Name

Fondazione Cetacea

Legal name

Fondazione Cetacea ETS

Website

https://fondazionecetacea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

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 wildlife conservation
• Sea turtle rehabilitation
• Cetacean stranding response
• Environmental education programs
• Adriatic marine research

Headquarters

HQ city

Riccione

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Supporter Membership: Annual 'Amico di Cetacea' supporter membership at €30/year, providing a supporter card and t-shirt in return.
2. Symbolic Turtle Adoption:
3. Guided Visits and Educational Programs: Guided tours of the Recovery Center (on reservation), school labs, and public visits to the center. Revenue from visitor contributions.
4. Merchandise Sales: Merchandise sales including calendars ('Un anno con Fondazione Cetacea' at €15), t-shirts (€20), hoodies (€35), and artisanal ceramic turtles (€15). Proceeds support turtle care and rehabilitation.
5. 5x1000 Tax Designation and Donations: 5x1000 tax designation (C.F. 91013990402) provides recurring public funding. Direct bank transfers (IBAN IT22 D030 6909 6061 0000 0011 898) and PayPal donations.
6. European Research Project Funding: Funding from European projects (LIFE+, Interreg, Erasmus+, Horizon) supports research, conservation activities, and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Fondazione Cetacea operates a sea turtle rescue, veterinary care, and rehabilitation center in Riccione that serves as the reference facility for the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions, having treated and released over 1,000 sea turtles since 1988. Its core activities include cetacean stranding response, scientific research (satellite tracking of released turtles, underwater acoustic monitoring via hydrophone buoys), environmental education for schools and the public, and the annual Into The Blue Sea Life Fest festival. Revenue is generated through individual donations, symbolic turtle adoptions, annual memberships, merchandise sales, 5x1000 tax designations, and European research project grants.

Product overview

Fondazione Cetacea operates a unified portfolio of marine conservation services centered on its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center (CRTM) in Riccione, Emilia-Romagna — one of Italy's most active turtle rescue facilities. The core offering is the rehabilitation and release of sea turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea), supported by a pre-release sea enclosure called the Caletta delle Tartarughe. Complementary services include an Adopt-a-Turtle symbolic adoption program (three tiers: Simple €30, Super €50, Extra €80), guided educational tours and school workshops, the annual Into The Blue Sea Life Fest festival, and branded merchandise (calendars, apparel) for fundraising. The organization also produces media content including the 'Oltre la Riva' podcast and the documentary 'Un mare molto piccolo.' All services feed into the mission of protecting Adriatic marine ecosystems through rescue, research, education, and public engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center (Centro di Recupero Tartarughe Marine)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 sea turtles treated and returned to the sea, with 863 confirmed releases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in European projects including TARTALIFE (capofila), UNDERSEA (capofila), and SOUNDSCAPE. CNR ISMAR serves as capofila (lead partner) in UNDERSEA (2024-2026) for underwater acoustic monitoring in the Adriatic.
• Blue World Institute (BWI) – Lošinj, CroatiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SOUNDSCAPE, NETCET, and Adriatic+ projects. Joint research on cetacean and sea turtle conservation in the Adriatic. BWI is a marine research and conservation institute.
• University of Bologna (UNIBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in MARLESS, RESISTANCE, CIRCLES, and Into The Blue festival events. UNIBO researchers present studies on marine microbiome, microplastics, and environmental science at foundation events.
• Club Nautico RiminicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary partner for the Into The Blue Sea Life Fest festival and for turtle release events. Provides venue and logistical support for conferences, screenings, and release ceremonies. Active collaborator since 2021.
• Traghettatori del ConerocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFerry operators from Numana who collaborate on turtle releases from Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle since 2012. Part of ticket revenue is donated to the foundation. They organize Tartaday excursions.
• Regione Emilia-RomagnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner in multiple European projects (RESISTANCE, MARLESS, UNDERSEA, NETCET). Provides patronage for Into The Blue festival and co-funding for conservation projects. Recognizes the foundation as an Environmental Education Center.
• Guardia Costiera (Italian Coast Guard)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational partner for turtle rescue coordination, stranding response, and harbor cleanup events. Provides support for underwater wreck recovery operations and maritime safety collaboration.
• PhotoSìcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual calendar sponsor for 6 consecutive years (2019-2024). Provides printing sponsorship for the 'Un anno con Fondazione Cetacea' calendar, the foundation's largest merchandise fundraiser.
• Sea The ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovative social enterprise focused on connecting marine ecosystem protection with corporate sustainability strategies. Co-organizer of the 'Blue Impact' event at Into The Blue 2025, connecting sustainable businesses with conservation.
• Mariscadoras srl – BenefitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustainable seafood company (benefit corporation) collaborating on blue economy events and promoting consumption of invasive species (e.g., blue crab). Co-organizer of Into The Blue 2025 Blue Impact event.
• Rimini Blue LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational innovation lab of the Municipality of Rimini, co-financed by EU resources via the Emilia-Romagna Region (FSE+ 2021-2027). Co-producer of the 'Oltre la Riva' podcast and partner for the PCTO Ocean program with Liceo Serpieri.
• Karis FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for open marine laboratory activities at Into The Blue events. Provides the Laboratorio Marino Mobile for water quality analysis and marine microorganism education sessions.
• LegambientecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner in Clean Sea Life, NETCET, MARLESS, and RESISTANCE projects. Collaborates on beach cleanup events and marine litter awareness campaigns.
• Università di PisacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapofila (lead partner) of LIFE Medturtles project, of which Fondazione Cetacea is a partner. Joint actions to improve conservation of Mediterranean sea turtle populations across EU and neighboring countries.
• Easy Market / HBX GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting citizen science activities, specifically the Marecchia River cleanup in 2025 during Into The Blue festival.
• Comune di RiccionecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost municipality for the turtle recovery center and Into The Blue festival. Provides patronage and administrative support for foundation activities.
• Comune di NumanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for the original Caletta delle Tartarughe location (2012-2020) via agreement for the sea turtle rehabilitation enclosure.
• Comune di RiminicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost municipality for Into The Blue festival, Caletta delle Tartarughe relocation (Baia Flaminia, Pesaro), and co-organizer of the Mareccia river symposium. Provides patronage for foundation events.
• Club Subacqueo Gran Blu (San Marino)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiving club partner for underwater cleanup activities during Into The Blue festival, collecting and cataloging marine litter from seabeds per Marine Strategy Framework Directive protocols.
• Sub Gian Neri / MarinandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiving and sailing organizations collaborating on underwater wreck recovery, beach cleanups, and sailing-for-science events (Sailing for Blue Life).
• ARPA Veneto / ARPA FVGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental protection agencies partnering in SOUNDSCAPE and UNDERSEA for underwater acoustic monitoring in the Adriatic.
• Museo di Storia Naturale di CalimeraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing training on sea turtle nesting recognition and management in highly anthropized environments. Trainers Piero Carlino and Nicolò Molle deliver workshops at Into The Blue events.
• WWFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization co-organizing the 'La Mareccia' symposium in 2025 alongside Fondazione Cetacea, Legambiente Valmarecchia, and DNA Rimini.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Legambiente: Italy's largest environmental association, active in beach cleanup, marine litter, and citizen science campaigns. Comparable as an Italian environmental NGO and direct partner in Clean Sea Life, NETCET, MARLESS, and RESISTANCE; serves as a complementary rather than competing organization.

Direct peers

• Sea Turtle Inc. Texas-based sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and education center with a public hospital and visitor facility. Comparable in combining rescue/rehab operations, educational programming, and a public-facing facility similar to Fondazione Cetacea's Riccione center.
• ARCHELON: Greek Sea Turtle Protection Society operating nesting beach protection, rescue, and rehabilitation programs across the Mediterranean. Highly comparable to Fondazione Cetacea in mission (sea turtle conservation), volunteer-driven model, and Mediterranean focus.
• Marevivo: Italian marine environmental association active in marine conservation, education, and policy across Italy. Comparable as an Italian non-profit combining marine education, public campaigns, and volunteer-driven activities with regional Mediterranean focus.
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Florida-based sea turtle hospital, ocean conservation, and education organization operating a Juno Beach rehabilitation center. Directly comparable in operating a turtle hospital, running public visits and school programs, and combining research with community engagement.
• Blue World Institute: Croatian marine research and conservation institute based in Lošinj, active in the Adriatic. Directly comparable to Fondazione Cetacea as a Mediterranean cetacean and sea turtle conservation non-profit, and a current partner in NETCET, SOUNDSCAPE, and Adriatic+.
• MEDASSET: Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, a Greece-based NGO focused on sea turtle research, conservation, and policy. Directly comparable in terms of Mediterranean sea turtle advocacy, scientific research, and stakeholder engagement.

Broad incumbents

• WWF Italy: Italian branch of WWF, a large environmental NGO with marine programs including turtle and cetacean conservation. Comparable as an Italian environmental non-profit and current co-organizer of the Mareccia symposium with Fondazione Cetacea, but operates across multiple species and causes.
• Acquario di Genova: Major Italian public aquarium and marine education facility operated by Costa Edutainment. Comparable in public-facing marine education, animal care, and visitor programs, but operates at significantly larger scale as a commercial attraction.
• SEA LIFE Trust: International marine conservation charity linked to the SEA LIFE aquarium brand, with rescue, rehabilitation, and habitat programs globally. Comparable in marine wildlife rescue mission but operates at significantly larger scale and as a broad conservation network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fondazionecetacea
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazionecetacea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-cetacea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Fondazione Cetacea