The Ocean Project catalyzes collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate. We work in partnership with youth leaders and a wide range of diverse organizations around the world to protect our blue planet and its great diversity of life.

By building a collaborative global network of youth leaders, youth organizations, aquariums, zoos, and other community organizations, we are effectively engaging the public and informing local, national and international policymakers. Together, we are growing a movement that effectively advocates to protect and restore our blue planet.

We base everything we do on the values of collaboration and community, inclusion and impact, and respect for all people and life with whom we share our blue planet home. We recognize that a healthy ocean -- covering 71% of our planet -- is essential for life, allowing humans and the rest of nature to survive and thrive.

The Ocean Project team has worked largely behind the scenes for 27 years to achieve our collaborative mission. Through the power of effective partnerships with youth leaders and an inclusive and diverse network of 2,000+ partner organizations in 180+ countries, we develop collaborative campaigns and create collective impact. Together, we are growing the movement for a healthy ocean, a stable climate, abundant global biodiversity.

Youth engagement and leadership is the central focus for all we do.

• From our start in 1997 until 2022, we focused on supporting aquariums, zoos, museums to develop into bolder community, national, and international leaders for conservation, including co-creating conservation action and policy campaigns.
• In 2002 we launched global coordination of World Ocean Day as a unique opportunity to spotlight the importance of the ocean for everyone on our blue planet and unite the world for celebration and collective action around the 8th of  June and throughout the year.
• Starting in 2009, we started to support and co-develop collaborative youth programs and campaigns to advance community, national and international ocean and climate policy action.
• In 2022, youth engagement, leadership, and advocacy became our central focus.

• Support youth to be change makers who effectively communicate, educate, and engage with their communities and decision makers to create the political will necessary for positive change
• Share resources and solutions among our network and beyond to catalyze collaborative action worldwide
• Connect youth with organizational leaders to add maximum value to national and international policy action campaigns
• Grow our network of youth leaders and youth organizations to continually enhance the global movement for a better future

Youth Engagement and Leadership

To help develop a broad, diverse, active, and united youth movement for our blue planet, we conduct collaborative advocacy training programs on intersectional issues, connect youth-focused organizations for collaboration, spotlight diverse youth leaders, and co-develop national and international ocean and climate policy-focused campaigns. More here.

World Ocean Day

Since launching global coordination of World Ocean Day in 2002, we've grown it from an idea into thousands of events in 180+ countries and 3.1 billion mentions on social media. Powered by the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council, with 25 members from 24 countries around the world, plus an alumni network of 140 young leaders in 58 countries, this unique global celebration unites the world for collective action in June. We engage the World Ocean Day network all 365 days for stewardship and collaborative action through 12 Months of Action. More here.

Partner Network

We've grown from a handful of co-founding organizations in 1997 into one of the most extensive networks ever created for ocean and climate action. We work largely behind-the-scenes, embracing intersectional strategies and supporting youth and other key partners to be bold leaders. We collaborate with national and international policy-focused organizations to scale success, and we share lessons learned with our global partner network so all can benefit. To support our network of diverse partners and the larger conservation community, we have always openly shared our cutting edge market research data and effective communications insights. More here.