The Sustainable Seas Initiative (SSI) was born as an ocean debris removal project founded by EnerGeo Alliance to advance safe, secure, and clean oceans by facilitating improved reporting of collective efforts to improve our marine environment. SSI became in 2024 a stand-alone charitable organization, committed to creating a healthier ocean environment.
Visit the SSI website.
Marine Debris and GNI Reporting
The Sustainable Seas Initiative is a collaborative project to safeguard marine life. Seismic survey crews are asked to take photographs when encountering and freeing entangled wildlife and/or collecting and delivering marine debris. Crew members then share collection data, photos and other information for inclusion in our growing archive of data on marine debris.
SSI produces a report which captures the magnitude of the positive impact of SSI members’ contribution to debris removal activities.
To date, EnerGeo and SSI members have reporting removing 2,975,539 pounds of debris since 2016, when the initiative began. That’s enough debris to fill London’s Wembley Stadium soccer field more than 36 times or nearly 98 40-foot shipping containers.
Report your GNI data: email details and photographs HERE.
Click below to see EnerGeo Alliance’s Animal Entanglement Guidance
Marine Debris in Our Oceans
There are roughly 315 BILLION pounds of plastic in our oceans today. This plastic pollution impacts the environment, animals, damages habitats, and causes economic loss. Here are the facts:
The Truth Behind the Ghost Gear Problem
Lost fishing gear or ‘ghost gear’ is among the greatest killers in our oceans. Estimated 640,000 tons of abandoned nets are spread across the world’s oceans (Food and Agriculture Organization and the UNEP) and continue to trap and kill fish, crustaceans, marine mammals, sea turtles and even seabirds, some of which are endangered species. This ghost gear can also cause damage to underwater habitats and coral reefs, not to mention damage to ships and other marine vessels. By removing and disposing of debris encountered during operations, installing turtle guards, carrying out watches for marine mammals, employing preventative protective measures, and reporting these activities, geophysical crews are working daily to clean up our marine environment.
Learn more on how to contribute to the Sustainable Seas Initiative.
Debris Impact on the Energy Geoscience Industry
Marine debris, including active or lost fishing gear, is a constant fact of life for the marine geophysical operator. Every year streamers, propellers, thrusters and other equipment are lost or damaged due to encounters with marine debris. In addition, marine life such as turtles, birds, mammals and fish may also be encountered within the debris. Marine debris and animal entanglement are also international environmental issues in which EnerGeo Alliance members play an important role. By removing and disposing of debris encountered during operations, installing turtle guards, carrying out watches for marine mammals, employing preventative protective measures, and reporting these activities, geophysical crews are working daily to clean up our marine environment
Share Your Data
Learn more on how to contribute to the Sustainable Seas Initiative.
