JONAH SAYS GREAT JOB!

Thanks for supporting a business that cares about the Ocean

What’s this all about?

To receive a Jonah Thumbs Up, businesses to commit to selling sustainably-sourced seafood—which means it has a Marine Stewardship Council certification, or something similar.

Who even is Jonah?

Hi! My name is Jonah Lev Becker. I care about the ocean because without it, we all die because there’s no oxygen*. There’s this movie called “Ocean” where it explains all about the ocean and bottom trawling, and as soon as I saw that animals were being harmed by bottom trawling, I said, “I’m going to make a protest”. I had the protest in Spring Park, and it was a success! Lots of people came. But afterwards, I said, “what’s next?”. I’m going to make a float for our 4th of July Parade. And I also decided to see if local businesses were using fish caught using bottom trawling. I thought that if they’re using sustainably caught fish, I could make them a sign, so people know that they’re doing the right thing and decide to visit them.

*note from Jonah’s mom—as far as I’m aware, this is pretty much true.

Are you a business? Make the Pledge!

If you pledge to use sustainably sourced seafood, we’ll send you a sticker to display and you’ll have Jonah’s everlasting admiration

Small Hands, Big Waves: How You Can Help

Saving the ocean floor isn’t a one-person job—it takes an entire ecosystem of people working together. When heavy industrial nets drag across the deep sea, they destroy the fragile habitats that marine life (and our fishing economy) depend on.

But here is the good news: we can stop it. Whether you are ordering dinner tonight, running a local kitchen, or writing laws in Congress, you have a specific role to play in closing the seafloor loophole.

Find your section below and join Jonah's crew!

For Regular People (Consumers)

  • Ask the Question: Next time you order seafood, ask: "Is this line-caught, or was it caught using bottom trawling?"

  • Vote with your Fork: Choose sustainably harvested options like diver-caught scallops, rope-grown mussels, or indoor-farmed shrimp.

  • Support Safe Spots: Look for the "Jonah Approves" badge in local restaurant windows!

For Restaurant Managers & Chefs

  • Take the Pledge: Commit to auditing your seafood supply chain and removing species caught via destructive bottom trawling.

  • Get the Badge: Display the official "Jonah Approves" window sticker to show your customers you care about the ocean floor.

  • Get Featured: Join our online directory of ocean-safe local eateries.

For Policy Makers & Leaders

  • The Problem: Right now, the vast majority of U.S. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) still allow industrial bottom trawling. They function as "paper parks"—protected on a map, but actively bulldozed on the ocean floor.

    The Solution: Fully protecting the seafloor creates a "Spillover Effect." It turns protected areas into fish nurseries where marine life can safely grow and multiply, eventually spilling over into open waters to increase catches for the commercial fishing industry. It is a win-win for conservation and the economy.

    • Protect the Parks: Support federal legislation that explicitly bans industrial bottom-contact gear inside National Marine Sanctuaries and MPAs. Surface protection is not enough if the seafloor is destroyed.

    • Strengthen 30x30: Ensure U.S. ocean conservation frameworks require full benthic (seafloor) protection to qualify toward our national 2030 preservation goals.

    • Exert Oversight: Push NOAA to rapidly expand "Essential Fish Habitat" designations to safeguard vulnerable deep-sea structures before they are lost.