Instituto Baleia Jubarte

What Instituto Baleia Jubarte does

Instituto Baleia Jubarte is a Brazilian private nonprofit (organização não-governamental) founded in 1996 to provide institutional support to the Projeto Baleia Jubarte, a humpback whale research program that originated in 1988 during the implementation of the Marine National Park of Abrolhos. The organization is headquartered in Praia do Forte, Mata de São João, Bahia, and operates four additional regional bases and visitor centers in Caravelas (Bahia), Vitória (Espírito Santo), Ilhabela (São Paulo), and Itacaré (Bahia). Its work combines scientific research (photo-identification, passive acoustic monitoring, strandings response), environmental education (visitor centers, school programs, the Jovens Monitores youth program for ages 16-20), sustainable whale watching tourism in partnership with licensed operators, and cultural events such as the Festa da Baleia Jubarte.

The organization's underlying technology stack is traditional field-research methodology rather than software: a photo-identification catalog of individual whales built over 30+ years, a passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) station installed at Banco dos Abrolhos in 2021 that recorded 300+ hours of song data in its first phase, and a stranding response network covering the Bahia and Espírito Santo coasts. The 2024 research season generated 516 research hours, 5,516 nautical miles surveyed, 646 whale groups, 1,435 individual whales, and 196 photo-identifications across Southeast and Northeast Brazil. The organization also operates an e-commerce merchandise store at lojadabaleia.com.br and publishes downloadable educational materials.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: monthly individual donations via the Amigos da Baleia program (tiered at R$30, R$60, and R$120 per month), corporate sponsorship dominated by Petrobras through the Programa Petrobras Socioambiental (a 30+ year anchor partnership since 1996), visitor center admissions (R$20 full / R$10 half at Praia do Forte; free at other locations), and a whale watching tourism partnership program that places researchers aboard licensed operators. The organization reports over 100,000 annual visitors across its five interpretation centers and attributes the recovery of the Brazilian humpback whale population from fewer than 1,000 to approximately 35,000 individuals in part to its three decades of research and conservation work.

Name

Instituto Baleia Jubarte

Legal name

Instituto Baleia Jubarte

Website

https://baleiajubarte.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Instituto Baleia Jubarte is a Brazilian marine conservation nonprofit that conducts humpback whale research, runs five visitor centers across Brazil, partners with Petrobras for long-term funding, and delivers environmental education programs to schools and coastal communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD), Citizen Science & Conservation Volunteer Tourism Programs (On-Site) (THAAAFAH), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Wildlife & Animal Care Volunteering (EDAIAGAE)

Keywords

• Marine conservation research
• Humpback whale protection
• Environmental education programs
• Whale watching tourism
• Marine mammal rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Mata De São João

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly or one-time donations from individual supporters via the donation platform. Donation tiers include Guardian of Jubartes (R$30/month), Protector of Giants (R$60/month), and Conservation Ally (R$120/month).
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Primary sponsor is PETROBRAS through the Programa Petrobras Socioambiental, a partnership spanning over 30 years. Additional corporate sponsors provide project support.
3. Visitor Centers and Merchandise: Revenue from visitor center admissions (R$20 full/R$10 half price at Praia do Forte), official store merchandise sales, and e-commerce.
4. Whale Watching Tourism Partnership: Partnership with tour operators where researchers accompany tours for data collection, supporting sustainable tourism that generates employment in coastal communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Instituto Baleia Jubarte is a Brazilian nonprofit conservation organization that conducts long-term research on humpback whales using photo-identification and passive acoustic monitoring, runs environmental education programs through five physical visitor centers (Espaços Baleia Jubarte), supports sustainable whale watching tourism partnerships, and operates community and youth development programs. Its operations are funded primarily by corporate sponsorship from Petrobras, individual donations, visitor center admissions, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Instituto Baleia Jubarte operates as a marine conservation NGO with a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include research expeditions and acoustic monitoring of humpback whales, environmental education through visitor centers (Espaços Baleia Jubarte) and school programs, sustainable whale watching tourism partnerships, cultural events like the annual Festa da Baleia, and a membership donation program (Amigos da Baleia). The organization also produces educational publications and supports community development through artisan cooperatives. All activities are supported by long-term sponsorship from Petrobras through the Programa Petrobras Socioambiental.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Espaços Baleia Jubarte (Visitor Centers) Five physical visitor centers and interpretive spaces in Praia do Forte, Caravelas, Itacaré, Vitória, and Ilhabela featuring life-size whale replicas, educational panels, skeletons, auditoriums, and interactive exhibits that educate visitors about humpback whales and marine conservation.
• Whale Watching Tourism Program Responsible whale watching tourism program that pairs researchers with licensed tour operators, generating employment and income for coastal communities while supporting scientific data collection across Southeast and Northeast Brazil.
• Publications and Educational Materials

Quantifiable outcome

• Population recovery from less than 1,000 to approximately 35,000 humpback whales in Brazilian waters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prefeitura Municipal de IlhabelacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Espaço Baleia Jubarte Ilhabela inaugurated in June 2022, through the Tourism Secretary.
• ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency responsible for Brazilian federal protected areas. Partner in Abrolhos Marine National Park management and conservation activities.
• Prefeitura Municipal de VitóriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partnership for Espaço Baleia Jubarte Vitória, inaugurated in 2019 at Praça do Papa.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Mata de São JoãominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for Praia do Forte visitor center operations and the Jovens Monitores youth program.
• Projeto Baleia à VistaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSão Paulo-based partner organization working on whale observation and conservation, especially in Ilhabela region.
• Projeto Baleias e Golfinhos do Rio de JaneirominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization documenting humpback whale presence in Rio de Janeiro waters and promoting conservation awareness.
• Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do ForteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Interpretive Island featuring whale station history, near the old whaling station ruins from the 17th-18th century.
• Rede BIOMAR (Petrobras Socioambiental)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of marine biodiversity conservation projects sponsored by Petrobras including Albatroz, Coral Vivo, Golfinho Rotador, Tamar, and others.
• AquaRio / IMAMminorOthersPartnership with AquaRio marine aquarium for conservation awareness and education.
• Portomar Praia do ForteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism operator partner for whale watching excursions from Praia do Forte.
• Skipper CatamaranminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism operator partner for whale watching excursions.
• Abrolhos AdventureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure tourism operator partner for Abrolhos region excursions.
• Ecoporan Hotel Charme Spa & EventosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItacaré hotel partner hosting Interpretive Island at Ponta do Xaréu location.
• Artesãs do Sítio do CondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's craft cooperative supported through the Office da Arte program since 2015, producing whale-themed crafts and supporting community development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: US-based international ocean conservation NGO running science, policy, and public engagement programs. Comparable as a marine-focused nonprofit combining research, advocacy, and donor-supported operations.
• WWF-Brasil: Brazilian arm of a leading global conservation NGO working on biodiversity, oceans, and species protection. Comparable as a Brazilian nonprofit combining research, education, visitor engagement, and corporate partnerships.
• Sea Shepherd Brasil: Brazilian branch of a global marine conservation organization focused on protecting marine wildlife and habitats. Comparable mission scope on marine advocacy, enforcement, and public campaigns.
• Instituto Baleia Jubarte (intl peer) – Whale and Dolphin Conservation: Global NGO dedicated to whale and dolphin protection, with policy advocacy and research comparable to IBJ's cetacean focus. Operates at broader international scale versus IBJ's Brazil-specific mandate.

Emerging players

• Greenpeace Brasil: Brazilian environmental advocacy arm of a global NGO. Operates as an adjacent voice on marine ecosystem protection and species conservation, with overlapping donor audiences but a fundamentally advocacy-led model versus IBJ's research-and-education model.

Direct peers

• Projeto Golfinho Rotador: Spinner dolphin conservation NGO operating visitor centers and community programs in Brazil. Fellow Rede BIOMAR member with a comparable nonprofit model centered on cetacean research, education, and tourism partnerships.
• Projeto Albatroz: Brazilian nonprofit focused on albatross and petrel conservation, also a Rede BIOMAR partner. Comparable in structure: species-specific marine research, education, and Petrobras-funded operations.
• Projeto TAMAR / Fundação TAMAR: Brazil's flagship marine conservation NGO for sea turtles, also part of the Petrobras-funded Rede BIOMAR network alongside IBJ. TAMAR is the closest comparable Brazilian nonprofit running long-term species research, visitor centers, and community-based conservation programs.
• Projeto Coral Vivo: Brazilian coral reef conservation NGO and fellow Rede BIOMAR member. Operates research, education, and visitor programs targeting the same Abrolhos marine ecosystem where IBJ works, with similar Petrobras socioambiental sponsorship.

Regional players

• Instituto Mar Urbano (IMU): Brazilian coastal/marine nonprofit focused on sustainable coastal management and ocean education. Comparable regional marine conservation programming in the same Brazilian coastal geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ProjetoBaleiaJubarte
• Facebookfacebook.com/projetobaleiajubarte
• Instagraminstagram.com/projetobaleiajubarte/?hl=pt-br
• Xx.com/ibaleiajubarte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instituto-baleia-jubarte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Instituto Baleia Jubarte