Protecting our Oceans
for a peaceful and sustainable future
Our Impact
To date, the Lewis Pugh Foundation has been instrumental in the protection of 3.5 million km² of ocean. And because everything is connected, we work to protect rivers that feed oceans, and their catchments too.
The best way to ensure environmental justice for our oceans is to protect them from human abuse and exploitation. The best way to do that is by creating Marine Protected Areas.
Our 30×30 campaign to fully protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 inspired over 100 nations to commit to the #30×30 goal, and culminated in the Global Biodiversity Framework, through which all the world’s nations committed to conserving at least 30% of land, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans.
Our Latest News
Mount Kenya Glacier
UPDATE FROM LEWIS – 10 December 2025
“I’ve just climbed the mountain hoping to swim in a lake beneath the Lewis Glacier, to shine a light on how quickly Africa’s last glaciers are disappearing, and why the world’s remaining ice is so precious. The Lewis Glacier was shocking to witness; it is now so small, and will disappear very soon.
Shortly before we reached the summit, we were informed that the swim could not go ahead, and that filming near the glacier would not be allowed. After many months of preparation, this was painful to hear. However, this campaign has never been about the swim alone. It has always been about protecting nature for the people who depend on it today and in the future.
Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, sharing what I saw on the mountain, and why protecting glaciers is now so urgent.” – Lewis Pugh
The Lewis Pugh Foundation is delighted to announce a new partnership with SwimTrek, the world’s leading open water swimming company.
On 26 May, Lewis officially completed The Shark Swim, a 58-mile swim around the island of Martha’s Vineyard to change the story on sharks.
Lewis Pugh began his swim around Martha’s Vineyard today, where scenes from the movie Jaws were filmed 50 years ago.
Our founder Lewis Pugh has been honored in the inaugural National Geographic 33 – a distinguished list that recognizes 33 global changemakers leading the way in protecting our planet and its future.
LPF celebrates SANCCOB’s hard-fought victory to protect the critically endangered African penguin as the South African government bans commercial fishing around six key African penguin breeding colonies.
In the icy waters of Antarctica, a battle for krill is unfolding – one that could determine the future of one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. As humpback and fin whales make their hard-fought return from the brink of extinction, they find themselves in an unexpected struggle: the krill they rely on for survival is being harvested at an alarming rate, while fishing boats spy on their movements to track and steal their food.
“A ‘glacial pace’ once meant slow and steady But there's nothing slow about the changes I've seen.” This was our founder Lewis Pugh’s reaction to the rapid retreat of glaciers he’s witnessed over 30 years of swimming in icy waters. This year, world bodies are taking global action against the loss of vital ice.
Our Latest Expedition
“I urge you to support the Lewis Pugh Foundation and the crucial work it does to promote peace and protect our oceans.”
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu (1931- 2021)
Nobel Peace Laureate and Founding Patron of the Lewis Pugh Foundation
Our Latest Expedition
Mount Kenya Glacier
This December, Lewis Pugh will climb Mount Kenya and undertake a symbolic swim in a lake beneath the aptly named Lewis Glacier.*
The swim will spotlight the rapid loss of Africa’s remaining glacial ice. It will highlight how this loss affects Africa, and how it represents climate impacts across the wider Global South, through shrinking water supplies, rising food insecurity, and growing pressure on communities, wildlife, and regional stability.
* The Lewis Glacier is named after Henry Carvill Lewis (1853–1888), an American geologist and pioneer in glacial geology.
Our Latest Champions
Our latest Champion Series is out! This time it’s all about sharks and the people and teams working hard to celebrate and protect them.
Why sharks? Despite being the most feared animal in the ocean, they are also one of the most crucial for ocean health – and yet one quarter of the world’s shark species are now at risk of extinction. That’s what makes the work of our Shark Champions so vitally important. These 18 passionate shark protectors are conserving through art, science, community and stories, and we’re proud to spotlight them.
