Global Ocean Health

What Global Ocean Health does

Global Ocean Health is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization, founded in the mid-1990s, that operates at the intersection of ocean conservation, climate policy, and marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). The organization connects fishing communities, coastal Tribal Nations, and seafood producers with science, policy networks, and technology to address ocean carbon emissions and ocean-based climate solutions. Its flagship program, Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions (PTCS), centers Tribal sovereignty in the development of marine carbon markets and emissions removal initiatives. Programmatic work includes policy advocacy, convening of cross-stakeholder coalitions, and publication of frameworks such as the Roads to Tribal Leadership in Emissions Cleanup Report.

The organization produces research outputs, reports, and resources — including marine carbon credit sales toolkits aimed at Tribal Nations — and partners with academic, NGO, and policy entities such as the International Governance, Innovation, Risk, and Regulation Center (IGGRC), the Carbon Business Council, American University, and the Carbon to Sea Initiative. It operates with a small team of approximately 10 employees and receives funding through donations and grants, including a Climate Intervention Grant awarded in 2025. Its work spans the U.S. Pacific Northwest and has extended into Canadian geographies.

Global Ocean Health's business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial; there are no paying customers in the traditional sense, no disclosed pricing or revenue figures, and no equity-financing rounds. Value capture is measured in programmatic reach, policy influence, and the depth of Tribal and seafood-industry partnerships rather than revenue. The principal strategic risks are grant renewal concentration and dependence on continued partner engagement, while the principal opportunities lie in the expanding marine CDR market and growing federal interest in Tribal-led natural climate solutions.

Name

Global Ocean Health

Legal name

Global Ocean Health

Website

https://globaloceanhealth.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Global Ocean Health is a Seattle-based nonprofit that connects fishing communities, coastal Tribal Nations, and seafood producers with science, policy, and networks to advance marine carbon dioxide removal and Tribal-led ocean climate solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPADALAA

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPADANAI

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

Keywords

• Ocean conservation policy
• Marine carbon removal
• Ocean acidification research
• Tribal carbon solutions
• Coastal resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, Global Ocean Health relies on donations from the public and grant funding. The organization received a Climate Intervention Grant in October 2025. Revenue supports their programs connecting communities with science, policy, and technology solutions for ocean carbon challenges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Global Ocean Health (GOH) is a nonprofit research and policy organization that connects fishing communities, coastal Tribes and First Nations, seafood producers, and resource managers with science, policy expertise, networks, and technology solutions to address ocean carbon emissions and ocean acidification. Its core program, Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions (PTCS), engages Tribal Nations in assessing carbon removal opportunities and developing leadership in CDR governance. GOH produces publications, reports, podcasts, and policy guides on marine carbon dioxide removal, ocean acidification, and tribal sovereignty in climate solutions.

Product overview

Global Ocean Health is a nonprofit organization focused on addressing ocean carbon emissions and their impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The organization operates primarily through its Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions (PTCS) program, which engages with Tribal Nations on carbon removal opportunities. Its product portfolio consists of publications, reports, and resources focused on ocean health, marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), ocean acidification, and tribal sovereignty in climate solutions. Key offerings include the Changing Waters Podcast, Marine CDR References, the Ocean Acidification Report, and various guides including Tribal Carbon Solutions, Roads to Tribal Leadership in Emissions Cleanup, and Guardrails for Marine Carbon Removal. The organization also maintains resources on Marine Carbon Credit Sales. These offerings are primarily informational and advocacy-focused rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions operates nationwide engaging Tribes in carbon removal assessment and governance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Indigenous Greenhouse Gas Removal Commission (IGGRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025IGGRC is a key strategic partner in the Supporting Tribal Sovereignty in Carbon Removal initiative. GOH's Francesca Hillery serves as IGGRC Director of Partnerships. The partnership focuses on engaging Tribes in carbon removal governance and ensuring Indigenous leadership in the emerging CDR field.
• Carbon Business CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Collaborator in the Supporting Tribal Sovereignty in Carbon Removal initiative, working alongside GOH's Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions, IGGRC, and American University to develop resources for Tribes navigating the carbon removal industry.
• Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Academic partner in the Supporting Tribal Sovereignty in Carbon Removal initiative, providing research and policy expertise for developing evaluation frameworks and resources for Tribal Nations considering CDR.
• Carbon to Sea InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025GOH participates in Carbon to Sea's Annual Convenings on ocean alkalinity enhancement and mCDR. Francesca Hillery appeared on the Plan Sea podcast at Carbon to Sea's 2026 Annual Convening in Halifax. GOH supports bringing Tribal perspectives into the growing carbon removal field.
• NOAA Montlake LabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024PTCS organized a tour for tribal scientists of Dr. Paul McElhany's research lab at NOAA's Montlake Lab in Seattle in April 2024. The lab studies shellfish responses to ocean alkalinity enhancement.
• Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOH collaborates with AOOS and relies on their ocean observing work. AOOS coordinates the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network, which GOH engages with for ocean monitoring and community engagement across Alaska.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carbon to Sea Initiative: Nonprofit coalition advancing marine carbon dioxide removal research, governance, and policy. GOH is an active strategic partner (Francesca Hillery spoke at the 2026 Annual Convening) and both organizations co-engage Congress on mCDR, making Carbon to Sea the closest mission-aligned peer.
• Indigenous Greenhouse Gas Removal Commission (IGGRC): Indigenous-led organization developing governance frameworks for greenhouse gas removal. Francesca Hillery serves as IGGRC Director of Partnerships while also leading partnerships at GOH, making the two organizations tightly intertwined peers in the indigenous-led CDR governance space.
• Indigenous Climate Action: Indigenous-led organization advancing climate solutions rooted in traditional knowledge and Indigenous rights. Comparable to GOH's PTCS program in mission and constituency, and a likely peer collaborator on tribal-led climate policy work.
• The Ocean Foundation: Ocean-focused community foundation that supports a wide portfolio of marine conservation, ocean acidification, and marine policy initiatives. Most directly comparable as a similarly sized, mission-aligned ocean grantmaking and convening organization.
• Marine Conservation Institute: Science-based nonprofit focused on protecting ocean ecosystems, with programs on marine protected areas and ocean governance. Closely comparable to GOH in scope (ocean health advocacy and policy) and organizational scale.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: One of the largest US ocean advocacy nonprofits, working on fisheries, plastic pollution, and ocean acidification. Overlaps GOH on ocean acidification awareness and policy engagement, with a much larger resource base and broader portfolio.
• Oceana: Large international ocean advocacy organization campaigning on fisheries, climate, and pollution. Overlaps GOH on ocean-climate policy and ocean acidification work but operates globally and at significantly greater scale.
• Surfrider Foundation: Grassroots-driven nonprofit protecting oceans and beaches, with active work on ocean acidification and coastal water quality. Comparable to GOH on coastal advocacy and ocean acidification, with a much larger member base and chapter network.
• Environmental Defense Fund: Major US environmental nonprofit with substantial work on oceans, climate, and methane. Touches GOH's space through oceans/climate policy advocacy, with much deeper scientific and policy resources.

Emerging players

• Equatic: Commercial marine carbon removal company using ocean-based electrochemical processes to sequester CO2 while producing hydrogen. A relevant emerging counterpart to GOH's mCDR advocacy work — operating on the commercial side of the same value chain GOH helps govern.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Global Ocean Health