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News and Media

News and Media

We are proud to share with you these press reports about ODA’s activities.

Because one of our primary goals is to educate the public, we seek to always document our work with video and photography. Our ability to record man-made ocean damage and our efforts to remove it, allows us to provide this information to the media with the goal of educating people and inspiring action.

We hope you will read, learn, and share what you find here, and be inspired to become involved!


Recent News

September 1, 2022 - Ojai Valley News

Ocean Defenders hit jackpot
 

February 21, 2022 - KHON2 News Hawai'i

Volunteers remove 4,100 pounds of debris on Oahu’s windward coast
 

February 9, 2022 - KHON2 News Hawai'i

Hawaii volunteers remove over 5,000 pounds of large truck tires from ocean
 

September 17, 2021 - Big Island Now

Underwater Cleanup Set For Keauhou Bay Saturday
 

September 16, 2021 - Honolulu Civil Beat

SLIDESHOW: Diving For Tires And Trash In Kaneohe Bay
 

April 23, 2021 - KHON2 News Hawai'i

40 scuba divers set to complete underwater cleanup at Magic Island
 

January 24, 2021 - KHON2 News Hawai'i

GoPro found after 6 years at the bottom of Honolulu ocean returned to owner
 

January 19, 2021 - The Orange County Register

Does a plastic bag stuck on whale’s mouth indicate more ocean trash?
 

February 3, 2020 - West Hawai'i Today

Cleaning up underwater: Volunteers remove dozens of tires, loads of debris from Honokohau Harbor
 

November 11, 2019 - Orange County Register

Giant sea bass survive and thrive off Corona del Mar, but junk is putting them in jeopardy
 

August 25, 2019 - West Hawai'i Today

Dive volunteers keep cleaning tradition going at Honokohau Harbor
 

August 14, 2019 - ABC KITV-4 Island News

Divers plan underwater ocean clean up near Spitting Caves
 

September 30, 2018 - West Hawai'i Today

Diving for Debris
 For photos that illustrate this article visit this page
 

November 30, 2017 - Orange County Register

Environmentalists fear lobster traps off Laguna Beach pose danger to whales along the coastline


September 2016 Issue - Devocean

Issue I, Vol 2 - The Ocean Conservation Issue: Beyond the Bay; ODA Workding for a Debris Free Sea


September 2016 Issue - Devocean

Issue I, Vol 2 - The Ocean Conservation Issue: Kurt Lieber Interviews Sylvia Earle
 

August 10, 2016 - Orange Slices TV Show

Ocean Defenders Featured on Orange Slices
 

June 29, 2016 - NBC Los Angeles TV

Entangled Whale (off the coast of Dana Point, Orange County)
 

June 14, 2016 - 90265 Malibu Magazine

Beyond the Bay: Ocean Defender’s Alliance, Working for a Debris Free Sea
 

October 19, 2015 - Scuba Diving Magazine

Sea Hero: Ocean Defenders Alliance Founder Kurt Lieber Honored for Ocean Protection
 

April 20, 2015 - Yahoo Sports

The Unseen Slaughter Under the Sea

April 20, 2015 - TakePart

The Unseen Slaughter Under the Sea
 

February 15, 2015 - Eco Watch

Undersea Superheroes Save Imperiled Marine Life
 

October 6, 2014 - Orange County Register

New boat a boon for ghost net rescue group
 

June 8, 2014 - California Diver

Cleaning Up Anacapa with Kurt Lieber and the Ocean Defenders Alliance
 

May 27, 2014 - Merced Sun-Star

Treble hooks not allowed for salmon in certain areas (report illegal fishing)


January 8, 2014 - Ventura County Star

Everything plus the kitchen sink pulled up from Channel Islands Harbor
 

December 3, 2013 - 89.3 KPCC Online (multiple videos)

Divers clean up what fishermen leave behind on the ocean floor (video)


December 3, 2013 - 89.3 KPCC Online

Cleaning Up Anacapa with Kurt Lieber and the Ocean Defenders Alliance
 

November 1, 2013 - Minnesota Public Radio (print article)

The Ocean Defenders

October 26, 2013 - Ventura County Star

Divers work to clear abandoned, lost nets and traps from ocean [Video]
 

October 2, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Great white shark snacks on whale carcass. Watch nature in action.

October 2, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Cleaning Up Anacapa with Kurt Lieber and the Ocean Defenders Alliance
 

January 17, 2013 - Orange County Register

H.B. net recovery nonprofit gets grant from TV's Bob Barker
 

January 4, 2013 - Orange County Register Online

Local divers go after 'killing machine' nets
 

January 4, 2013 - Orange County Register Online

5 Questions with ... ODA Captain Kurt Lieber
 

December 22, 2012 -  Los Angeles Times

Scuba divers to remove fishing net entangled on shipwrecked barge
 

September 11, 2012 - The Grunion

Divers Bring Trash To Surface Saturday


March 29, 2012 - KNBC - Los Angeles

Whale Rescues Sometimes End Badly
 

March 2, 2012 - Daily Breeze - Orange Country

Volunteer divers clear nets lethal to marine life from shipwrecks
 

January 21, 2012 - San Diego Reader

Ghost-Net Recovery Off Point Loma
   

January 16, 2012 - 10News.com - San Diego

Divers Remove Abandoned Fishing Gear Off SD Coast
        

January 1, 2012 - SDNews.com - San Diego

Defending the oceans: nonprofit volunteers tackle submerged debris
       

August 30, 2011 - NBC - San Diego

Ocean Divers Go for Net
        

August 27, 2011  - N. County Times - San Diego

Divers group works to retrieve abandoned fishing gear
     

July 13, 2011 -  Fox5 - San Diego

Divers retrieve 'ghost nets' to save marine life
         

July 14, 2011 - KFMB TV - San Diego

Divers scour ocean floor for abandoned fishing nets
         

July 12, 2011 -  10News.com - San Diego

300 Pounds Of 'Ghost Nets' Removed From Ocean Floor
 

July 12, 2011 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Ghost net removal the goal of local divers
  

July 11, 2011 - Orange County Register

“Ghost net” hunters hit the water Tuesday
 

January 17, 2011 - O.B. Rag (Ocean Beach, CA)

Divers Remove Abandoned Fishing Gear That Threatens Marine Life Off Point Loma
 


Stories Related to the Infidel/Catalina Project, Winter 2009:

January 12, 2009 - SF Gate

Scuba divers team up against man-made kill zone
 

January 12, 2009 - LA Times

Divers cut away at net that has been killing marine life
 

January 14, 2009 - NPR "All Things Considered" (audio)

Group Removes Net Off Santa Catalina Island
 

March 3, 2009 - California Diving News

Deadly Abandoned Net Removed by Volunteer Divers
 

March 27, 2009 - Supreme Master TV (video)

Ocean Defenders Alliance: Protecting the Waters and Its Inhabitants