Sea Shepherd Global
Sea Shepherd Global is a Netherlands-registered non-profit foundation coordinating direct-action marine conservation campaigns worldwide through a fleet of 12+ ships, independent national entities in 20+ countries, and donor-funded operations targeting illegal whaling, IUU fishing, and industrial krill extraction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNieuw-amsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sea Shepherd Global does
Sea Shepherd Global (Stichting Sea Shepherd Global, RSIN #853127426) is a Netherlands-registered non-profit foundation established in 2013 as the Amsterdam-based coordinating body for independent Sea Shepherd entities operating in more than 20 countries. Founded originally in 1977, the organization conducts direct-action marine conservation using a self-operated fleet of more than a dozen ships (Neptune's Navy), including the Steve Irwin, Ocean Warrior, and Allankay, deployed against illegal whaling, illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, ghost-net pollution, and industrial krill extraction in the Southern Ocean. Operations span Antarctic whale defense campaigns, African anti-IUU partnerships with governments (Gabon, Tanzania, Namibia, Liberia), Pacific island-nation patrols (Tuvalu, Bougainville), and Mediterranean marine-protection enforcement. The organization runs 100+ direct-action campaigns over its history and reports saving more than 5,000 whales from Japanese harpoons since 2002.
Revenue is generated entirely from non-commercial sources: individual one-time and monthly recurring donations (the Ocean Warriors program provides exclusive content), merchandise sales, philanthropic major gifts, bequests/legacy giving, and institutional grants from national postcode lotteries (Dutch, British, Swedish). Donor acquisition is driven by digital channels (website, email newsletter, social, peer-to-peer fundraising), documentary content (Animal Planet's 'Whale Wars', 'Edge of the World: Krill Crisis' web series, National Geographic's David Attenborough 'Ocean' documentary), and grassroots outreach through 20+ independent national entities. Supporters include individual ocean-conservation donors (primary), philanthropists/major donors, government law-enforcement agencies that contract patrol-vessel support, and retail/consumer-brand partners in the Antarctic Krill Pledge initiative (Holland & Barrett, dm-drogerie markt, Rossmann, Time Health, Alnatura). The US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operates as a separate legal entity and is not under Sea Shepherd Global's coordination.
Sea Shepherd Global firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sea Shepherd Global
- Legal name
- Stichting Sea Shepherd Global
- Website
- https://seashepherdglobal.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Sea Shepherd Global is a Netherlands-registered non-profit foundation coordinating direct-action marine conservation campaigns worldwide through a fleet of 12+ ships, independent national entities in 20+ countries, and donor-funded operations targeting illegal whaling, IUU fishing, and industrial krill extraction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sea Shepherd Global industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Harbor & Coastal Patrol / Waterborne Security (BPAKALAC), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)
Keywords
Where Sea Shepherd Global is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nieuw-amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices18 records
Markets served
Sea Shepherd Global business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monthly donations from individual supporters worldwide, processed via credit card, PayPal, iDEAL, SEPA direct debit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay through the Fundraise Up platform and Stripe/PayPal payment processors. Monthly donors receive 'Ocean Warrior' membership with exclusive content.
- Merchandise Sales: Revenue from the Sea Shepherd online store selling branded merchandise (clothing, accessories). Proceeds fund direct-action campaigns.
- Bequests and Legacy Giving: Sea Shepherd accepts gifts in wills and legacy bequests from supporters, enabling major gifts without current expense to the donor.
- Philanthropy and Major Gifts: Significant one-time or recurring donations from philanthropists, enabling large gifts to fund ship operations and campaign expenses.
- Lottery and Institutional Grants: Funding support from national postcode lotteries (Dutch Postcode Lottery, British People's Postcode Lottery, Svenska PostkodLotteriet) that support specific capital projects such as the construction of the Ocean Warrior patrol vessel.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time donation — variable amount |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly recurring donation — variable amount with Ocean Warrior benefits |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bequest / Legacy gift — no set amount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sea Shepherd Global product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sea Shepherd Global operates direct-action marine conservation campaigns using the Neptune's Navy fleet of patrol vessels to protect marine wildlife and ecosystems. Activities include at-sea anti-poaching patrols, marine debris and ghost-net removal, cetacean research, and collaborative maritime law enforcement operations with national governments targeting illegal fishing and wildlife crime.
Product overview
Sea Shepherd Global operates as a marine conservation nonprofit organization offering direct-action campaigns to defend marine wildlife and protect ocean ecosystems. The organization runs multiple distinct campaigns including Operation Antarctica Defense (krill fishing opposition), Illegal Fishing Campaigns (IUU fishing partnerships with governments), Operation Nemesis (Antarctic whale defense), and Turtle Defense Campaign (sea turtle protection). Supporting infrastructure includes a fleet of ships (Neptune's Navy), a volunteer crewing database, an online merchandise store, and various awareness initiatives such as Sea Shepherd Education (online learning platform), Sea Shepherd Tattoo, Artists for Sea Shepherd, and Ghost Network. Fundraising operations include donation programs (one-time, monthly Ocean Warriors, legacy bequests) and a supporter fundraising platform. The organization also runs consumer campaigns including SaveKrill.com and produces documentary content such as the 'Edge of the World: Krill Crisis' web series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Direct-action ocean conservation campaigns via Neptune's Navy fleet At-sea direct-action marine conservation campaigns delivered through the Neptune's Navy fleet, including anti-poaching patrols, protection of marine wildlife, and collaborative maritime law enforcement operations with government partners.
- Neptune's Navy vessel fleet operations Operational deployment of the Neptune's Navy fleet of ocean-going patrol vessels to conduct maritime conservation patrols and interventions supporting Sea Shepherd Global's campaigns.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 5,000 whales saved from Japanese harpoon ships since 2002; Japanese kill quota reduced from 1,035 to 333 whales per season; zero whales killed in 2014/2015 season
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sea Shepherd Global
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sea Shepherd Global technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sea Shepherd Global partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Holland & BarrettcoreSea Shepherd co-created the Antarctic Krill Pledge with Holland & Barrett, the UK's first major retailer to commit to ending all krill product sales by April 2026. The partnership includes sharing photographic evidence of krill supertrawlers operating among whale pods, and Holland & Barrett's commitment to transparent divestment timelines.
- Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station (Dr. Matthew Savoca)coreDr. Matthew Savoca of Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station joined the Allankay expedition in 2026 as an independent scientist conducting peer-reviewed research on whale abundance, distribution, and the impact of krill fishing on whale populations.
- UC Santa Cruz / Happywhale (Dr. Ted Cheeseman)coreDr. Ted Cheeseman of UC Santa Cruz and co-founder of Happywhale joined the 2026 Allankay expedition, conducting line-transect surveys, drone measurements, passive acoustic monitoring, and photo-identification of whales. His research team called the South Orkney Islands 'one of the world's great wildlife hotspots.'
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreWWF (a founding partner of the Marine Stewardship Council) formally objected to the MSC's re-certification of the Antarctic krill fishery as 'sustainable' and called for an immediate moratorium on krill fishing. This followed Sea Shepherd's evidence of krill supertrawlers operating in whale feeding grounds.
- Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)coreASOC, a global coalition of conservation organizations, submitted a formal objection to the MSC's re-certification of the Antarctic krill fishery on the same grounds as WWF — ensuring environmental impacts have been accurately assessed.
- Government of the Autonomous Region of BougainvillecorePartnership with the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville against illegal fishing. Sea Shepherd committed to sending a ship to protect Bougainville's waters as part of the 'Amazon of the Seas' marine protection effort.
- Government of Gabon (Operation Albacore)coreSea Shepherd partnered with the government of Gabon for Operation Albacore — a five-month patrol of the Gulf of Guinea for IUU fishing. The M/Y Bob Barker operated under the direction of the Gabonese government.
- Government of Liberia (Operation Sola Stella)minorOperation Sola Stella — partnership with the government of Liberia to combat illegal fishing in Liberian waters.
- National Geographic / Silverback Films / Open Planet StudioscoreSea Shepherd provided logistics and access to remote Antarctic waters for the 'Ocean with David Attenborough' documentary on National Geographic. The Allankay crew helped filmmakers capture krill trawlers near feeding whales. The film reached millions and influenced discussions about marine protection and krill product reduction.
- Government of TuvalucoreOperation Tuvalu — Sea Shepherd vessel Allankay patrolled Tuvalu's waters with five ship riders from the Tuvalu Police Service Maritime Wing, who have authority to board, inspect, and arrest vessels. Two illegal longlines totaling over 9.5 km were recovered.
- Government of NamibiacorePartnership with the government of Namibia to combat fisheries crime, announced in July 2019.
- Government of Tanzania / Fish-i AfricacoreSea Shepherd partnered with the government of Tanzania and Fish-i Africa (a partnership of eight East African countries) for Operation Jodari. The M/Y Ocean Warrior carried Tanzanian law enforcement (Navy, MATT, Deep Sea Fishing Authority), resulting in 10 vessel arrests and 6.86 million EUR in fines. The partnership demonstrated what is possible when governments, law enforcement, and civil society work together against IUU fishing.
- Biosfera (Cabo Verde)coreSea Shepherd partnered with local conservation organization Biosfera in Cabo Verde to remove marine debris from turtle nesting beaches. Sea Shepherd granted a boat (M/Y Jairo Mora Sandoval) to Biosfera and conducted joint beach cleanups, removing over 4 tons of fishing nets in a single three-day operation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sea Shepherd Global competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ocean Conservancy: US-based marine conservation NGO focused on ocean health, IUU fishing, and policy reform. Comparable in mission and target donor base, though Ocean Conservancy focuses more on scientific advocacy and policy than direct-action patrols.
- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global animal welfare and wildlife conservation organization with a significant marine program (whales, seals, bycatch). Operates a similar federation-style structure across multiple countries and engages in both rescue operations and policy advocacy.
- WildAid: Marine and wildlife conservation NGO that reduces demand for illegal wildlife products through media campaigns and government partnerships. WildAid's combination of celebrity-driven media advocacy and government cooperation parallels Sea Shepherd's demand-side krill and supply-side enforcement work.
- Oceana: The largest international advocacy organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation. Oceana targets IUU fishing, bycatch, and habitat destruction through policy campaigns and corporate pressure — directly overlapping Sea Shepherd's mandate, with a more policy-focused (less direct-action) delivery model.
- Greenpeace International: Global environmental NGO with a comparable direct-action, ship-based advocacy model. Greenpeace operates its own fleet and engages in confrontational campaigns, making it the closest philosophical and operational analog to Sea Shepherd, though with a broader environmental remit beyond oceans.
- Fauna & Flora International: Long-established international conservation NGO (founded 1903) with marine programs covering IUU fishing and marine protected areas. Comparable in federation reach and conservation mandate, though broader across terrestrial and marine species.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major US-based environmental advocacy organization with a substantial oceans program targeting sustainable fisheries and marine protected areas. NRDC operates at greater scale and uses litigation and policy rather than direct-action patrols, but shares Sea Shepherd's regulatory and corporate-pressure toolkit.
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC): The leading global charity dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins. WDC's species-specific focus on cetaceans overlaps directly with Sea Shepherd's Antarctic whale defense and krill campaign work, with a science-and-policy (rather than direct-action) approach.
Broad incumbents
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): The world's largest conservation organization with a major marine portfolio. WWF has formally aligned with Sea Shepherd on the MSC krill objection and operates at much greater scale, but with a partnership-and-policy (rather than direct-action) operating model.
Emerging players
- The Ocean Cleanup: Technology-driven ocean NGO focused on removing plastic pollution from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and rivers. While narrower in focus (plastic, not biodiversity), it shares Sea Shepherd's donor model, media-driven brand, and willingness to deploy proprietary technology at sea.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sea Shepherd Global social profiles
Digital presenceSea Shepherd Global compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sea Shepherd Global financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sea Shepherd Global leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Sea Shepherd Global subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries18 records
Sea Shepherd Global funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sea Shepherd Global M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sea Shepherd Global
What does Sea Shepherd Global do?
Sea Shepherd Global operates direct-action marine conservation campaigns using the Neptune's Navy fleet of patrol vessels to protect marine wildlife and ecosystems. Activities include at-sea anti-poaching patrols, marine debris and ghost-net removal, cetacean research, and collaborative maritime law enforcement operations with national governments targeting illegal fishing and wildlife crime.
Is Sea Shepherd Global a public or private company?
Sea Shepherd Global is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sea Shepherd Global founded?
Sea Shepherd Global was founded in 2013. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Sea Shepherd Global based?
Sea Shepherd Global is headquartered in Nieuw-amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Sea Shepherd Global make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, bequests and Legacy Giving, philanthropy and Major Gifts and lottery and Institutional Grants.
Who are Sea Shepherd Global's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ocean Conservancy, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), WildAid, Oceana, Greenpeace International, Fauna & Flora International, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is listed as a broad incumbent. The Ocean Cleanup is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sea Shepherd Global have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sea Shepherd Global.
What industry is Sea Shepherd Global in?
Sea Shepherd Global's product category is Marine Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management, with a secondary code of BPAKALAC, Harbor & Coastal Patrol / Waterborne Security.