From the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, Point Loma resident Melissa Morris has created waves of change through her full-time job at Oceana (a nonprofit ocean conservation organization) and her nonprofit, Service to Sea. Pairing her love of the beach with advocacy and conservation, she is making a splash and addressing the environmental issues in her community.
In May, Morris had her first in-person Oceana event since the beginning of COVID-19. The event, Hands Across the Sand, collaborated with the Surfrider Foundation to focus on offshore drilling and protecting the coasts as the Biden administration plans to release the country’s next five-year program for offshore oil and gas development. With a turnout of roughly 150 people and speakers like Rep. Mike Levin, Morris said she was amazed at how many showed up to support and speak up.
Morris’ drive for ocean conservation has flourished in San Diego, but it all started in Miami. Originally from Florida, her “calling” to the sea was the undercurrent directing her story from the beginning.
“I was very fortunate to grow up in a city where the water clarity is just out of this world and the coral reefs, at the time, were very healthy,” said Morris. “The water temperatures allowed for a variety of water activities — snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking. It was a very tranquil and happy place for me.”
She decided to utilize her communications degree from the University of Miami and a master’s degree from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to focus on science writing and policy work.
“That opened up a whole other world of marine conservation,” said Morris. “It helped broaden my skills and understanding of the different sectors of conservation.”
Her capstone research project at Scripps focused on restaurants’ access to sustainable seafood. This was the first of many projects within her career examining and questioning how San Diego can improve its relationship between the ocean and people.
Her nonprofit Service to Sea is another example of connecting the ocean and people. With her experiences as the spouse of a military service member, she created a program for active-duty service members stationed in San Diego to take their family, at no cost, to an ocean conservation activity.
“Coming back from anywhere in the world after a deployment, this is a way to easily relax, reconnect with family, or try a new activity and learn the importance of where they’re stationed,” said Morris. “Science has shown that being on or near the water reduces anxiety or depression. It was a way to say thank you and honor the service members and families.”
While running this nonprofit separately, her work as the Oceana Southern California field representative focuses on offshore drilling, plastic pollution, and fisheries. She covers the coastline from Los Angeles to Imperial Beach.
In addition to the Hands Across the Sand event, Morris’ work at Oceana was involved with efforts in Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad to pass single-use plastic ordinances and balloons, plastic bottles, and plastic bag bans. All of which have produced success.
Morris’ connection between her hometown and San Diego — the ocean — helped her find her career and support San Diego’s environment (natural and human) for the better.
“The ocean is a place that brought me a lot of happiness. Truly, I don’t know if there is any other spot in the world that makes me feel that peaceful,” said Morris. “Everyone has a purpose in life and my calling was to help animals and the environment.”
To learn more about Service to Sea, visit servicetosea.org/. You can also find Morris’ contact for future Oceana event inquiries at oceana.org/people-partners/melissa-morris/.
