Ocean Alive

Ocean Alive is a Portuguese non-governmental organisation for development (ONGD) and Portugal's first co-operative dedicated to ocean protection. Based around the Sado estuary, it works to protect marine forests — specifically seagrass meadows — together with the local fishing community. Its vision is a thriving ocean protected by coastal communities, and its mission is pursued through marine education, awareness campaigns, and behaviour-change initiatives. The organisation's core project focuses on the Sado estuary, where seagrass meadows serve as nursery habitat for the prey of a resident dolphin population and for the fish and shellfish on which the fishing community depends. A central element is the engagement of local fisherwomen, known as 'Keepers of the Sea' (Guardiãs do Mar), who participate in mapping, monitoring, and advocacy. Ocean Alive also runs a marine education programme, corporate volunteering activities, and the Ocean Alive Camp summer school for young people. Ocean Alive's institutional partner is UNESCO. Its work contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 (life below water), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 4 (quality education). The organisation also cooperates with projects in PALOP countries involving women, communities, and seagrass meadows. Its flagship campaign, 'Mariscar SEM Lixo' (Shellfishing Without Litter), mobilises shellfish gatherers and volunteers to prevent plastic packaging from entering the sea. As a co-operative and ONGD, Ocean Alive operates as a non-profit entity. It is active in Portugal and collaborates internationally within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. The organisation remains privately constituted and is not listed on any stock exchange.

Ocean Alive was established as a Portuguese non-governmental organisation for development (ONGD) and describes itself as Portugal's first co-operative dedicated to ocean protection. Its work is rooted in the Sado estuary, a coastal region where seagrass meadows form critical nursery habitats for marine life and support local fishing livelihoods. The organisation's founding was driven by the recognition that seagrass meadows — referred to as marine forests — were under threat, and that their protection required the active involvement of the coastal community, particularly fisherwomen. Ocean Alive developed a model centred on the 'Keepers of the Sea' (Guardiãs do Mar), local fisherwomen who became key agents in mapping, monitoring, and advocating for the seagrass meadows. This community-based approach distinguishes Ocean Alive from traditional conservation organisations. Over time, Ocean Alive expanded its activities to include a marine education programme, awareness-raising campaigns, and a scientific monitoring programme. It also launched the Ocean Alive Camp, a summer school designed to inspire young people as ambassadors for ocean protection. The organisation's advocacy work aims to develop recommendations supporting management plans and political decisions for the valuation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. Ocean Alive's institutional partner is UNESCO, and its work aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 14 (life below water), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 4 (quality education). The organisation also cooperates with projects in PALOP countries (Portuguese-speaking African countries) that involve women, communities, and seagrass meadows. A flagship initiative is the 'Mariscar SEM Lixo' campaign, which addresses the problem of plastic packaging from salt being left in the sea by shellfish gatherers. The campaign combines awareness actions led by women from the fishing community with volunteer clean-up efforts. Ocean Alive continues to operate as a co-operative and ONGD, focusing on behaviour change and community empowerment as means to protect the ocean.

• Ocean Alive is established as a Portuguese ONGD and co-operative dedicated to ocean protection.

• Launch of the 'Keepers of the Sea' (Guardiãs do Mar) programme engaging local fisherwomen in seagrass protection.

• Ocean Alive Camp summer school is created to inspire young ocean ambassadors.

• The 'Mariscar SEM Lixo' campaign is launched to combat plastic pollution from shellfish gathering.

• UNESCO becomes an institutional partner of Ocean Alive.

Non-profit ocean conservation organisation and co-operative focused on community-led protection of seagrass meadows in the Sado estuary.

1. 1OCEAN ALIVEocean-alive.org
2. 2Sobre Nós — OCEAN ALIVEocean-alive.org
3. 3About us — OCEAN ALIVEocean-alive.org
4. 4Ocean Alivewikidata.org