The Cousteau Society

What The Cousteau Society does

The Cousteau Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ocean conservation organization founded in 1973 by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and headquartered at a PO Box in Etna, New Hampshire. Its mission is to explore and protect the oceans through advocacy, education, scientific research, and historical preservation. The organization operates a portfolio of programs rather than a unified technology product, including the Cousteau Film Restoration Project (preservation and digitization of 35mm/16mm historical footage), Cousteau Divers (a citizen science network founded in 2009 by Pierre-Yves Cousteau where recreational divers log marine observations and geotagged photos), Mission Red Sea (a Sudan's Red Sea initiative that has mapped over 400 km of coastline and documented the first manta ray hybrid species), Vaquita Conservation in Mexico (acoustic hydrophone monitoring of the critically endangered porpoise), the UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Programme (16 university chairs spanning interdisciplinary environmental education), Cousteau Kids (children's educational magazine), and the Cousteau Plastic Reduction Challenge. The society's proprietary technical capabilities include specialized film restoration and digitization workflows, vaquita acoustic monitoring via hydrophones tuned to the species' unique high-frequency vocalizations, and the historical satellite-derived bathymetry method co-developed with NASA in 1975 that proved Landsat satellites could measure ocean depths up to 72 feet (22 meters).

The Cousteau Society generates revenue primarily through individual donations, monthly memberships, legacy gifts, and donor-advised funds, with secondary income from Cousteau Kids magazine subscriptions processed via cousteau.networkforgood.com. It serves five customer segments: general ocean advocates and the public, children and families, recreational SCUBA divers, marine researchers and scientists, and academic institutions participating in UCEP. Distribution is global through the website (cousteau.org), Facebook (CousteauGlobal), Twitter/X (CousteauTCS), YouTube (cousteauenglish), the Cousteau Divers social channels, and expedition-driven documentary and media output. The organization has been recognized with the Palme d'Or and Academy Award for 'The Silent World' (1956), and operates with a 1-10 employee footprint across global geographies including the USA, Mexico, Indonesia, Sudan, France, Australia, Austria, and Antarctica. Its 50,000+ members worldwide and historical inventions — including the Aqua-Lung co-invented in 1943, the SP-350 diving saucer Denise (1,500+ dives since 1959), Sea Fleas submersibles, Turbosail, Conshelf underwater habitats, and LANDSAT2 bathymetry — together form the legacy asset base that underpins its modern conservation programs.

Name

The Cousteau Society

Legal name

The Cousteau Society

Website

https://cousteau.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cousteau Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau that advances global ocean conservation through expeditions, citizen science, education, and historical film preservation, serving members, divers, researchers, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

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), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation
• Marine protection
• Citizen science
• Environmental education
• Wildlife advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Etna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: The Cousteau Society generates revenue primarily through individual donations (one-time and monthly), membership fees, and legacy gifts. EIN 23-7337664 is listed indicating 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the US.
2. Cousteau Kids Magazine: Educational magazine subscriptions for children introducing ocean wonders and conservation. Sold through the website with 'Order now' functionality.
3. Donor-Advised Funds: Accepts donations through donor-advised funds as an alternative giving method for supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Cousteau Society is a nonprofit ocean conservation organization that protects marine biodiversity through field programs (Mission Red Sea, Vaquita Conservation, Cousteau Divers citizen science), preserves and digitizes Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau's historical underwater film archive, publishes the Cousteau Kids educational magazine and subscriber newsletter, and runs academic initiatives such as the UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Programme. Revenue is generated primarily through donations, memberships, magazine subscriptions, and grants supporting these conservation and education programs.

Product overview

The Cousteau Society is a nonprofit ocean conservation organization founded in 1973 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include the Cousteau Film Restoration Project for historical footage preservation, Cousteau Divers (citizen science program), Mission Red Sea and Vaquita Conservation initiatives, the UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Programme for academic collaboration, Cousteau Kids educational magazine, and the Cousteau Plastic Reduction Challenge. The society's historical inventions (Aqua-Lung, Diving Saucer, Sea Fleas, LANDSAT2, Turbosail, Conshelf) represent legacy innovations that revolutionized ocean exploration, though they are documented as historical achievements rather than current product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cousteau Kids: An educational magazine dedicated to introducing children to the wonders of the ocean and the importance of protecting it.
• Cousteau Divers
• Mission Red Sea

Products and services

• Cousteau Kids An educational magazine designed for children that introduces ocean wonders through stories, activities, and conservation tips to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. Distributed via subscription through the Cousteau Society website.
• Newsletter Subscription An email newsletter delivering ocean conservation news, expedition updates, project announcements, and insights about Jacques-Yves Cousteau's legacy to subscribers worldwide.
• Cousteau Divers Citizen Science Program A citizen science program founded in 2009 by Pierre-Yves Cousteau that empowers recreational divers to record marine life observations and contribute data to ocean conservation research through a global community network.
• Mission Red Sea A conservation initiative focused on Sudan's Red Sea that includes coral reef and mangrove restoration, shark and ray research through acoustic tracking and tagging programs, and community empowerment through sustainable development and eco-tourism.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ members united in ocean protection mission
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Santorini Marine Protected Area InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Cousteau Divers supported the creation of a Marine Protected Area in Santorini, Greece, in collaboration with local stakeholders and institutions, demonstrating successful advocacy for marine conservation.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994The UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Programme (UCEP) represents a bold vision launched in 1994 by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau in collaboration with UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB). The program emphasizes integration of education, science, and technology to shape decision-makers understanding the interconnections between humanity and nature. With 16 university Chairs bearing Captain Cousteau's name, UCEP fosters multidisciplinary approach to environmental challenges.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Partnership with NASA in summer 1975 to prove that satellites could measure ocean depth. Team aboard Calypso worked with NASA scientists to demonstrate that Landsat satellites could measure ocean depths up to 72 feet, leading to satellite-derived bathymetry as a new mapping methodology.
• Oceanides Conservación y Desarrollo Marino, A.C.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican scientific consortium collaborating with the Cousteau Society on vaquita conservation efforts. Partnership includes renowned researchers Dr. Lorenzo Rojas Bracho and Dr. Armando Martín Jaramillo for critical endangered species protection.
• Save Your LogominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partnered with to fund and amplify vaquita conservation efforts as part of the global advocacy initiative to save the world's most endangered marine mammal.
• Local Stakeholders and Institutions (Red Sea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Red Sea involved collaboration with local stakeholders and institutions in Sudan for marine conservation, sustainable development strategies, and community-led monitoring programs for shark and ray populations.
• International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with CIRVA for vaquita conservation research. A 2024 survey by CIRVA observed approximately a dozen healthy vaquitas including at least one calf, suggesting population stabilization.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): A global incumbent in conservation with marine programs among broader wildlife and habitat priorities. Operates at vastly greater scale but overlaps with Cousteau Society on ocean species protection and policy advocacy.
• Greenpeace: Global environmental organization with substantial ocean campaigns including marine reserves and whaling opposition. Comparable in donor-funded advocacy model and global expedition-based ocean activism.
• National Geographic Society (Pristine Seas): Operates the Pristine Seas program conducting global ocean expeditions to establish marine protected areas and produce documentary content. Overlaps with Cousteau Society in expedition-driven conservation and film production.

Direct peers

• Ocean Conservancy: A leading U.S.-based nonprofit focused on ocean health, marine wildlife protection, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable in mission, donor-funded model, and emphasis on science-driven conservation advocacy.
• Reef Check Foundation: Volunteer citizen-science program monitoring coral reef health through recreational divers worldwide. Closely comparable to Cousteau Divers in methodology, volunteer engagement model, and reef conservation focus.
• Marine Conservation Institute: U.S. nonprofit dedicated to ocean protection through science-based advocacy and marine protected area creation, including the Atlas of Marine Protection. Highly comparable niche focus on MPAs and policy.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Direct-action marine conservation nonprofit focused on protecting marine ecosystems and species. Shares the Cousteau Society's mission of defending ocean biodiversity through expeditions and public engagement.
• Oceana: The largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation, running science-based policy campaigns. Directly comparable in mission, donor-funded model, and global advocacy footprint.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Nonprofit developing technology and large-scale campaigns to remove plastic from oceans. Comparable as a donation-funded ocean nonprofit with engineering/technology orientation and broad public engagement.

Emerging players

• Surfrider Foundation: Grassroots nonprofit focused on beach access, water quality, and reducing ocean plastic. Comparable in community-led advocacy model and donor-supported marine protection mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cousteautcs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cousteauenglish
• Facebookfacebook.com/CousteauGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cousteau-society

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 The Cousteau Society