Making Waves on the World Stage of Marine Conservation

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sabine Castro. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

At just 16 years old, Sabine Castro is already making a global impact in the world of marine conservation. Her journey began at the Central Park Zoo, where she volunteered over 200 hours as a Discovery Guide through the Wildlife Conservation Society. There, she educated thousands of visitors—particularly children—on wildlife and the importance of environmental preservation. This early exposure to public-facing conservation work laid the groundwork for her next steps: taking action beyond the zoo and into the ocean.

Motivated by her experiences and growing knowledge, Sabine became an ocean ambassador with the Manta Trust and a World Water Hub ambassador. These roles challenged her to design a marine conservation initiative, leading to the founding of Dolphin Defenders. What started as a campaign to raise awareness about underwater noise pollution quickly evolved into a youth-powered nonprofit that has reached over 60,000 people around the world.

“Our goal was to break down the barriers that hold youth back from having their voices heard in marine conservation, specifically on international forums,” Sabine says. “I founded the organization, at first, to protect dolphins. But then it became a global movement to amplify youth voices on the world stage. I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to do just that at the UN a couple of weeks ago.”

Indeed, Sabine had the incredible opportunity to meet with delegates from all over the world at the UN Headquarters in New York City. They talked marine conservation from various geographical perspectives, as well as discussed some of the topics on the agenda for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.

Under Sabine’s leadership, Dolphin Defenders has grown into a nearly-100-member international organization that champions education, empowerment and advocacy. The nonprofit has hosted events such as youth summits, educational campaigns and contests like Echoes of the Deep, a creative writing competition endorsed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Development. Through these platforms, young people are given space to discuss environmental issues and propose real-world solutions that are presented to advisory councils like the one at NOAA’s Sanctuary Advisory Council.

To deepen the organization’s impact, Sabine launched several key initiatives. The Ambassador Program equips youth with tools and training to lead conservation efforts in their own communities. Mission Manta focuses on marine biodiversity education, while BLUEPrint is a bold, global policy effort working toward a youth-drafted Marine Bill of Rights. Each program is designed to educate and inspire action, making marine science accessible and advocacy approachable for young changemakers.

Notably, Sabine’s reach doesn’t stop at the shoreline. “Inland communities are integral because they have the water that feed into our bays, our rivers and inevitably to our oceans,” she explains. “That’s actually where a lot of pollution comes from. There are factories and other facilities on the water that leech chemicals and other waste into the water. Spreading awareness to these facilities and communities, preventing pollution and encouraging cleanups in inland communities benefits all of us.”

Dolphin Defenders has expanded into inland and coastal regions of the Global South, even establishing youth hubs in Rwanda, Ghana and Gambia. The goal is clear: embed environmental responsibility early by integrating education with empowerment, regardless of geography.

“We’re really trying to focus on community engagement, so we’ve tasked our ambassadors to do some kind of water cleanup,” Sabine shares. “In the next couple of months, we’re looking to complete at least 10 beach cleanups across the areas we’re affiliated with. We have three hubs in Africa and we want them to have as much reach as possible. Beach cleanups and river cleanups are so crucial in our efforts.”

Outside of Dolphin Defenders, Sabine is also the founder of SEA Blue Labs, a youth-led incubator designed to merge environmental awareness with entrepreneurship. This program supports students in developing scalable, socially responsible ventures that address climate challenges. Still in its early stages, SEA Blue Labs already has a team of 20, united by the belief that the best solutions come from those who care—and dare—to create.

“In my opinion, youth voices are vital,” Sabine reflects. “The way you create change, especially in social movements, is through education. And that inherently means getting youth involved. We want people to grow up being conscious of the responsibilities they have to the environment, to conservation, to civic engagement. It’s so important to engage with that now rather than waiting until later, so that you can go through life knowing that being involved is a core part of the responsibilities of life.”

Even as she manages two growing organizations, Sabine remains active in hands-on education through her continued work at the Central Park Zoo. Her 200+ hours there have further solidified her belief that systemic environmental change begins with informed communities. By turning complex science into stories that engage and inspire, Sabine ensures that conservation isn’t just a cause, but a conversation.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sabine? Find local volunteer opportunities.