The Ocean Project
The Ocean Project is an international ocean-conservation organization that coordinates public engagement, youth leadership, and collaborative campaigns through a global network of partner institutions.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Ocean Project is an international organization focused on ocean conservation and public engagement. Rather than presenting itself primarily as a consumer-facing organization or commercial brand, it functions as a coordinating and amplifying platform for aquariums, zoos, science and natural-history museums, youth organizations, and other education and conservation groups. Its network includes more than 2,000 partner organizations in approximately 140 countries. The organization’s approach is collaborative. It works with partner institutions to develop, implement, and evaluate conservation campaigns, while helping those partners communicate their activities to broader audiences. Its role is therefore less about marketing a single product or institutional identity and more about supporting and highlighting conservation work already being conducted by organizations in its network. Collaborations have included work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the SeaLife Trust, and UN Environment, according to reference material associated with the organization. The Ocean Project’s best-known initiative is World Ocean Day, observed annually on 8 June. The organization has helped expand the day since 2002, developing it from a limited collection of events in a small number of countries into a worldwide platform for ocean awareness, education, advocacy, and conservation action. World Ocean Day is not restricted to a single annual observance: The Ocean Project uses the occasion to encourage year-round activities and to connect local events with broader priorities such as marine protection, restoration, sustainable use, and public participation. A 2019 annual report described more than 2,000 World Ocean Day events taking place in over 140 countries during the year. World Ocean Day programming has incorporated thematic and policy-oriented campaigns. In 2019, the stated theme was Gender and the Ocean, linking ocean protection with gender equality and the participation of women and girls in ocean-related decision-making and action. In 2023, the campaign emphasized the goal of protecting 30 percent of the planet’s ocean by 2030 and called on governments and other leaders to implement their public commitments. World Ocean Day is now recognized by the United Nations. Youth engagement is another central part of the organization’s work. Through a collaborative youth initiative, The Ocean Project connects young people with aquariums, zoos, museums, youth-focused organizations, and conservation networks. The initiative seeks to build a diverse and active youth constituency for ocean and climate action, provide leadership opportunities, and create channels through which young people can communicate with policymakers and corporate leaders. The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council contributes to the development of World Ocean Day and helps lead conservation action throughout the year. The Sea Youth Rise Up advocacy campaign began in connection with World Ocean Day in 2016. It is designed to connect young people inside and outside The Ocean Project’s network and provide a platform for youth perspectives in discussions with decision-makers. Across its programs, the organization presents early youth leadership as strategically important because a large share of the world’s population is under 25. Its overall positioning is that of a nonprofit coalition-builder and public-engagement catalyst: it supports partner organizations, creates common campaigns, and turns global ocean priorities into accessible public and youth action.
History
The Ocean Project is an international ocean-conservation and public-engagement organization whose work is built around collaboration rather than the sale of products. Its network brings together aquariums, zoos, science and natural-history museums, youth groups, and other education and conservation organizations. Reference material describes more than 2,000 partners operating across 140 countries. The organization’s practical role is to help these institutions coordinate campaigns, reach wider audiences, and connect local conservation work with international ocean priorities. A defining feature of The Ocean Project is its decision to support and highlight the work of partners instead of marketing itself as a conventional standalone brand. It develops, implements, and evaluates collaborative conservation campaigns with members of its network and has worked with organizations and funders including NOAA, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the SeaLife Trust, and UN Environment. This places the organization within the nonprofit environmental sector as a network-builder, campaign organizer, and communications catalyst. World Ocean Day became the organization’s most visible long-term initiative. The Ocean Project has helped grow the observance since 2002, when it was associated with a relatively small number of events in a limited set of countries. Through the organization’s partner network, World Ocean Day developed into a worldwide event held each 8 June, with activities continuing throughout the year. The program combines public education, institutional events, conservation action, and advocacy. The organization’s 2019 annual reporting cited more than 2,000 events in over 140 countries, illustrating the scale reached by the initiative. The themes of World Ocean Day have evolved to connect marine conservation with wider social and policy questions. In 2019, the campaign focused on Gender and the Ocean, seeking to link ocean protection with gender equality. In 2023, the campaign urged leaders to follow through on commitments to protect 30 percent of the world’s ocean by 2030. World Ocean Day is recognized by the United Nations, giving the observance an international institutional context beyond The Ocean Project’s own network. Youth leadership became an increasingly prominent part of the organization’s work. The Ocean Project’s collaborative youth initiative connects young people with aquariums, zoos, museums, and other youth-oriented organizations. Its objectives include developing a broad and diverse youth constituency for ocean and climate action, accelerating youth participation, and creating opportunities for young people to engage directly with policymakers and corporate leaders. The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council helps shape the observance and supports conservation action throughout the year. Sea Youth Rise Up began in 2016 as an annual advocacy campaign associated with World Ocean Day. It provides a means for youth from within and beyond The Ocean Project’s network to connect with one another and present ideas to decision-makers. This work reflects the organization’s view that young people should assume leadership in ocean and climate issues early, particularly given the large proportion of the global population that is under 25. The available reference material does not establish a specific founding year, founder, headquarters address, executive roster, corporate parent, or ownership structure. The organization is nevertheless described as active and internationally oriented. Its public identity rests on coalition-building, campaign coordination, youth empowerment, and the amplification of partner-led ocean-conservation work.
- 2023
World Ocean Day emphasizes the 30-by-30 ocean-protection goal
[1]The campaign called on leaders to implement commitments to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.
- 2019
World Ocean Day reaches a reported 2,000-plus events
[1]The Ocean Project’s 2019 annual report described more than 2,000 events in over 140 countries throughout the year.
- 2019
Gender and the Ocean becomes the World Ocean Day theme
[1]The annual campaign connected ocean protection with gender equality and inclusive participation in ocean-related action.
- 2016
Sea Youth Rise Up is initiated
[1]The organization launched an annual youth advocacy effort connected to World Ocean Day, linking young ocean advocates with one another and with decision-makers.
- 2002
World Ocean Day growth begins under The Ocean Project’s leadership
[1]The Ocean Project began expanding World Ocean Day from a small set of events into an international public-engagement and conservation campaign held annually on 8 June.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit international network and campaign coordinator that helps conservation, education, and youth organizations engage the public and advance ocean-protection priorities.
Global conservation and public-engagement campaign · 2002
World Ocean Day
An annual international observance held on 8 June and supported by a year-round program of events, education, advocacy, and conservation action. The Ocean Project coordinates and amplifies activities organized by its broad partner network, using shared themes and calls to action to connect local events with global ocean priorities.
Youth advocacy campaign · 2016
Sea Youth Rise Up
An annual youth advocacy initiative started in 2016 in connection with World Ocean Day. It is intended to connect young people within and beyond The Ocean Project’s network and provide opportunities for youth to communicate ideas and priorities directly to policymakers and other decision-makers.
Youth leadership program
World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council
A youth-led advisory structure that helps shape and grow World Ocean Day and supports conservation action throughout the year. It forms part of The Ocean Project’s broader effort to develop diverse youth leadership in ocean and climate issues.
Conservation partnership program
Collaborative conservation campaigns
Campaigns developed with aquariums, zoos, museums, youth organizations, and other conservation groups. The Ocean Project helps partners coordinate, implement, evaluate, and communicate initiatives intended to increase public engagement and support ocean conservation.
Marketing campaigns
- 202330 by 30 ocean-protection action
International
The 2023 World Ocean Day focus urged leaders to honor commitments to protect 30 percent of the planet’s ocean by 2030.
- 2019Gender and the Ocean
International
The 2019 World Ocean Day theme linked ocean conservation with gender equality and broader participation in marine decision-making and action.
- 2016Sea Youth Rise Up
International
A youth advocacy campaign connecting young people and creating channels for them to present their ideas directly to decision-makers on ocean and climate issues.
- 2002World Ocean Day
International · 140 countries
The Ocean Project has grown World Ocean Day into a global annual platform for ocean education, conservation, advocacy, and public action, working through a network of partner institutions.
Outcome. The observance expanded from a small number of events into a worldwide campaign, with the 2019 annual report citing more than 2,000 events in over 140 countries.
Recent events
- 2023
World Ocean Day campaign calls for protection of 30 percent of the ocean by 2030[1]
Campaign · Regulation
The 2023 conservation-action focus urged world leaders to implement commitments to protect 30 percent of the planet’s ocean by 2030.
- 2019
World Ocean Day activities reach more than 2,000 events in over 140 countries[1]
Campaign
The organization’s 2019 annual reporting described a substantial international World Ocean Day program, with more than 2,000 events in over 140 countries during the year.
- 2019
World Ocean Day highlights gender equality and ocean protection[1]
Campaign
The 2019 World Ocean Day theme connected marine conservation with gender equality and greater participation in ocean-related action and decision-making.
- 2016
Sea Youth Rise Up launches as a youth advocacy campaign[1]
Campaign
The Ocean Project initiated Sea Youth Rise Up in connection with World Ocean Day to link young ocean advocates and help them communicate their priorities directly to decision-makers.
- 2002
The Ocean Project expands World Ocean Day into a global ocean-awareness platform[1]
Campaign
The Ocean Project began growing World Ocean Day as an international annual observance and used its partner network to encourage ocean education, conservation, and public participation.
Sources2 sources
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