Like coral reefs, mangroves and other oceanic habitats, bays, sounds and harbors all over the world are also threatened habitats. Unfortunately, as with these other habitats, man is the problem. Pollution from a multitude of sources, loss of habitat from recreational, residential and commercial development, oil and gasoline spills, roadside runoff, introduction of exotic and harmful species  and aquaculture pollution from salmon, shrimp and shellfish farms all are major past, present and future threats. Compounding the problem is the fact that many of the bays, sounds and harbors in the world are estuaries, and  pollution  flows into these bodies of waters from incoming rivers, streams and brooks. Polluted themselves from agricultural and commercial sources, these incoming stream and rivers make the problem of saving threatened bays, sounds and harbors all the more complex and difficult. Many  small bays for instance are largely free from direct sources of pollution through conservation efforts locally but still suffer from pollution that comes to them from hundreds of miles away in neighboring states. 

While much has been done by many organizations to protect these important bodies of water, the war is far from over. Links at the bottom of this page will take you to websites of a number of great organizations that are fighting to protect bays, sounds and harbors throughout the world. 

BARNEGAT BAY, NEW JERSEY  Save Barnegat Bay

BLUE HILL BAY, MAINE   Friends of Blue Hill Bay

BOSTON HARBOR & MASSACHUSETTS BAY  Save The Harbor/Save The Bay

CHESAPEAKE BAY  Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay, 
                                          Chesapeake Bay Foundation

COTUIT, NORTH & WEST BAYS, MASSACHUSETTS The Three Bays Preservation

GALVESTON BAY, TEXAS   Galveston Bay Foundation

HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA Save Our Bay

LONG ISLAND SOUND Save The Sound

NANTUCKET SOUND  Save Our Sound

NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND  Save The Bay

PASSAMAQUODDY BAY, MAINE   Save Passamaquoddy Bay

PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON  People For Puget Sound

SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA Save The Bay

SANTA MONICA BAY, CALIFORNIA  Heal The Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper

TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA   Tampa Bay Watch

SHELBURNE BAY, AUSTRALIA   Save Shelburne Bay

PASSAMAQUODDY BAY, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA   Save Passamaquoddy Bay