Over the past half century, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation has made over $1.6 billion in investments to expand understanding of the ocean and has worked with partners to improve its long-term health. The Foundation is committed to making effective investments in trusted partners, informed by research and science.

In support of its ocean science and conservation goals, the Foundation intends to commit $550 million from 2016 to 2021 to advance ocean science, protection and effective management. This includes a planned $40 million in grantmaking each year through our Ocean program and an estimated $350 million over five years for ongoing support of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, more commonly known as MBARI, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Ocean and coastal resources are facing a period of rapid change and better understanding how to steward them today is critical. At the same time, we believe the Foundations significant and complementary investment to curb climate changea root cause of that rapid changewill help to ensure the enduring health of the ocean. Climate change, and ocean acidification caused by climate change, are among the most critical long-term threats to the ocean.

We will focus on six countries and a suite of global strategies that together offer great potential for protecting the biodiversity, resilience and abundance of marine life in coastal and marine ecosystems is rebounding, and where these ecosystems provide increasing benefits for human well-being in the face of growing threats.