Ethic Ocean
Ethic Ocean is a French non-profit association that mobilizes seafood industry professionals to adopt sustainable sourcing practices through species guides, a mobile app, professional accompaniment, and advocacy campaigns targeting fishers, distributors, caterers, and restaurants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPantin, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ethic Ocean does
Ethic Ocean is a French non-profit association (association à but non lucratif) founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pantin, Île-de-France, that mobilizes seafood industry professionals to adopt sustainable sourcing practices. Its activities span the supply chain from fishermen, fish farmers, and wholesalers through distributors, fishmongers, and restaurants, with collective catering, hospitality (including Relais & Châteaux), and culinary training as named partner segments. The organization is led by publication director Gilles Boeuf and operates with a small core team of seven employees.
The organization's core products are an annual Species Guides publication (2025 edition), a consumer-facing mobile application on iOS and Android providing species-level sustainability information curated from FAO, ICES, and national fisheries sources, and a portfolio of engagement programs including the Olivier Roellinger culinary competition, the Charte Ethic Ocean commitment charter, the Les Sentinelles de la Mer ambassador network, and the ongoing 'Anguille, non merci!' advocacy campaign. It also delivers customized professional accompaniment services implementing responsible procurement policies, and runs territorial projects such as L'Assiette Durable in the Fontainebleau biosphere reserve. As a non-profit, Ethic Ocean generates revenue through individual donations (66% tax-deductible in France) and corporate patronage/mécénat (60% tax-deductible for corporations), supported by European research project participation (Celtic Seas 2013-2016, SEAFOODTOMORROW 2017-2021, SEA2SEE 2022-2026).
Ethic Ocean firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ethic Ocean
- Legal name
- Ethic Ocean
- Website
- https://ethic-ocean.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ethic Ocean is a French non-profit association that mobilizes seafood industry professionals to adopt sustainable sourcing practices through species guides, a mobile app, professional accompaniment, and advocacy campaigns targeting fishers, distributors, caterers, and restaurants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ethic Ocean industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation and Sustainable Seafood Services
- NAICS
- Other Marine Fishing (114119), Finfish Fishing (114111)
- SIC
- Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Ethic Ocean is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pantin
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ethic Ocean business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations from individuals: Ethic Ocean accepts donations from individuals. 66% of donations are tax-deductible in France. Example: a 50€ donation costs only 17€ after tax deduction.
- Corporate patronage/mécénat: Companies can become patrons to strengthen their CSR strategy by supporting concrete ocean preservation actions. 60% of donations are tax-deductible for corporations.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ethic Ocean product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ethic Ocean is a French non-profit environmental organization that mobilizes seafood industry professionals and consumers to adopt sustainable seafood practices. It delivers science-grounded species sustainability assessments through annual Guides des espèces, a consumer-facing mobile application, and direct professional accompaniment services covering fishermen, fish farmers, wholesalers, distributors, fishmongers, restaurants, caterers, and training centers.
Product overview
Ethic Ocean is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the preservation of marine resources and ecosystems. Its product portfolio is organized around four interconnected pillars: (1) Educational publications and tools including the annual Guides des espèces (Species Guides) and species-specific guides such as the Guide Raies & Requins en Manche; (2) A mobile application available on Android and iOS providing consumers with sustainable seafood purchasing information; (3) Professional engagement programs including the Charte Ethic Ocean (commitment charter), the Olivier Roellinger culinary competition, Les Sentinelles de la Mer ambassador network, and customized professional support services; and (4) Advocacy campaigns such as the Anguille, non merci ! campaign and participation in European research projects (Sea2See, Seafood Tomorrow, Celtic Seas). The offerings collectively serve both supply-chain professionals (fishers, fish farmers, suppliers, retailers, restaurateurs) and consumers, unified by the goal of promoting sustainable seafood sourcing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Les Sentinelles de la Mer: International network of apneist ambassadors who raise awareness about ocean preservation
- Concours Olivier Roellinger
- Charte Ethic Ocean
- Equipage de la Mer
- Guides des Espèces
- Anguille, non merci !
Products and services
- Application Mobile Ethic Ocean A mobile application available on Android and iOS that helps consumers make sustainable seafood choices by providing key information on marine species including scientific name, origin, stock status, fishing technique, maturity size versus legal commercial size, and farming conditions. The app also features recipes from chefs affiliated with the Equipage de la Mer.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.5 tonnes of thornback ray sold
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ethic Ocean
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ethic Ocean technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Ethic Ocean partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- EliorcoreEthic Ocean accompanies Elior, one of France's largest collective catering companies serving over 1 million meals daily, in developing a responsible seafood procurement policy. The collaboration includes auditing existing purchases, structuring supplier questionnaires, defining referencing criteria focused on resource preservation, and piloting sustainable species like thornback ray in restaurants.
- ACENA (Association des Communes de l'Énergie Nouvelle-Aquitaine)coreACENA represents 793 lycées and colleges in Nouvelle-Aquitaine serving 60 million meals annually. Ethic Ocean collaborates with ACENA to rethink seafood purchasing criteria for frozen products, co-constructing supplier questionnaires and participating in provider selection juries.
- Relais & ChâteauxmajorEthic Ocean accompanies Relais & Châteaux members as part of their SOS Biodiversité campaign, supporting sustainable seafood practices in luxury hotels and restaurants.
- OPN (Organisation des Pêcheurs Normands)corePartnership with Organisation des Pêcheurs Normands and Normandie Fraîcheur Mer to publish the second edition of the 'Guide Raies & Requins en Manche' (Skates and Sharks in the English Channel) in June 2025.
- Normandie Fraîcheur MercorePartnership with Normandie Fraîcheur Mer and OPN for the publication of the 'Guide Raies & Requins en Manche' guide and promotion of sustainable fishing practices in Normandy.
- IfremermajorCollaboration with Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) on the 'De la science à l'assiette' (From Science to Plate) event during UNOC in Nice, bringing together science and gastronomy.
- SEA2SEEmajorSEA2SEE is a European project (2022-2026) in which Ethic Ocean participates, focusing on sustainable seafood solutions across Europe.
- ADEME Île-de-FrancesupportingADEME Île-de-France provides support for the 'Assiette Durable' (Sustainable Plate) project mobilizing restaurant actors on sustainable food issues in the Fontainebleau region.
- Ville de FontainebleausupportingPartner in the Assiette Durable project targeting the Fontainebleau biosphere reserve territory.
- Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de FontainebleausupportingPartner in the Assiette Durable project in the Fontainebleau area.
- Région Île-de-FrancesupportingRegional partner supporting the Assiette Durable project for sustainable restaurant practices.
- SodexosupportingPartner in the Assiette Durable project focusing on sustainable food practices in collective catering.
- SogeressupportingPartner in the Assiette Durable project for sustainable restaurant practices.
- GHR Paris Ile-de-FrancemajorCo-organizer with Ethic Ocean of the 'Responsables ensemble' Colloquium at Palais du Luxembourg, under the patronage of Senator Vivette Lopez.
- Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA)coreCoordinator of the SEAFOODTOMORROW project, a €4 million EU Horizon 2020 project involving 35 partners across 16 European countries (2017-2021), developing sustainable seafood solutions.
- SEAFOODTOMORROW partners (35 organizations)majorEuropean project (2017-2021) funded by EU Horizon 2020, coordinated by IPMA Portugal, with 35 partners from 16 EU countries developing sustainable and innovative solutions for seafood safety and nutritional quality.
- EtiquettablesupportingPartner platform where Ethic Ocean's seafood purchasing recommendations are available alongside seasonal fruits, vegetables, and low-carbon recipes to encourage consumers to eat differently.
- FishipediasupportingInteractive platform dedicated to knowledge of aquatic species and preservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems where Ethic Ocean data is available.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ethic Ocean competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bloom Association: French non-profit ocean protection foundation focused on marine biodiversity and sustainable fisheries advocacy. Directly comparable to Ethic Ocean as a France-based marine conservation NGO with policy and consumer-facing dimensions.
- FishWise: Non-profit working with seafood companies on traceability, sustainability, and social responsibility across the supply chain. Highly comparable to Ethic Ocean's enterprise accompaniment services and buyer-focused sustainability resources.
- Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP): Non-profit that engages seafood suppliers and retailers on sustainable sourcing improvements and supply chain transparency. Comparable to Ethic Ocean's B2B accompaniment model and species/fishery-level guidance approach.
- SeaWeb / Future of Fish (Aspada): Non-profit working on seafood sustainability communications and supply chain engagement. Comparable to Ethic Ocean's content-driven approach to influencing seafood buyers and consumers toward sustainable choices.
- Blue Marine Foundation: Marine conservation non-profit focused on ocean protection and sustainable fisheries, including Mediterranean initiatives. Comparable to Ethic Ocean as a mission-aligned non-profit mobilizing stakeholders for marine resource preservation.
Broad incumbents
- Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC): Global certification organization for responsibly farmed seafood. Comparable to Ethic Ocean's aquaculture segment, covering species-specific sustainability standards used across European retailers and HoReCa.
- Oceana: International ocean conservation organization running policy campaigns and corporate accountability work on overfishing and bycatch. Comparable to Ethic Ocean's advocacy campaigns (e.g., 'Anguille, non merci!') and mission framing.
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): Global leader in sustainable seafood certification and eco-labeling. Directly comparable to Ethic Ocean's mission of promoting responsible fishing, but operates at global scale with a portable certification mark used across retail and foodservice.
- WWF France (Océans program): Major international conservation NGO with a France-focused oceans program addressing overfishing and marine biodiversity. Shares Ethic Ocean's mission framing but operates at much larger scale with broader environmental remit.
Emerging players
- Fishipedia: French platform dedicated to aquatic species knowledge and marine/freshwater ecosystem preservation. Already an integration partner of Ethic Ocean, and comparable as a consumer-facing species information resource in the French market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Ethic Ocean social profiles
Digital presenceEthic Ocean financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ethic Ocean leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ethic Ocean funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ethic Ocean 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 Ethic Ocean
What does Ethic Ocean do?
Ethic Ocean is a French non-profit environmental organization that mobilizes seafood industry professionals and consumers to adopt sustainable seafood practices. It delivers science-grounded species sustainability assessments through annual Guides des espèces, a consumer-facing mobile application, and direct professional accompaniment services covering fishermen, fish farmers, wholesalers, distributors, fishmongers, restaurants, caterers, and training centers.
Is Ethic Ocean a public or private company?
Ethic Ocean is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ethic Ocean founded?
Ethic Ocean was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ethic Ocean based?
Ethic Ocean is headquartered in Pantin, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ethic Ocean make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations from individuals are the primary driver. The others are corporate patronage/mécénat.
Who are Ethic Ocean's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bloom Association, FishWise, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), SeaWeb / Future of Fish (Aspada) and Blue Marine Foundation. Broad incumbents are Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Oceana, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and WWF France (Océans program). Fishipedia is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ethic Ocean have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ethic Ocean.
What industry is Ethic Ocean in?
Ethic Ocean's product category is Marine Conservation and Sustainable Seafood Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management. Its NAICS code is 114119 and its SIC code is 900.