Potty Talk

When the sea sings out, these six women answer. In honor of Women's History Month, meet some of the Ocean Sewage Alliance steering committee leaders protecting coral reefs, safeguarding public health, and reimagining our relationship with water, inspired by Amanda Gorman's call to be "the ocean's saviors."

For the ocean, whale poop is life-sustaining. Human sewage? Not so much. Biologist Joe Roman with the University of Vermont studies these marine "gardeners" who recycle nutrients from the Arctic to the Caribbean. His conclusion is simple: human waste in the ocean is the wrong nutrients in the wrong place. Whales, on the other hand, make the right poop in the right place, benefiting the ocean food web.

A landmark global treaty to protect the high seas goes into effect, establishing the first legal framework to govern and conserve over half the planet's waters that lie beyond national borders.

In a year of unprecedented environmental and political challenges, Ocean Sewage Alliance not only held its ground but surged forward, launching bold initiatives and building critical momentum in the fight against sewage pollution. Our 2025 Annual Report details a year of strategic growth, impactful research, and the forging of new alliances, driving toward our vision of a healthier ocean and a more equitable world.