The Ocean Azores Foundation

What The Ocean Azores Foundation does

The Ocean Azores Foundation (Associação Fundação Ocean Azores, NIPC: 516417274) is a Portuguese non-profit association founded on September 2, 2021, by Ali Bullock and headquartered in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, in the Azores archipelago. The foundation is dedicated to the protection of cetaceans and the broader marine ecosystem across all nine islands of the Azores, addressing threats including entanglement in fishing gear, ghost netting, habitat degradation, and unsustainable tourism practices. Its stakeholders span local whale watching operators and marine tourism companies, academic and conservation researchers, global media outlets, individual donors, and project sponsors.

The foundation's primary technical asset is the Ocean Azores Media House, a self-service B2M (business-to-media) content platform that distributes rights-free editorial video, photography, and drone footage of whales, dolphins, and marine ecosystems under Government License Nr. 04-ORAC-2023. Supporting programs include the Monicet open-source whale tracking database co-developed with the University of the Azores and Okeanos Institute, a research boat program targeting three vessels (FOA Ebisu on Terceira, FOA Baleia on São Miguel, and FOA Medusa on Faial) by 2028, the annual Ocean Azores Photographer of the Year competition, an Ethical Whale Watching Guide, the Cagarros documentary (planned for 2026), and the 'Ocean Azores +' TV series with RTP Açores.

The foundation operates as a non-profit and does not generate commercial revenue. Its financial model relies on individual donations processed through the Donately platform, membership in 1% For The Planet for tax-advantaged giving, and project-specific sponsorships (named sponsors include Azores Getaways, Ghosts of The Ocean Spirits Azores, and The Solar Branco Eco Estate). The foundation explicitly does not accept funds from the regional Azorean government. Board members and ambassadors serve without compensation, and IT, hosting, and management services are donated in-kind by The Solar Branco Eco Estate, which is owned by founder Ali Bullock. Strategic positioning rests on the February 2023 Whale Heritage Site certification secured from the World Cetacean Alliance and a stated objective to obtain 'World's Whale Sanctuary' recognition by 2030.

Name

The Ocean Azores Foundation

Legal name

Associação FUNDAÇÃO OCEAN AZORES

Website

https://oceanazores.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ocean Azores Foundation is a Portuguese non-profit founded in 2021 that protects cetaceans and marine ecosystems across the nine islands of the Azores. It operates the Ocean Azores Media House (rights-free marine wildlife content for global media), the Monicet whale tracking database, and a research boat program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Marine conservation
• Cetacean protection
• Ocean media services
• Whale tracking research
• Ethical whale watching

Headquarters

HQ city

São Miguel

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Funding: The foundation relies on donations from individuals and organizations. They are a member of 1% For The Planet, allowing donors to contribute tax-free. The foundation does not take funds from the regional Azorean government.
2. Project Sponsorships: Funding for specific projects such as research boats (FOA Baleia, FOA Medusa, FOA Ebisu), the Ocean Azores Photographer competition, and documentary productions. Sponsors include Azores Getaways, Ghosts of The Ocean Spirits Azores, and The Solar Branco Eco Estate.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ocean Azores Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization focused on protecting cetaceans and the marine environment in the Azores, Portugal. It supports conservation and research activities and operates the Ocean Azores Media House as an ocean-focused media platform.

Product overview

The Ocean Azores Foundation is a non-profit ocean conservation organization focused on protecting cetaceans and marine ecosystems in the Azores archipelago. The Foundation operates primarily as a media and research platform, centered around the Ocean Azores Media House - a self-service platform providing rights-free editorial content (video, photography, drone footage) to media organizations. Supporting programs include the annual Ocean Azores Photographer of the Year competition, the Whale Heritage Site certification initiative, an open-source whale tracking database (Monicet), and a research boat program funding marine research vessels. The Foundation also publishes an ethical whale watching guide and supports documentary productions about marine life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ocean Azores Media House: A self-service platform for media featuring video, photography, and drone footage of ocean and marine creatures around the Azores, available rights-free for editorial use.
• Ocean Azores Photographer of the Year
• Cagarros Documentary
• Ocean Azores +

Products and services

• Ocean Azores Media House An ocean-focused media platform operated by the foundation in connection with its marine-conservation and cetacean-protection work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Azores became certified Whale Heritage Site in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• World Cetacean Alliance (WCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to develop and support the Whale Heritage Site application for the Azores. The WCA runs the global Whale Heritage Site certification program. Ali Bullock initiated the application in 2020, and it was approved in February 2023.
• University of the AzorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for whale tracking database development (Monicet) and research boat coordination. Working with Okeanos and the Government of the Azores on ocean research initiatives.
• Okeanos InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for whale tracking database (Monicet) development and ocean research coordination with the University of the Azores and government partners.
• Government of the AzorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on research boats project, government licensing for underwater photography and drone filming (License Nr. 04-ORAC-2023), and ocean conservation initiatives.
• Azores GetawaysflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsor and organizer of the Ocean Azores Photographer of the Year competition. The winning photograph is displayed at Ponta Delgada Airport. Also sponsor of FOA Ebisu research boat project.
• Ghosts of The Ocean Spirits AzoresmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the FOA Ebisu research boat project on Terceira island.
• The Solar Branco Eco EstatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides IT services, hosting, and management for free to the foundation. Also sponsor of the FOA Ebisu research boat project. Owned by Ali Bullock, founder and President of the foundation.
• RTP AçoresflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTV partnership for 'Ocean Azores +' series - short segments about ocean news, updates, and interviews presented by reporter Maria Anderson on the 'Açores Hoje' program.
• Terra AzulcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhale watching company owned by a board member of the foundation. Listed as gold standard sustainable whale watching operator. Company was independently assessed with owner having no input in the listing or approval.
• Whale Watching Companies (São Miguel, Faial, Pico, Terceira)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor25+ whale watching and marine tourism companies recommended by the foundation as sustainable operators. Includes Picos da Adventura, Futurismo, Azores Experiences, Best Spot Dive Center, Naturalist, Espaço Talassa, and others listed on the sustainable whale watching guide.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Marine Foundation: Ocean conservation foundation focused on marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries; comparable grantmaking/advocacy model and donor-driven funding base.
• Pacific Whale Foundation: Non-profit cetacean research, education, and conservation organization running eco-tourism operations; mirrors the foundation's mix of research, education, and sustainable whale-watching.
• SeaLegacy: Ocean storytelling and media-driven conservation collective; its model of funding impact via high-quality underwater content parallels the Ocean Azores Media House strategy.
• World Cetacean Alliance: Global alliance that runs the Whale Heritage Site certification program; partner to the foundation and the closest comparable organization working on cetacean protection and sustainable whale watching standards.
• Okeanos Institute: Azores-based marine research and conservation NGO; co-develops the Monicet whale tracking database with the foundation and operates in the same regional cetacean research space.

Broad incumbents

• Whale and Dolphin Conservation: Largest global charity dedicated to the conservation of whales and dolphins; broader geographic mandate but directly competes for donor attention and policy influence on cetacean protection.
• Ocean Conservancy: Major U.S.-based ocean advocacy NGO working on policy, plastic pollution, and ecosystem protection; comparable mission profile with materially larger scale and fundraising infrastructure.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare: Global animal welfare and conservation NGO; comparable donor-driven funding model and overlapping marine mammal conservation advocacy.
• Sea Shepherd: Established international marine conservation organization with a much larger operational footprint, donor base, and media presence; competes for marine-conservation narrative and donor dollars.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large global wildlife conservation organization with field programs across oceans and policy work on marine species; broader portfolio but overlapping donor pool for cetacean funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLjHy6SOsczUciNEkDmB7IT0Y_vmmVCzGR
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/436834460523965
• Instagraminstagram.com/oceanazores
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ocean-azores-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Ocean Azores Foundation