Join us In Protecting Marine Ecosystems & Island Communities
Decaying World War II wrecks contain oil that poses an imminent threat to the marine environment in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean, a cradle of life and culture, is under an urgent threat. Over 3800 WWII shipwrecks lie beneath its surface, including around 300 oil tankers.
Thomas Heaton - Pulitzer CenterAfter 80 years below the surface, these ticking time bombs are corroding, poised to unleash oil spills that will decimate marine life and severely impact the livelihoods of countless island communities.
The problem
As these underwater relics degrade, they threaten to release toxic oil into some of the worlds most biodiverse and fragile ecosystems.
Coastal mangroves, coral reefs, and fish breeding grounds, essential for both biodiversity and local economies, face severe damage. The fallout from such spills goes beyond local environmental destruction, endangering food security, tourism, and cultural heritage.
The Impact
Coastal mangrove forests and coral reefs are highly vulnerable to oil spills. Mangrove ecosystems support over 1500 species, including fish, birds and other wildlife, while also providing critical services like water filtration, coastal protection and carbon sequestration.
Oil spills cause devastating harm to marine life through physical smothering, ingestion leading to internal damage, and long-term reproductive issues. Birds, mammals, fish, and coral reefs suffer severe impacts from oil exposure.
Tourism is the lifeblood of Pacific Island communities, accounting for approximately 20% of their GDP. Oil spills can decimate local economies by destroying fisheries, reducing tourism, and increasing cleanup costs (10 to 20 times higher than the cost of preventive measures).
Dr Matt Carter - Research DirectorThe great thing about this problem is that it’s solvable.
Our Mission
At the Major Projects Foundation, we are on a critical mission to safeguard the irreplaceable marine environments of the Pacific by addressing the imminent threat posed by WWII shipwrecks.
3800
WWII shipwrecks lie beneath its surface, including around 300 oil tankers.
60
Critical Category 1 wrecks need investigation immediately.
118
Category 2 wrecks will become critical within the next 5-10 years.
7M
Litres of heavy bunker oil were pumped out from the USS Mississinewa, preventing a major disaster.
10x
Financial toll of cleaning up an oil spill can be much higher than the cost of preventive measures.
Dr. Matt Carter - Research DirectorOur mission is not just about preventing oil spills; it’s about preserving a way of life for Pacific communities and safeguarding some of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. Together, we can turn the tide.
Our Resources
The Major Projects Foundation leverages the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, marine archaeologists, world-renowned divers, engineers, and historians.
We collaborate closely with various stakeholders, including the Australian, American, and Japanese governments, sub-sea engineers, and remediation experts, to identify high-risk shipwrecks and develop techniques for spill prevention. Our advanced survey teams are equipped with state-of-the-art underwater gear, enabling us to conduct technical surveys and expeditions to mitigate potential marine pollution.
Our Partners
We work with esteemed organisations like InkFish, SPREP, the University of Newcastle and the Ocean Foundation to protect and restore ocean environments worldwide.
Our Sponsors
We are supported by Major Projects Group and Modulate Group, whose contributions are vital to our mission.
Our Supporters
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