network will provide unprecedented opportunities for scientists to access previously unavailable data from unexplored marine ecosystems, and for the general public to observe worldwide environmental events as they unfold.

The first phase of the Global Ocean Network project consists of a month-long expedition to explore and document the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. The Ocean Futures Society team will use innovative diving equipment and cutting edge digital camera technology to research and film the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the region, which have never before been fully explored. The goal of the expedition is to document the abundance of life, using high-definition video, for scientific and educational purposes. Photographic data also will be used to verify the accuracy of underwater habitat maps, developed by NOAA, and also to assess changes to the reef systems resulting from a range of variables including marine debris and global warming.

Through a combination of insatiable curiosity, pioneering technology, exploration and film, Captain Jacques Cousteau first made the ocean world accessible to a global audience and changed our perception of the world. Jean-Michel Cousteau, his team, and a series of strong global collaborators will utilize the best in 21st century expertise to inspire a new generation to care for and protect the oceans. The combination of proven experience and the latest multi-media innovations allows our team of experts to record compelling visual images to encourage positive action and change on critical environmental issues.

Ocean Future Society is actively seeking support for Global Ocean Network through partnerships with donors and organizations, from public and private sectors. Together we will communicate the excitement of exploring our natural world and how we can help protect it for generations to come.