The SeaDoc Society
SeaDoc Society is a 501(c)(3) marine conservation nonprofit operating in the Salish Sea from Orcas Island, Washington. Founded in 2000 as a UC Davis program, it funds and conducts wildlife health research, runs a $200K+ annual grants program, and distributes science through documentaries, podcasts, and publications to donors, policymakers, and researchers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersEastsound, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The SeaDoc Society does
SeaDoc Society is a 501(c)(3) marine conservation nonprofit that funds and conducts scientific research aimed at protecting the health of marine wildlife and ecosystems in the Salish Sea, spanning the U.S. Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Founded circa 2000 as a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the organization is headquartered on Orcas Island, Washington, and operates with a small multidisciplinary team of wildlife veterinarians, marine scientists, research assistants, and communications staff. Core activities include a competitive grants program (funding over $200,000 of external research annually through a Scientific Advisory Committee, including a dedicated Tribal and First Nations track), direct field research on species such as Southern Resident killer whales, rockfish, and Olympia oysters, and translation of findings into policy and management recommendations.
The organization distributes its science through a portfolio of communication products — the Salish Sea Wild documentary series, the Pod of Orcas podcast, two published books, a monthly newsletter, and a blog — alongside long-running citizen-science collaborations with partners including The Whale Museum, COASST, REEF, and the Northwest Straits Foundation. Revenue is generated through individual donations (including the recurring Tidepoolers program), foundation and agency grants, and annual fundraising events such as the Wine & Sea Auction on Orcas Island, with cross-border donor support via Canada Tax ID 154146 and U.S. 501(c)(3) Tax ID 94-6081352 through UC Davis Foundation. In 2025 SeaDoc merged with Wild Orca, absorbing Dr. Deborah Giles to consolidate Southern Resident killer whale research, and in 2026 added a full-time veterinary translational scientist (former NOAA program lead Dr. Michelle Barbieri Lino), signaling continued capacity build-out across both science and policy advocacy.
The SeaDoc Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The SeaDoc Society
- Legal name
- SeaDoc Society
- Website
- https://seadocsociety.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SeaDoc Society is a 501(c)(3) marine conservation nonprofit operating in the Salish Sea from Orcas Island, Washington. Founded in 2000 as a UC Davis program, it funds and conducts wildlife health research, runs a $200K+ annual grants program, and distributes science through documentaries, podcasts, and publications to donors, policymakers, and researchers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The SeaDoc Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where The SeaDoc Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eastsound
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The SeaDoc Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Primary funding source from individual donors supporting marine conservation in the Salish Sea. Includes monthly recurring donations through the Tidepoolers program.
- Competitive Grants: SeaDoc funds external scientific research projects reviewed by Scientific Advisory Committee. The organization also receives grants for its own research and operations.
- Events: Annual Wine & Sea Auction on Orcas Island serving as major fundraising event and community celebration of 25 years in the Salish Sea.
- Tax-Exempt Status: United States 501(c)(3) Tax ID: 94-6081352 through UC Davis Foundation. Canada Tax ID: 154146 for cross-border donor support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Tidepoolers Monthly Donor Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The SeaDoc Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SeaDoc Society is a nonprofit marine conservation organization that funds and conducts science-based research on Salish Sea wildlife (including Southern Resident killer whales, rockfish, and Olympia oysters), awards competitive grants to external researchers, and produces educational content such as the Salish Sea Wild documentary series and the Pod of Orcas podcast. The organization relies on individual donations, grants, and event fundraising, including its Tidepoolers recurring-donor program and the annual Wine & Sea Auction on Orcas Island, Washington.
Product overview
The SeaDoc Society is a marine conservation nonprofit organization that operates through a portfolio of science communication products and funding programs. The core offerings include Salish Sea Wild (a documentary video series) and Pod of Orcas (a podcast), both focused on Salish Sea marine wildlife and conservation. Supporting these are two published books, a monthly newsletter, and the Tidepoolers donor club providing exclusive access to events. The organization's primary conservation mechanism is its Competitive Grants Program, which funds external scientific research reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee, including a dedicated Tribal and First Nations grant track. Annual fundraising is conducted through the Wine & Sea Auction event.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Salish Sea Wild: Wildlife documentary series hosted by SeaDoc Society's Joe Gaydos, featuring stories of the Salish Sea ecosystem including orcas, giant octopus, rockfish, sea lions, and other marine wildlife.
- Pod of Orcas
Products and services
- Salish Sea Wild
Quantifiable outcome
- 125 species of concern tracked through biennial Marine Species at Risk compilation used by EPA and Environment Canada
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The SeaDoc Society
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The SeaDoc Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The SeaDoc Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Wild OrcaflagshipWild Orca merged with SeaDoc Society in 2025, bringing respected Killer Whale Scientist Dr. Deborah Giles onto the team. Combined teams work towards shared vision of Southern Resident killer whale recovery in a healthy ecosystem.
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineflagshipSeaDoc Society is a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, a center of excellence at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. This parent organization relationship provides academic rigor and veterinary medical expertise to SeaDoc's marine conservation mission.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancecoreMakeda Okolo of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance joined Dr. Deborah Giles in Washington DC meetings with legislators about Southern Resident killer whale conservation, representing a key research partnership.
- The Whale Museum (San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network)coreThe Whale Museum and SeaDoc Society work together to run the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, investigating and collecting data on marine mammal strandings.
- COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team)minorBeach monitoring volunteer program for citizen science participants interested in marine natural resources and active role in marine conservation.
- REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation)minorREEF conserves marine environments worldwide through engaging the public in citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.
- Northwest Straits FoundationcoreSeaDoc reports derelict fishing gear to Northwest Straits Foundation for removal, as seen when Joe Gaydos and Cat Lo spotted a ghost net during research dives.
- Birds CanadaminorFunded research project led by David Bradley to model sea duck trends using citizen science survey data from British Columbia and U.S. programs.
- Simon Fraser UniversityminorFunded research by Isabelle Côté on killer whale, salmon, and herring responses to vessel noise pollution in the Salish Sea.
- Pacific Northwest Research InstituteminorFunded research by Michael Metzger testing cockle susceptibility to transmissible cancer after transplantation.
- Puget Sound Restoration FundminorFunded research led by Ryan Crim to develop genetic markers for Olympia oyster restoration management.
- Tsawout First NationcoreFunded research led by Lais Chaves on Dungeness crab stock assessment within Tsawout First Nation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, part of dedicated Tribal and First Nations grant program.
- Two Beers BrewingminorBrewery created Southern Resident IPA, donating over $15,000 to SeaDoc over five years while prominently featuring whale conservation messaging on packaging.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The SeaDoc Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oceana: Global marine conservation organization focused on science-based policy campaigns. Comparable science-to-policy mission and donor-supported funding model, but operating at international scale.
- Ocean Conservancy: Large national marine conservation nonprofit with science-based policy advocacy. A broader incumbent in the same marine conservation space, with deeper fundraising and policy infrastructure than SeaDoc.
- The Marine Mammal Center: Larger, established marine mammal rescue and research organization. Comparable in mission focus on marine mammal health and veterinary science, but operates at national scale rather than regionally.
Direct peers
- Wild Orca: Former direct peer nonprofit dedicated to Southern Resident killer whale conservation that merged with SeaDoc in 2025. Shared mission, donor community, and geographic focus on the Salish Sea.
- Friends of the San Juans: Salish Sea environmental advocacy organization focused on shoreline and marine protection in the San Juan Islands. Operates as a peer conservation nonprofit in the same geographic footprint as SeaDoc.
- The Whale Museum: Direct peer in Salish Sea marine conservation. Operates the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network alongside SeaDoc, sharing the same geographic focus on Friday Harbor / San Juan Islands and overlapping audience of marine wildlife supporters.
- Puget Sound Restoration Fund: Pacific Northwest marine restoration nonprofit that receives SeaDoc grants for Olympia oyster restoration work. Operates in the same Salish Sea ecosystem with overlapping science and donor base.
- Northwest Straits Foundation: Marine conservation partner working on derelict gear removal and habitat restoration in the same Salish Sea region. Directly collaborates with SeaDoc on field activities and shares donor/community overlap.
Regional players
- REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation): Citizen science marine conservation organization that partners with SeaDoc on volunteer engagement. Operates a comparable citizen science model, but with a broader geographic focus beyond the Salish Sea.
Others
- NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region: Federal agency responsible for Southern Resident killer whale recovery and Salish Sea fisheries management. SeaDoc collaborates with NOAA scientists and provides research that informs its policy decisions, making it a key counterpart rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The SeaDoc Society social profiles
Digital presenceThe SeaDoc Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The SeaDoc Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The SeaDoc Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The SeaDoc Society 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 The SeaDoc Society
What does The SeaDoc Society do?
SeaDoc Society is a nonprofit marine conservation organization that funds and conducts science-based research on Salish Sea wildlife (including Southern Resident killer whales, rockfish, and Olympia oysters), awards competitive grants to external researchers, and produces educational content such as the Salish Sea Wild documentary series and the Pod of Orcas podcast. The organization relies on individual donations, grants, and event fundraising, including its Tidepoolers recurring-donor program and the annual Wine & Sea Auction on Orcas Island, Washington.
Is The SeaDoc Society a public or private company?
The SeaDoc Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The SeaDoc Society founded?
The SeaDoc Society was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The SeaDoc Society based?
The SeaDoc Society is headquartered in Eastsound, United States, in the North America region.
How does The SeaDoc Society make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are competitive Grants, events and tax-Exempt Status.
Who are The SeaDoc Society's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Oceana, Ocean Conservancy and The Marine Mammal Center. Direct peers are Wild Orca, Friends of the San Juans, The Whale Museum, Puget Sound Restoration Fund and Northwest Straits Foundation. REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) is listed as a regional player. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region is listed as an others.
Does The SeaDoc Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for The SeaDoc Society.
What industry is The SeaDoc Society in?
The SeaDoc Society's product category is Marine Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAI, Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines).