Kate Walsh, 58, Reveals the Simple Habits She Swears Can Help Save Our Oceans (Exclusive)
The actress reveals the everyday habits she says can make a lasting difference for our oceans
Key Takeaways
- Kate Walsh says small everyday habits can make a meaningful impact on ocean health.
- The actress explains why nearly two decades with Oceana remain deeply personal.
- Walsh shares practical sustainability tips anyone can start using right away.
Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh recently received an award from Oceana in honor of her longstanding partnership with the organization around ocean conservation. The award came after Walsh traveled to Kenya with Oceana for the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, and shows just how strongly the actress feels about protecting the sea.
“In a world with so many organizations doing incredible work, Oceana stands apart. International. Science-based. Focused on results,” Walsh said in a statement. “The ocean has always been one of our world’s great unifiers. And protecting it should unite us too. I’ve had the incredible privilege of being a small part of the ever-growing tapestry that is Oceana for almost 20 years. What a gift.”
Prior to accepting this award, Walsh sat down with Woman’s World to discuss her environmental work and ocean partnership even further. To learn what she had to say, keep scrolling.
Kate Walsh opens up about her environmental work
Walsh first worked with Oceana back in 2011 when she attended their Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Anniversary event in Washington, D.C. Since then, she has gone on a variety of trips with them all over the globe and even participated in the Coastal Voices Summit in Washington, D.C., a 2016 event designed to protest offshore drilling.
“I started working with Oceana in 2011. Back then, people were just sort of aware of conservation or environmental issues if they were an environmentalist, or there were a couple of actors that were passionate about it. But most people had just seen the random documentary on PBS or watched Wild Kingdom. If they didn’t live on the beach, they weren’t really aware of what was happening. Maybe the ocean was just a distant fantasy—a postcard, a vacation, an ad in a magazine,” Walsh tells Woman’s World. “I’ve always been aware because I grew up in a family that camped. My parents were members of the Audubon Society and were always very environmentally savvy, so they made me aware. Once I had a platform like Grey’s Anatomy, I was excited to be of service where I could and bring more awareness to others.”
“I’ve been living in Perth, Western Australia for the last six and a half years, right on the beach,” the actress continues. “The beaches there are always clean because the currents come from Antarctica, so there wasn’t really a lot of plastic showing up, which is great.”
Kate Walsh reveals what she thinks people can do to help the planet
Wanting to get involved with and help save the ocean? Here are a few things Walsh recommends people do.
“Well, I think it’s the regular things like composting and recycling. Those basic things are really important. There are also great resources that Oceana has put in place, like going on their website to see what’s sustainable. When you go out to dinner, there are apps now where you can ask what fish is in season. If they don’t have the answer, you can check Oceana or use apps that tell you what’s sustainable and what isn’t,” Walsh says. “I think people have more awareness and consciousness around that now with farm-to-table and sustainability. Those basic things like low-energy light bulbs—it’s not so sexy, but it matters. I also think it’s great that people get involved. Go and do something local. It doesn’t have to be with Oceana. There are local community cleanups. Local is really key. I think you don’t have to do some grand gesture—just get involved in any way you can.”
For more information on Oceana, click here!
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