Five years ago, Seiko joined forces with Oceanic Society to tackle important issues affecting ocean health and support global ocean conservation efforts. What began as a one-year collaboration has evolved into a long-term ocean conservation partnership that is now entering its fifth year.
Over the last 5 years, Seiko’s support has helped Oceanic Society achieve several noteworthy impacts:
- More than 171,000 pounds of trash collected at 102 locations worldwide through three Global Ocean Cleanups.
- More than 290 volunteers activated through six community cleanups led by Oceanic Society, Seiko, Seiko retail partners, and local conservation partners in California, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.More than 50 small grants provided to sea turtle conservation programs worldwide.
- Four annual volumes of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles Report published and distributed to conservationists worldwide.
Here’s a look back at the key milestones of this impactful partnership.
2021 – Launching with a Purpose
Seiko Prospex launched its partnership with Oceanic Society in 2021 with an emphasis on sea turtle conservation:
Prospex U.S. Special Edition Timepieces: Seiko unveiled three U.S.-exclusive Special Edition Prospex timepieces inspired by sea turtle shells, featuring case backs engraved with a sea turtle design created by Seiko’s Japanese designers. These timepieces celebrated Oceanic Society’s State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) program, with each watch accompanied by an educational booklet highlighting three endangered species from which the watch faces took inspiration: leatherback, hawksbill, and Kemp’s ridley turtles. A portion of proceeds directly supported Oceanic Society’s sea turtle conservation work, including the production of the 16th volume of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles Report.
Seiko launched three U.S.-exclusive Special Edition Prospex timepieces in 2021, with dials inspired by sea turtle shells. A portion of sales supported Oceanic Society’s global sea turtle conservation programs.
2022 – Expanding Community Engagement
Seiko deepened its commitment to ocean conservation by supporting several impactful initiatives through Oceanic Society:
Community Cleanup in Ocean City, Maryland: In partnership with Oceanic Society, the Ocean City chapter of Surfrider Foundation, and local Seiko retailer Park Place Jewelers, Seiko sponsored a beach cleanup in Ocean City, Maryland. More than 70 volunteers participated in the event, including local high school students, collecting over 284 pounds of trash in just one hour.
The First Global Ocean Cleanup: As a Presenting Sponsor of the first Global Ocean Cleanup, Seiko Prospex provided key support to Oceanic Society to deliver on this inaugural campaign to tackle ocean plastic pollution. With seven partners worldwide, we mobilized over 400 volunteers across eight global locations, removing more than 4,598 pounds of waste from vital ocean and coastal habitats.
Seiko also directly sponsored cleanups in Miami, Florida, and San Francisco, California, with staff and retail partners actively participating on-site.
Seiko Prospex supported Oceanic Society as a presenting sponsor of the first Global Ocean Cleanup, and Seiko staff and partners participated in one of the cleanup events in Miami, Florida. © Big Blue & You
Global Sea Turtle Conservation: Seiko continued its support for the State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) program, empowering conservationists, researchers, and local communities to address threats facing sea turtles, from habitat loss to poaching. This included the publication of the 17th volume of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles Report.
2023 – Supporting A Global Movement
2023 Global Ocean Cleanup: As a Presenting Sponsor for the 2023 Global Ocean Cleanup, Seiko Prospex played a vital role in mobilizing over 550 volunteers across eight locations. These efforts removed 7,449 pounds of waste from key habitats such as sea turtle nesting beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs, advancing the mission to combat ocean plastic pollution.
In September 2023, Seiko sponsored a community cleanup in Virginia Beach, VA, led by the Virginia Aquarium, Oceanic Society, and Long Jewelers.
Virginia Beach Cleanup: In September 2023, Seiko sponsored a community cleanup in Virginia Beach, VA, led by the Virginia Aquarium, Oceanic Society, and Long Jewelers. The event brought together more than 40 volunteers who collected more than 200 lbs of trash from the beach and coastal waterways.
Global Sea Turtle Conservation: Seiko continued its support for Oceanic Society’s global sea turtle conservation program, including the publication of the 18th volume of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles Report.
2024 – Fostering Education and Amplifying Impact
Seiko’s partnership with Oceanic Society continued through the following initiatives:
Educational Video Series: Seiko Prospex sponsored the launch of Oceanic Society’s Sea Turtles: Deep Dive YouTube video series. The first episode, Sea Turtles and Plastic Pollution, highlighted the impact of plastic ingestion and entanglement on sea turtles, offering accessible and engaging educational content to inspire action.
2024 Global Ocean Cleanup: As a Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 Global Ocean Cleanup, Seiko Prospex helped support cleanups in eight locations, mobilizing 763 volunteers to remove 18,464 pounds of waste from vital coastal environments. A cleanup at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, sponsored by Seiko, saw 43 volunteers remove 2,357 pounds of trash.
Global Sea Turtle Conservation: Seiko continued its support for Oceanic Society’s global sea turtle conservation program, included the publication of the 19th volume of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles Report.
