Ocean Elders
Ocean Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes a coalition of prominent scientists, explorers, and business leaders to champion ocean protection, marine protected areas, and related international policy initiatives worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCalifornia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ocean Elders does
Ocean Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in California that serves as a catalyst for ocean protection and the recovery of marine ecosystems. The organization convenes a coalition of distinguished scientists, explorers, business leaders, and public figures, including Dr. Sylvia Earle, Sir Richard Branson, James Cameron, Ted Turner, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Queen Noor, to advocate for the creation and expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) and to influence international ocean policy. Its core focus areas are protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 under UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, securing full protection of the Arctic from extraction, advancing a new international treaty for the High Seas, and ending illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing practices.
The organization does not develop or operate proprietary technology platforms; its primary outputs are advocacy campaigns, policy submissions, op-eds, conference participation, town halls, and coalition-building with partner NGOs. Distribution relies on digital channels, including its website (oceanelders.org), email newsletters, social media, and earned media amplified by high-profile ambassadors. Documented outcomes linked to Ocean Elders' advocacy include contributions to over 11 million square kilometers of Marine Protected Areas, $10 billion mobilized for ocean conservation via the Our Ocean movement, the Ross Sea MPA (2016), the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (2016), Australia's Coral Sea reserve (2012), and the elimination of 2.3 million plastic straws through the Strawless in Seattle campaign.
Ocean Elders operates entirely on a donations and charitable contributions revenue model, accepting gifts via PayPal through its website. It has 1-10 employees and does not sell products or services. Leadership is provided by Founder and CEO Gigi Brisson, and the coalition's depth is reinforced by interlocking relationships with Mission Blue, IUCN, NRDC, Virgin Unite, The Elders, National Geographic Pristine Seas, the Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative, and the High Seas Alliance.
Ocean Elders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Elders
- Legal name
- Ocean Elders
- Website
- https://oceanelders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ocean Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes a coalition of prominent scientists, explorers, and business leaders to champion ocean protection, marine protected areas, and related international policy initiatives worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean Elders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ocean Conservation Advocacy
- NAICS
- Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)
Keywords
Where Ocean Elders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- California
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Ocean Elders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Ocean Elders operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through donations. The organization accepts contributions via PayPal and other donation mechanisms on its website. Donations support the organization's advocacy work for marine protected areas and ocean conservation initiatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Ocean Elders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocean Elders is a nonprofit advocacy organization that serves as a catalyst for the protection of the ocean and its wildlife. The organization actively champions the creation or expansion of marine protected areas through a coalition of influential scientists, explorers, business leaders, artists, and public figures who collectively amplify ocean conservation messages. Core focus areas include protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, full protection of the Arctic from extraction, securing a new international treaty for the High Seas, and ending destructive and IUU fishing practices.
Product overview
Ocean Elders is a non-profit ocean conservation advocacy organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a platform, software product, or modular product suite. The organization serves as a catalyst for ocean protection by championing marine protected areas, advocating for policy initiatives (such as protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, protecting the Arctic from extraction, securing a High Seas treaty, and ending IUU fishing), and mobilizing influential voices to support ocean conservation efforts. The organization maintains a website featuring information about its mission, team members, portfolio of conservation initiatives, and news content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Marine Protected Areas Advocacy Advocacy initiative focused on the creation and expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide, including the Ross Sea, Coral Sea, Pacific Monuments, Cuba, and Arctic regions. Targeted at governments, international bodies, and policymakers with authority to designate and protect marine ecosystems.
- High Seas Treaty Advocacy Advocacy initiative focused on securing a new international treaty to protect marine biodiversity in the High Seas, addressing threats such as deep-sea bottom trawling, offshore oil and gas exploration, and mining. Targeted at UN member states and international bodies.
- Arctic Protection Advocacy Advocacy initiative advocating for full protection of the Arctic from extraction, addressing the region's vulnerability to climate change and the threats posed by fishing, oil, gas, and mineral drilling as ice melts. Targeted at governments and international bodies.
- End IUU Fishing Advocacy Advocacy initiative dedicated to ending illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing practices, including bottom trawling and bycatch, which are estimated to represent approximately 20% of fish caught today and devastate marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
- 30x30 Ocean Protection Campaign Advocacy campaign supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, focused on protecting marine life, reducing pollution, and addressing ocean acidification.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 11 million square kilometers of Marine Protected Areas created through Our Ocean movement
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean Elders
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ocean Elders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ocean Elders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Sustainable Oceans Alliance (SOA)coreOcean Elders works with Sustainable Oceans Alliance on initiatives such as the SOA Accelerator at Sea expedition, a six-day voyage where Ocean Elders members Captain Don Walsh, Sven Lindblad, and Gigi Brisson participated. The partnership focuses on engaging young ocean leaders and accelerating solutions for ocean conservation.
- Lonely Whale FoundationcoreThrough partnerships with Lonely Whale Foundation and Jr. Ocean Guardians, Ocean Elders supports efforts to reduce plastic use. The 'Strawless in Seattle' campaign, the first of its kind, led to the elimination of 2.3 million plastic straws from the city's waste stream in September 2017.
- Jr. Ocean GuardianscoreOcean Elders has actively supported the Jr. Ocean Guardians 'No Straw November' campaign to eliminate straws for the month. The California cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Santa Cruz and others joined the campaign and are considering longer term bans.
- National Geographic Society - Pristine Seas InitiativecoreCatherine Novelli serves on the Board of the Pristine Seas Initiative of the National Geographic Society. Ocean Elders members including Dr. Sylvia Earle are deeply connected to National Geographic's ocean exploration and conservation programs.
- IUCN World Commission on Protected AreascoreDan Laffoley serves as Marine Vice Chair of IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas. The partnership focuses on global marine protected area strategy, knowledge creation, and policy advocacy for ocean protection.
- Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle AllianceflagshipOcean Elders was founded after the 2010 Mission Blue expedition where Dr. Sylvia Earle's TED wish brought together over 100 scientists, business leaders, philanthropists, and entertainment icons. Dr. Sylvia Earle serves as President and Chairman of Mission Blue. The organizations share mission alignment on ocean protection.
- The ElderscoreJean Oelwang, President of Virgin Unite and Ocean Elders member, helped incubate The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights. There is organizational and personal overlap between the leadership of these groups.
- Virgin Unite / B TeamcoreJean Oelwang serves as President of Virgin Unite, the entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group, and as a Senior Partner in the B Team. She helped incubate Ocean Unite as a global leadership initiative. The partnership leverages business leadership for ocean conservation.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreLisa Speer, Ocean Elders member, directs the International Oceans Program at NRDC. Ocean Elders worked with NRDC and Mission Blue to support the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
- Deep Sea Conservation CoalitioncoreKristina M. Gjerde co-founded the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition as part of her work on high seas governance reform. The coalition is one of five initiatives she co-founded focused on ocean conservation.
- High Seas AlliancecoreKristina M. Gjerde co-founded the High Seas Alliance, a partnership dedicated to building support for marine protected areas on the high seas.
- Sargasso Sea AlliancecoreDavid Shaw chaired the Sargasso Sea Alliance, working to secure protection for the Sargasso Sea. The Alliance received the SeaKeepers Prize in September 2013.
- Aspen Institute High Seas InitiativecoreDavid Shaw serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative, working on international governance for ocean conservation beyond national jurisdiction.
- Carbon War RoomcoreJosé María Figueres joined the Carbon War Room in 2009, serving as its President. The organization accelerates entrepreneurial solutions to achieve gigaton-scale carbon emission reductions. Jean Oelwang helped lead the incubation of the Carbon War Room.
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthoritycoreGraeme Kelleher served as the first Chairman and CEO of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) for 16 years. His work with Ocean Elders continues advocacy for the Great Barrier Reef protection.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ocean Elders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marine Conservation Institute: Focused specifically on marine protected area science, policy, and the Global Ocean Refuge System—tightly aligned with Ocean Elders' core MPA-creation mission and a likely direct coalition partner or peer advocacy voice.
- SeaLegacy: Ocean advocacy and storytelling organization co-founded by Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier; uses high-profile ambassadors and visual storytelling to drive MPA creation, mirroring Ocean Elders' celebrity-amplified advocacy model.
- Oceana: The largest international ocean-focused advocacy organization; runs global campaigns against IUU fishing, plastic pollution, and for MPA expansion—the same policy agenda Ocean Elders champions, but with vastly greater operational scale.
- Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance: Founded by Dr. Sylvia Earle (also President/Chairman of Mission Blue and Ocean Elders member), Mission Blue drives the Hope Spots MPA campaign—the same thematic focus as Ocean Elders, with shared leadership and overlapping coalition.
- Pew Charitable Trusts (Bertarelli Ocean Legacy): Pew's ocean program was instrumental in the Ross Sea MPA campaign alongside Ocean Elders members; it remains one of the most influential funders of large-scale MPA creation globally.
Emerging players
- Sustainable Oceans Alliance: Millennial-led ocean policy accelerator and advocacy network; Ocean Elders has partnered with SOA on youth-focused expeditions, representing an emerging-player generational counterpart with overlapping high-seas policy goals.
Others
- The Elders (founded by Nelson Mandela): Independent group of global leaders convened by Nelson Mandela; shares the 'prominent elders' advocacy model with Ocean Elders and has overlapping leadership via Jean Oelwang, making it a structural and conceptual peer rather than a direct ocean competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Greenpeace: Major global advocacy organization with longstanding ocean campaigns on overfishing, plastic pollution, deep-sea mining, and Arctic drilling—competes for the same donor base and media attention as Ocean Elders.
- WWF (World Wildlife Fund): Global conservation incumbent with major ocean programs covering MPAs, sustainable seafood, and high-seas governance—directly competes for philanthropic dollars and policymaker attention in the same advocacy space.
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation NGOs with a substantial ocean portfolio, including reef protection, sustainable fisheries, and blue economy programs—overlapping with Ocean Elders' mission but operating at much greater scale and with programmatic execution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Elders social profiles
Digital presenceOcean Elders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Elders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ocean Elders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Elders 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 Ocean Elders
What does Ocean Elders do?
Ocean Elders is a nonprofit advocacy organization that serves as a catalyst for the protection of the ocean and its wildlife. The organization actively champions the creation or expansion of marine protected areas through a coalition of influential scientists, explorers, business leaders, artists, and public figures who collectively amplify ocean conservation messages. Core focus areas include protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, full protection of the Arctic from extraction, securing a new international treaty for the High Seas, and ending destructive and IUU fishing practices.
Is Ocean Elders a public or private company?
Ocean Elders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Elders founded?
Ocean Elders was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ocean Elders based?
Ocean Elders is headquartered in California, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocean Elders make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Ocean Elders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marine Conservation Institute, SeaLegacy, Oceana, Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance and Pew Charitable Trusts (Bertarelli Ocean Legacy). Sustainable Oceans Alliance is listed as an emerging player. The Elders (founded by Nelson Mandela) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Greenpeace, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and The Nature Conservancy.
Does Ocean Elders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Elders.
What industry is Ocean Elders in?
Ocean Elders's product category is Ocean Conservation Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management. Its NAICS code is 92412.