Stop the Ocean Steal

July 21, 2025

Shark Stewards youth oriented social media campaign to stop IUU fishing, overfishing sharks and generating a movement to defend marine protected areas in the USA.

The campaign is directed at young and first time voters in the US to focus on changing the congress in 2026 to support maintaining legal protection of US marine protected areas, and support funding for Climate science, USFWS and NOAA so that agencies can effectively fulfill their mission.

Led by 17 year old intern Ren Hampton, the campaign is directed at ocean action, exposing ocean crimes and degradation and driving change through direct action.

Follow SOS on Instagram, sign the petitions, join other media outlets and take direct action. Click the image to join our Instagram and share the passion to make change.

The focus is on investigating and reporting on critical ocean conservation issues through social media platforms, influencing voters and the US Congress and implementing change through policy and change in the 2026 Congress.

Primary Focus Areas

1. Overfishing & Unsustainable Seafood Practices
   • Investigation into tuna imports, particularly from Asia/IUU into USA
   • Documentation of ahi tuna, poke, and sashimi supply chains
   • Analysis of false labeling and seafood fraud
   • Hidden consumption in pet food, other products

1. Shark Conservation Issues
   • Shark finning practices and trade routes
   • Shark bycatch and endangered species
   • Shark bycatch in commercial fishing operations
   • Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing impacts (shark finning, poaching, slavery)
   • Increased awareness International Trade under CITES, Hammerhead, Whale and Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
   • Representing shark conservation and proper management in the US and influencing the SHARKED Act S 2314

3. Marine Pollution
   • Plastic pollution sources and impacts- e.g. Berkeley Aquatic Park, affecting marine wildlife and ocean health
   • Investigation into false environmental claims by plastic producers
   • Relationship between seafood industry and marine debris
   • How community can be the solution

3. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
   • Benefits for sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals- and fishermen
   • Analysis of the proposed changes allowing commercial fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
   • Importance of maintaining the marine protected status under Antiquities Act for marine conservation
   • Expanding marine protection to attain true marine reserves under the UN 30% x 2030 goals

3. Community Conservation and Ecotourism (Hawaii, Baja)
   • Locally supported conservation using traditional knowledge 
   • Dive, photography, wildlife watching, surfing sources of alternative livelihoods
   • Higher education, research opportunities supporting local conservation

3. Technology and Conservation Expose’ Ideas
   • Global Fish Watch, Tracking Fishing Vessels
   • DNA Barcoding for Shark Fin ID 
   • Taiwan Ignores Treaties and Fishes Protected Area
   • US Owned Bumblebee Tuna by Taiwan, Responsible for Slavery, Shark Finning

Follow the SOS campaign and sign and share Shark Stewards petitions to save sharks, protect the ocean and Stop the Ocean Steal!