ONG MARE NOSTRUM

What ONG MARE NOSTRUM does

ONG Mare Nostrum is a Romanian non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1994, headquartered in Constanța, and focused on marine and coastal environmental conservation in the Black Sea region. Its functional mandate spans cetacean (dolphin and porpoise) monitoring and protection, beach and marine litter monitoring, protected-area management in the Dobrogea region, urban green-space advocacy, and environmental education. The organization has operated continuously for over 30 years and became an official partner of ACCOBAMS in 2013, embedding it in international cetacean conservation frameworks.

Its core technical assets include terrestrial and aquatic cetacean monitoring systems used since 2001 (with the first abundance assessment of Romanian Black Sea waters conducted in 2017), acoustic deterrent devices (ADD) for marine mammal protection tested since 2006, the first beach monitoring system in Romania operated continuously since 1999, and the BluE-Map interactive digital platform launched in October 2025 under the EcoYOU project. Programs are delivered through field activities, public events, school-based education, and digital channels (website, WordPress blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, newsletter).

The business model is nonprofit and donation- plus grant-funded. Revenue streams include symbolic dolphin adoptions (100-500 Lei individual; 500-5,000 Lei corporate), Romanian 2% income tax redirection via Form 230, corporate CSR partnerships, and EU grants via programs such as Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin, Life Natura, GEF-SGP, and Phare CBC. The most recently disclosed project-level grant is the BlackNETs initiative at €456,660.26. Distribution is via direct contact, online self-serve forms, retail drop-off points (Auchan, Carrefour, MOL gas stations in Constanța county for used vegetable oil collection), and public events. Customer segments are individuals and corporate donors, local communities, students, schools, tourists, and Romanian public authorities.

Name

ONG MARE NOSTRUM

Legal name

ONG MARE NOSTRUM

Website

https://marenostrum.ro

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ONG Mare Nostrum is a Romanian nonprofit founded in 1994, headquartered in Constanța, that conducts marine and coastal conservation in the Black Sea — cetacean monitoring, beach litter tracking, protected-area management, environmental education, and donor-funded programs across Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Marine conservation
• Environmental education
• Cetacean protection
• Beach monitoring
• Biodiversity conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Constanța

HQ country

Romania

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Symbolic Dolphin Adoption: Individuals can symbolically adopt a dolphin for 100 Lei (1 year) or 500 Lei (lifetime) as individuals, or 500 Lei (1 year) or 5000 Lei (lifetime) for legal entities. This funds monitoring and conservation activities.
2. 2% Tax Donation: Romanian citizens can direct 2% of their income tax to the organization through Form 230, supporting environmental activities.
3. Project Grants: European funding through programs including Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program, Life Natura, GEF-SGP, Phare CBC, POS Medium, CBC Joint Operational Program, and Black Sea Joint Operational Program.
4. Used Vegetable Oil Collection Campaign: Completed campaign collecting used cooking oil for recycling into biodiesel, partnering with Auchan, Carrefour, and MOL gas stations in Constanta county.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ONG Mare Nostrum is a Romanian environmental NGO that delivers marine and coastal conservation services in the Black Sea region, including cetacean (dolphin and porpoise) monitoring and protection, beach and marine litter monitoring, environmental education and awareness programs, protected area management in Dobrogea, waste management campaigns, and urban green space advocacy. The organization funds these activities through donations, symbolic dolphin adoption, 2% tax redirection, and EU-funded project grants.

Product overview

ONG MARE NOSTRUM is an environmental NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that operates as a single-entity nonprofit focused on marine and environmental conservation in Romania and the Black Sea region. The organization offers various programs and campaigns rather than a traditional product portfolio. Key offerings include: the Adoptă un Delfin symbolic adoption campaign for dolphin conservation; the BluE-Map interactive platform for marine environmental awareness; biodiversity monitoring programs for cetaceans; waste management and beach monitoring initiatives; protected area conservation; environmental education programs; and public events such as Dolphin Day and the annual Black Sea Cross race. The organization also conducts advocacy work for green spaces and sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adoptă un Delfin (Adopt a Dolphin) Symbolic dolphin adoption fundraising campaign supporting dolphin conservation, monitoring, and protection efforts in the Black Sea. Donors receive adoption certificates and naming rights for a symbolically adopted dolphin, with options for individuals (100 Lei/year or 500 Lei lifetime) and corporations (500 Lei/year or 5,000 Lei lifetime).
• BluE-Map Interactive digital mapping platform for marine environmental awareness and education, developed as part of the EcoYOU project. Provides marine environmental mapping and educational content.
• Used Vegetable Oil Collection Campaign (Ulei Vegetal Uzat) Used cooking oil collection and recycling campaign. Collected oil is processed into biodiesel. Drop-off points are available at Auchan, Carrefour, and MOL gas stations in Constanța county.
• Educație (Environmental Education) Environmental education programs for sustainable development, including publications, workshops, and educational events targeting schools and communities.
• Biodiversitate (Biodiversity Conservation) Conservation programs focused on cetaceans (dolphins), marine biodiversity monitoring, and Black Sea ecosystem protection including ACCOBAMS partnership activities.
• Management Deșeuri (Waste Management) Beach and marine litter monitoring programs, selective waste collection initiatives in cities including Năvodari, Medgidia, and Mangalia, and awareness campaigns on plastic reduction.
• Ariile Protejate (Protected Areas) Conservation and promotion of protected areas in Dobrogea region including Dobrogea Gorge, Allah Bair, Canaraua Fetii, and Casian area, with focus on biodiversity and sustainable tourism.
• Spații Verzi (Green Areas) Urban green space advocacy and planting initiatives, including vertical gardens in schools and citizen initiatives for protecting green spaces in Constanța.
• Evenimente Publice (Public Events) Annual environmental events including ECO-Mărțișor, Earth Hour, Earth Day, Green Week, International Black Sea Action Day, Dolphin Day, and the annual Black Sea Cross race.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,500 kg of abandoned fishing gear removed from Black Sea through BlackNETs project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Romanian Ministry of Foreign AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organized regional workshop on combating abandoned fishing equipment at the Black Sea, demonstrating government collaboration on marine conservation.
• Karadeniz Technical University (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the BlackNETs project funded by Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program. University contributes research expertise on abandoned fishing gear in the Black Sea.
• Institute of Oceanology - Bulgarian Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the BlackNETs project working on marine biodiversity conservation and ghost gear mitigation in the Black Sea basin.
• Ilia State University (Georgia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the BlackNETs project contributing to regional collaboration on abandoned fishing gear removal and prevention in the Black Sea.
• ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Official partner since 2013, working on cetacean conservation in the Black Sea region. ACCOBAMS is a cooperative platform for Mediterranean and Black Sea countries to promote sustainable use of marine resources.
• National Institute for Marine Research and Development 'Grigore Antipa'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject lead for ANEMONE PLUS initiative focusing on Black Sea ecosystem resilience and sustainability through transnational collaboration.
• Ukrainian Scientific Center of Marine EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ANEMONE PLUS project contributing to marine environment monitoring and management tools for the Black Sea region.
• Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ANEMONE PLUS working on improving engagement of decision-makers and stakeholders for sustainable blue economy in the Black Sea.
• Auchan RomaniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHypermarket chain serving as drop-off point for used vegetable oil collection campaign in Constanta county.
• Carrefour RomaniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHypermarket chain serving as drop-off point for used vegetable oil collection campaign in Constanta county.
• MOL RomaniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGas station chain serving as drop-off points for used vegetable oil collection in Constanta county.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• The Ocean Cleanup: The Ocean Cleanup is a marine debris-focused nonprofit that pairs technology, citizen engagement, and corporate partnerships — adjacent to Mare Nostrum's beach monitoring and waste campaign work but operating at global scale.

Regional players

• ACCOBAMS Secretariat: ACCOBAMS is the intergovernmental agreement body whose NGO partner Mare Nostrum has been since 2013 — directly comparable given shared focus on Black Sea and Mediterranean cetacean conservation.
• Black Sea Commission (Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution): The Black Sea Commission is the intergovernmental body coordinating Black Sea environmental policy, frequently engaging with NGOs like Mare Nostrum on cetacean and pollution programs.

Direct peers

• WWF Romania: WWF Romania is a peer nonprofit running conservation, biodiversity, and marine programs in the same Romanian territory as Mare Nostrum, targeting similar donor and grant pools and overlapping on cetacean and Black Sea habitat protection.
• ECOPOLIS Foundation (Romania): ECOPOLIS is a Romanian environmental NGO working on sustainability, environmental education, and advocacy — comparable in mission and Romanian donor base to Mare Nostrum, though with less marine specialization.
• WDC - Whale and Dolphin Conservation: WDC is a cetacean-focused nonprofit working on cetacean protection, stranding response, and ACCOBAMS-aligned policy — closely matched with Mare Nostrum's dolphin monitoring and ACCOBAMS partnership work.
• Sea Watch Foundation: Sea Watch operates cetacean monitoring, public sightings databases, and volunteer citizen-science programs in European waters — comparable model to Mare Nostrum's volunteer-driven cetacean monitoring in the Black Sea.

Broad incumbents

• Sea Shepherd Global: Sea Shepherd runs marine wildlife protection campaigns including anti-ghost-net marine debris removal — directly parallel to Mare Nostrum's BlackNETs project removing 9,500+ kg of abandoned fishing gear from the Black Sea.
• Oceana: Oceana is a global ocean conservation nonprofit focused on fisheries, bycatch, and marine biodiversity — directly analogous to Mare Nostrum's dolphin bycatch and Black Sea fisheries concerns but operating at international scale.
• Greenpeace Mediterranean: Greenpeace Mediterranean operates large-scale marine campaigns and Black Sea advocacy from a regional hub, comparable to Mare Nostrum in mission and donor base but with vastly greater resources and broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/marenostrumngo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAkWWsOa2thqdhlFwXXtT2g/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ongmarenostrum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ong-mare-nostrum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ONG MARE NOSTRUM