Whistleblowing plays a crucial role in combating ocean pollution, particularly when incidents occur far from land and beyond the watchful eyes of government officials and law enforcement agents. Seamen aboard ships are ideally positioned to report violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS).

Although such incidents may occur outside U.S. jurisdiction, whistleblowers can still report pollution crimes to American authorities and receive rewards for their actions. Illegal dumping of oil and false or exclusionary record-keeping can result in obstruction of justice charges, leading to multimillion-dollar fines for major oil ships.

The funds collected from these sanctions are allocated to wildlife restoration in affected areas, demonstrating how APPS leverages whistleblowers to protect our oceans from otherwise undetected crimes, even when authorities in Washington are far removed from the scene.

The APPS whistleblower reward provision is codified at:

• 33 U.S.C. § 1908(a)

An index of major APPS cases, including links to the indictments, plea agreements and decisions on whistleblower rewards is available at:

• Cases under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPs)