About Us
Who We Are
The Ocean Project supports a global network of zoos, aquariums, museums (ZAMs) and other conservation organizations, providing these partners with research, tools and other resources that help them communicate effectively with their audiences about how to protect our ocean.
Specifically, The Ocean Project
-Leads a cutting-edge market research initiative on public attitudes and motivations
-Develops new methods for measurably increasing ocean awareness and conservation action
-Builds the communications capacity of ZAMs to effectively reach their global audiences
-Fosters networking among ZAMs and other organizations in our global partner network
-Provides additional services to our partner network to help them achieve their conservation missions
-Grows our partner network of organizations to build a stronger global ocean conservation movement.
The Ocean Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor for The Ocean Project.
Our Mission
The Ocean Project advances ocean conservation in partnership with zoos, aquariums, and museums (ZAMs) around the world. Our aim is to help our Partner ZAMs effectively educate and communicate for conservation action with their visitors and the public. We provide Partners with cutting-edge market research; effective outreach strategies to assist in changing attitudes and behaviors for conservation; and helpful information and tools to increase civic involvement in community conservation activities.
Since its formation in the late 1990s, The Ocean Project has grown from a handful of founding North American aquariums into the world’s most extensive network for advancing ocean education and action, with approximately 1,500 Partner aquariums, zoos, science, technology, and natural history museums, and other education and conservation organizations, agencies, and institutions in all 50 U.S. states and 80 other countries.The Ocean Project seeks to complement and build upon the work of existing institutions and organizations.
Through collaboration with and among ZAMs that together serve more than 200 million visitors each year, The Ocean Project aims to spur a significant increase in the amount successful ocean conservation efforts. Our Partners are the leading gatekeepers in providing the public with experiences that engage them, inspire them to take action at home and in their communities, and increase their understanding of science and conservation. Thus, we focus our resources on reaching and leveraging frontline ZAM staff, challenging and helping them to more effectively communicate with their onsite and online visitors for conservation outcomes.
In the United States and many other parts of the world a conservation consciousness is the exception rather than the rule. Critically important, there is a noticeable absence of a large constituency speaking out and taking action for our world’s interconnected ocean, its life, and for the future generations who will inherit our planet.
With our Partners, we strive to improve this situation and accomplish our goals through the following initiatives:
Market Research and Outreach Initiative
Seas the Day Personal Action Initiative