A SEA CHANGE TO TACKLE
OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION
Originally created by a marine biologist, SpongeBob SquarePants has always had a deep love for the ocean at its heart.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually, harming the marine species who call it home. It is our duty to preserve the ocean, not just for ourselves but for generations to come.
That’s why Paramount Consumer Products and Nickelodeon are launching SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change to help protect the home of our beloved sponge. This multi-year global initiative will spark a sea change by funding global clean-up work, promoting sustainable products, and educating millions of fans on how they can help protect the undersea home of all creatures—including a certain silly sea star, sourpuss octopus, and optimistic yellow sponge.
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Discover where our partners are working to make an impact for our ocean and learn more about the ocean pollution crisis.
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At the Heart
from the Start
SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg was a marine biologist and ocean conservation was always important to him. Take a look at how the series came to life.
Stephen Hillenburg worked as a marine biology teacher at the Orange County Marine Institute in California.
While there, he created “The Intertidal Zone,” an educational comic book about tide pools featuring a character called Bob the Sponge.
Hillenburg pivoted to a career in animation at Nickelodeon, writing and directing for "Rocko’s Modern Life.”
He decided to combine his love for the ocean and animation into a show about crazy invertebrates who live under the sea. Bob the Sponge evolved into SpongeBoy who became the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants.
"SpongeBob SquarePants" premiered on Nickelodeon.
"SpongeBob SquarePants" is a global sensation with almost 300 episodes.
OCEAN
POLLUTION
CRISIS
11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually and harm marine species
That's nearly
8
BILLION
PINEAPPLES!
*amount estimated based on average mass of a pineapple
THE IMPACT OF MARINE LITTER
SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change and Ocean Conservancy teamed up to teach you about the impact of ocean plastics on marine life. Plastic pollution comes in many forms and sizes. No matter how big or small the form, plastic pollution impacts all of our sea friends, from the largest whales like Pearl to the most microscopic critters like Plankton.
How does plastic end up in the oceans?
Fishing Gear
Pieces of fishing gear – much of which is made of plastics – can get cut loose during a storm, floating in the ocean and “ghost fishing” forever.
Everyday Items
Things like plastic bags, food wrappers, or bottle caps that litter the beach or waterways that lead to the ocean.
Microplastics
Tiny plastics that either are manufactured to be small (like glitter) or that shed from larger items over time. Broken up by wind, sunshine, and ocean currents, these never completely go away.
How are they harmful to marine life?
Ingestion
Accidental ingestion is common and dangerous. Scientists have documented plastics in more than 1,000 different ocean-dwelling species.
If animals ingest large amounts of plastic, it can block their digestive tracts. Even microplastics cause big problems because plastic has thousands of chemicals that, once inside the animal, can leach into surrounding tissues and harm the creatures.
Entanglement
Marine life can become trapped or entangled by plastics. Fishing gear like nets, lines, and traps can continue to trap animals even after they’ve been lost or abandoned at sea.
Other types of plastic can entangle animals. Six-pack rings are a well-known example, trapping seabirds and turtles by the neck. Animals like hermit crabs, octopuses, and other creatures that find shelter in small nooks and crannies can get trapped in plastic bottles and other trash.