Coral reefs play a vital role in the ecosystem, but are facing a dire future in many parts of the world. In Jamaica, however, "grassroots-run coral nurseries and fish sanctuaries" have been established over the last decade, which has helped bring reefs in this area back to life.

Two surfers, appalled by debris they found off of Australia’s coast, crowdsourced a way to build Seabin, a floating trash collector. They are tracking and analyzing the debris collected. Though not yet a widespread solution, the Seabin is helping keep the local marina clean.

The research group, Beneath the Waves, is cultivating cross-sector collaborations with nonprofits, scientists, and individual philanthropists in order to better study the movements and patterns of sharks in the Bahamas. What has typically been a challenging task has been made possible through the use of acoustic tags, which can provide researchers insight into ocean ecosystems and thus conservation. Such initiatives are part of a larger trend of bringing together private donors, nonprofits, and ocean scientists to bolster marine science and conservation efforts.

A floating prototype in the San Francisco bay - envisioned by researchers at California College of Art - is testing the sustainability and possibilities of the creation of floating buildings. The structure, which has successfully integrated with barnacles and other marine life, is one in a number of visions of floating communities that respond to the rapidly appearing effects of climate change on coastal communities.

To protect the health of Belize's coral reefs and fish populations, the tiny country has implemented restrictions around where and who can fish commercially. This managed access program divides the region's territorial waters into nine different zones and so far has resulted in a decline in illegal fishing.

Fishermen are attaching LED lights to the gillnets they use to trap fish to ward off unintended captures like turtles, dolphins, and sea lions. The lights warn the wildlife that something is there so they don’t get caught and has led to global decreases, as much as 60%, in the amount of sea turtles accidentally trapped. In order to increase accessibility to this response, organizations like the World Wildlife Foundation and governments are partnering with scientists to create subsidies.