Ocean Research & Conservation Association

What Ocean Research & Conservation Association does

Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit technology-based marine conservation organization founded in 2005 by Dr. Edith Widder and headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. ORCA develops and operates a portfolio of proprietary monitoring, restoration, and deep-sea observation technologies, including the Eye-in-the-Sea and Medusa stealth camera systems (using 690nm far-red illumination and an eJelly bioluminescent optical lure for unobtrusive observation up to 2,000m depth), the Kilroy real-time water quality monitoring network streaming ~30-minute-interval data across 70+ linear miles of Florida waterways, and an Ecotoxicity Program that uses bioluminescent-bacteria assays combined with GPS mapping to identify sediment toxicity hotspots. The organization serves the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem—one of North America's most biodiverse estuaries—alongside municipal, state, and federal partners, and runs a large citizen-science program (300+ trained volunteers across fish monitoring, pollution mapping, and shoreline restoration) plus educational products (Kilroy Academy, A Day in the Life, Data Jam).

ORCA generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit funding stack: individual donations and monthly giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation and grant funding (Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, 11th Hour Racing, Indian River Impact 100, Schooner Foundation, Link Foundation, Frances Langford Fund, the Benedict Foundation, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's $25M Indian River Lagoon allocation), speaking engagements by Dr. Widder, legacy/planned giving, an annual Explorer Experience fundraiser hosted at Triton Submarines, and named scholarship funds. Financial data is not publicly disclosed. ORCA operates three Florida facilities—the D.J. Rainone Research & Science Center (Vero Beach headquarters), the Center for Citizen Science (Vero Beach), and an Engineering Office (Indian Harbour Beach)—with ~18 staff supporting research, engineering, education, and development functions.

Name

Ocean Research & Conservation Association

Legal name

Ocean Research & Conservation Association

Website

https://teamorca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) is a Vero Beach, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that develops proprietary water-quality monitoring and deep-sea camera technology to protect and restore the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding aquatic ecosystems through citizen science, restoration projects, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC), Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC), Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Marine conservation technology
• Water quality monitoring
• Coastal habitat restoration
• Deep-sea observation systems
• Citizen science programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vero Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting ORCA's mission to protect aquatic ecosystems. Monthly giving programs available. Donations go directly to technology research, conservation science, and educational programs.
2. Corporate Giving and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships and support from local corporations for conservation-focused community initiatives. Includes corporate donation programs and event sponsorships.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: Funding from foundations including Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, Frances Langford Fund through Martin County Community Foundation, Indian River Impact 100, and other environmental foundations supporting specific projects.
4. Scholarship Fund: The ORCA Environmental Science Scholarship in Memory of Jasmine Schwadron supports future environmental educators and scientists. Named gift program.
5. Legacy/Planned Giving: Estate planning gifts allowing donors to include ORCA in future plans, supporting long-term aquatic conservation and research efforts.
6. Government Grants: Funding from government agencies including Florida Department of Environmental Protection ($25 million allocated to Indian River Lagoon projects) for water quality improvements and restoration work.
7. Speaking Engagements: Dr. Edith Widder, as CEO and senior scientist, earns speaking fees for keynote presentations and environmental/science speaking engagements at conferences.
8. Annual Fundraiser Events: Explorer Experience annual fundraising event hosted at Triton Submarines featuring dinner, drinks, live music, and silent auction. Proceeds support Indian River Lagoon protection and restoration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ORCA develops and deploys proprietary technology for marine conservation, including the Kilroy real-time water quality monitoring network, stealth deep-sea camera systems (Eye-in-the-Sea and Medusa), and bioluminescence-based ecotoxicity testing. The organization delivers shoreline restoration projects (living and buffered shorelines), operates citizen science programs across Florida's Indian River Lagoon, and provides educational resources. Its work combines field monitoring, pollution mapping, habitat restoration, and community engagement to address aquatic ecosystem degradation.

Product overview

ORCA is a technology-based marine conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected research, monitoring, and restoration products. The core technology platform is the Kilroy Network—a real-time water quality monitoring system—supplemented by the Ecotoxicity Program for pollution mapping. These feed into citizen science programs including Fish Monitoring (One Health) and Land to Sea restoration projects (Living Shorelines, Buffered Shorelines). ORCA also develops proprietary deep-sea observation technology including the Eye-in-the-Sea and Medusa camera systems with electronic jellyfish (eJelly) optical lures, primarily used for giant squid research. Educational products include Kilroy Academy, A Day in the Life citizen science events, and Data Jam competitions. The organization operates primarily in the Indian River Lagoon region of Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kilroy Network A continuous real-time water quality monitoring system that uses state-of-the-art sensors to measure temperature, depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue-green algae, and nutrients across waterways, streaming data via cellular signals 24 hours per day. Used by researchers, government agencies, and community members tracking the Indian River Lagoon.
• Ecotoxicity Program A pollution mapping and sediment toxicity assessment program that uses bioluminescent bacteria assays to measure sediment toxicity and creates visual pollution gradient maps identifying contamination hotspots in the Indian River Lagoon. Used by environmental managers and policymakers.
• One Health Fish Monitoring A citizen science project analyzing toxins and toxicants (heavy metals, cyanotoxins, microplastics, PFAS) in fish from the Indian River Lagoon to assess bioaccumulation in the aquatic food chain and human exposure risks. Targets fishing communities, public health agencies, and environmental researchers.
• Eye-in-the-Sea (EITS) A deep-sea camera observatory that uses far-red light illumination at 690nm (invisible to most deep-sea animals) and an electronic jellyfish (eJelly) optical lure to observe marine life unobtrusively without disturbing natural behavior, operating at depths up to 1000m. Used by marine researchers for non-invasive deep-sea observation.
• The Medusa Deep-Sea Camera A compact autonomous deep-sea submersible camera system operating at depths up to 2000m, using far-red LED illumination and the eJelly optical lure. Can be deployed as a lander, drifter, or moored system for up to 72-hour operations. Used by marine researchers and scientific expeditions.
• Living Shorelines Shoreline restoration projects using breakwaters (rock or bagged shell) and native vegetation along intertidal shorelines to provide habitat, stabilize shorelines, improve water quality, and protect against erosion. Delivered for municipalities, parks, and waterfront property owners in the Indian River Lagoon region.
• Buffered Shorelines Vegetated buffer zones along waterways using native Florida plants to filter pollutants, capture stormwater runoff, and reduce nutrient loading into the Indian River Lagoon. Delivered for municipalities, parks, and waterfront property owners.
• Kilroy Academy An educational program providing educators and students with resources to analyze real-time Kilroy water quality data, including video tutorials, virtual field trips, and lesson plans for grades 9-12. Targets teachers, schools, and homeschool networks.
• A Day in the Life of the Indian River Lagoon An annual citizen science event where students, teachers, and volunteers collect water quality and biological data at sampling sites along the 156-mile Indian River Lagoon on the same day each October. Targets K-12 schools, teachers, students, and community volunteers.
• Data Jam

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.09 mg/L decrease in phosphate concentrations within one month of buffered shoreline installation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, technology partner, partner and event partner.

• City of Sebastiancore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partner in Riverview Park buffered shoreline restoration project - provides site access and collaboration for 127 linear foot shoreline installation.
• City of Satellite Beachcore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Partner in Frank P. Catino Park buffered shoreline project - 350 linear foot restoration with native Florida plants installed with 50 volunteers.
• Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Programcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in living shoreline and buffered shoreline restoration projects including Riverview Park installation.
• Cape Eleuthera Institutetechnology partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerORCA loans the Medusa deep-sea camera to Cape Eleuthera Institute for deep-sea shark studies and training new explorers.
• University of Florida IFAS ExtensionpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorticulture extension agents partner with ORCA to design and install buffered shorelines using native plants.
• The Nature ConservancypartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner in conservation efforts and resource sharing.
• Indian RiverkeeperpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental advocacy organization working on lagoon protection.
• Audubon SocietypartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner for habitat protection and biodiversity conservation.
• Waterkeeper AlliancepartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal environmental organization partner for waterway protection.
• NOAA Ocean Explorationcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative deep-sea exploration programs using Eye-in-the-Sea technology and shared research missions.
• Florida Oceanographic Coastal CenterpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional resource organization for environmental education and outreach.
• Florida Wildlife FederationpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental advocacy organization partner.
• Environmental Learning Center (ELC)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental education center partner for community outreach.
• Triton Submarinesevent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for ORCA's annual Explorer's Experience fundraiser at their state-of-the-art submersible facility.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Florida-based marine research and conservation organization combining scientific research, technology development, restoration, and public education—closely paralleling ORCA's integrated model and operating in overlapping Florida coastal waters.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI): Technology-focused deep-sea research institute that develops proprietary ROVs, sensors, and observation platforms for unobtrusive ocean exploration—the closest peer to ORCA's deep-sea camera and eJelly optical lure innovation model.
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU): Florida Atlantic University's marine research institution focused on ocean exploration, marine biotechnology, and coastal conservation—directly comparable to ORCA's mission and the previous employer of founder Dr. Edith Widder.
• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropically-funded marine technology organization operating research vessels and supporting ocean tech development—closely aligned with ORCA's tech-based conservation approach and a fellow Schmidt Marine Technology Partners ecosystem participant.
• Ocean Conservancy: Major U.S. marine conservation nonprofit using science-based advocacy and citizen engagement to protect ocean ecosystems—comparable to ORCA's science-driven, community-engaged nonprofit marine conservation model.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Premier private marine research and engineering organization developing ocean observation technology and conducting deep-sea exploration—aligned with ORCA's research and proprietary deep-sea camera development.
• Cape Eleuthera Institute: Bahamas-based marine research and education organization that partners with ORCA (borrowing the Medusa camera for shark studies)—a direct peer in marine research, technology deployment, and experiential education.
• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global nonprofit network focused on waterway protection and water quality advocacy—an ORCA partner organization with overlapping mission in citizen-led water quality monitoring and pollution accountability.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Tech-driven nonprofit developing proprietary ocean cleanup technology and conducting large-scale marine debris removal—comparable to ORCA as a technology-first marine nonprofit combining engineering innovation with conservation mission.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Larger, broader environmental nonprofit with marine and coastal programs globally—an ORCA partner that operates at significantly greater scale across multiple conservation categories beyond marine focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamorca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnIvSPIWma9guto7zrBYtUg
• Facebookfacebook.com/TeamORCA
• Instagraminstagram.com/team_orca_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ocean Research & Conservation Association