Sociedad Ambiente Marino (SAM) was established in the year 2001 as a scientific and community-based, non-profit environmental organization in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, USA, with the mission of fostering the conservation and restoration of marine resources. In the year 2004, SAM officially became a not-for-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Service rules a 501 (c)3. SAM’s mission is guided by the principle that social wellbeing significantly depends on the sustainable use and management of natural resources. SAM fulfills its mission through a combination of efforts and services, including scientific research, coral reef restoration, marine mitigation, public education, outreach, and advocacy.