global clean-up program highlights inherent link between ocean health and human health
“our long-term goal is to reduce human exposure to plastic while helping people get healthier and feel better,” says max marion, president of aquaomega.
published apr 24, 2026
4 minute read
4 minute read
on april 14, aquaomega teamed up with the 4ocean crew to remove plastic and marine debris at john pennekamp coral reef state park in the florida keys. supplied
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in areas near bali, an island province of indonesia, ocean pollution caused by plastic and trash is a major problem. the region lacks adequate trash collection and a proper recycling infrastructure, leaving pollutants to build up in certain communities.
when storms or flood rivers run, all of that trash gets swept away. it collects in sewers and ends up in rivers and streams, eventually making its way to the ocean. the material then converges and collects in giant garbage patches that harm marine life and pollute drinking water.
but plastic pollution in the waters surrounding this small island have far-reaching effects beyond the boundaries of the indian ocean.
“these giant garbage patches that float out into the ocean have an enormous effect on ocean life by changing the composition of the fish we eat,” says max marion, president of aquaomega, a canadian producer of premium omega-3 supplements. “nearly 270,000 tons of microplastics are floating on ocean surfaces, which are extremely harmful to ocean health.
“a lot of juvenile fish feed along the surface, and they may confuse microplastics and nanoplastics with algae. in some cases, their digestive system isn’t developed enough to expel those plastics. this reduces their survival rates, which impacts the overall ecosystem,” he explains.
research into the health effects of consuming seafood contaminated by microplastics is developing rapidly. for example, some chemical additives involved in plastics manufacturing (like bisphenols and phthalates) may interfere with people’s endocrine systems, potentially affecting human development and fertility. other studies suggest that accumulation of microplastics may contribute to chronic inflammation in the body, a process linked to numerous conditions from asthma to type 2 diabetes.
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to address this growing problem, aquaomega launched the onehealth impact initiative earlier this year, which aims to clean up the ocean, coastlines and coastal communities. under the initiative, the company will fund the removal of one pound of plastic and trash for every full-sized aquaomega product sold.
max and jenelle marion were on-site with their daughters, olivia and adora, making it an opportunity to pass on the importance of stewardship to the next generation. supplied
the project’s goal is to remove 500,000 pounds of plastic and trash in the first year. marion emphasizes that every purchase of aquaomega products has major environmental consequences — 500,000 pounds is literally a city block of plastic.
to support this work, aquaomega has partnered with 4ocean, an organization dedicated to cleaning up waterways while eliminating plastic pollution worldwide. given that aquaomega is an ocean-based nutrition company, teaming up with 4ocean was a natural fit. “it’s a fantastic organization whose values are deeply aligned with our own,” says marion. “when we brought them the idea for this project, they were so supportive.”
“environmental health benefits not only ourselves and our families — it also contributes to future generations, as well. if we don’t have a healthy ocean, we can’t produce the oxygen that we need to survive,” says alex schulze, co-founder and ceo of 4ocean.
“plastic was designed to last forever, so you don’t want it in a single-use item that is meant to be used for a couple of minutes and then tossed out,” continues schulze. while both companies are committed to removing the legacy plastic in the environment, they’re also trying to drive awareness with consumers to choose more sustainable product options.
“we can clean all the plastic that we want out of the ocean, but if we’re not able to stop it at the source and drive awareness with consumers, we’re going to be sitting on a treadmill,” says schulze.
“it’s about buying the social responsibility associated with the product.”
“it’s about buying the social responsibility associated with the product.”
through the onehealth initiative, marion, schulze and their teams are aiming to create a better, healthier world for future families. supplied
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as a company built on ocean-sourced nutrition, aquaomega’s onehealth impact initiative is founded on the principle that ocean health, planetary health and human health are all interconnected. and one of the essential parts of human health is diet.
modern western diets are often deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, as intake of sources rich in these nutrients (like fatty fish) has declined over the years. omega-3s are known as “healthy fats” that support heart and brain health, among other essential body systems.
supplements can help make up for this dietary deficiency, but not all omega-3 supplements are created equal. consumers should look for sustainably sourced, highly digestible products that are third-party tested and contain therapeutic levels of epa/dha.
marion says that plans are underway to make the onehealth impact initiative an annual commitment. “it feels really good to be putting in the effort to leave the world in a better place for future generations. i’m very hopeful that we can have a huge impact on helping ocean life rebound. our long-term goal is to reduce human exposure to plastic while helping people get healthier and feel better,” he says.
learn more about how responsible omega‑3 nutrition can support both personal health and ocean health by exploring the 4ocean x aquaomega partnership at https://www.myaquaomega.ca/pages/4ocean-x-aquaomega.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of aquaomega.
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