The International SeaKeepers Society

What The International SeaKeepers Society does

The International SeaKeepers Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ocean conservation organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. Its core initiative, the DISCOVERY Program, connects a global DISCOVERY Fleet of 250+ private vessels with marine scientists and educators who need time at sea. The program operates through four pillars: Scientist-Led Expeditions, Citizen Science, Educational Outreach, and Community Engagement. Supporting infrastructure includes the DISCOVERY Vessel Portal (an online coordination platform for vessel-scientist pairings), the Marina Partner Program (200+ partners worldwide), the Green Marine Program (sustainable boating guidance), the International Junior SeaKeepers Programme (youth ages 13-17), and an active contribution to The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 ocean mapping project, including via the CSB Data Explorer Platform co-developed with FarSounder.

The organization is funded primarily through tax-deductible cash donations, vessel donations, membership programs, and corporate partnerships with marine industry players (Pantaenius, RSA Insurance, World Fuel Services, YATCO, Ethical Yacht Wear, ORCA OceanWatchers). Pricing is essentially freemium: scientists submit proposals at no cost, vessel owners join the fleet at no cost, and educators access lesson plans and field-trip resources without charge. Operations span five regional chapters — SeaKeepers USA, SeaKeepers Asia (Singapore, established 2016), SeaKeepers United Kingdom, SeaKeepers South Pacific (Sydney, formal launch March 2026), and SeaKeepers Bangladesh (launched April 2024) — supported by 38 staff. Reported cumulative outcomes include 260+ expeditions, 500+ projects, 85,000+ students reached, 6,000+ volunteers mobilized, and a 40,000+ subscriber newsletter. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue figures.

Name

The International SeaKeepers Society

Legal name

The International SeaKeepers Society

Website

https://seakeepers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International SeaKeepers Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that connects a global fleet of 250+ private vessels with marine scientists and educators, funding operations through tax-deductible donations, memberships, and corporate partnerships across five regional chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Conservation Nonprofit Services

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

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 programs
• Marine research expeditions
• Vessel donation programs
• Citizen science initiatives
• Marine education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Coral Gables

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vessel Donations: SeaKeepers accepts donations of vessels, which serve as research platforms for the DISCOVERY Program. Vessel donors receive tax benefits as the organization is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN# 58-2385869).
2. Program Donations: Individual donors can make cash donations to support specific programs or contribute to SeaKeepers' Choice (general fund). Donations are tax-deductible. The organization reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers who may contribute.
3. Membership Program: The organization offers membership programs with benefits, including the DISCOVERY Fleet membership for vessel owners and general membership for supporters.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with marine industry companies (e.g., Pantaenius, RSA Insurance, Ethical Yacht Wear) that support programs and provide funding or in-kind contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The International SeaKeepers Society operates the DISCOVERY Program, connecting private vessel owners with marine scientists and educators who need time at sea to conduct ocean research and conservation. The organization runs a global network of 250+ member vessels serving as mobile research platforms, supports scientist-led expeditions, citizen science activities, K-12 educational outreach, and community engagement, while offering sustainable boating resources through the Green Marine Program and the International Green Guide to Boating.

Product overview

SeaKeepers operates a platform-plus-programs model centered on the DISCOVERY Program and DISCOVERY Yacht Fleet—a global network of 250+ member vessels serving as research platforms. The DISCOVERY Program connects these vessels with scientists and educators through four pillars: Scientist-Led Expeditions, Citizen Science, Educational Outreach, and Community Engagement. Supporting programs include the Marina Partner Program and Green Marine Program for sustainable boating, the International Junior SeaKeepers Programme for youth education, and the Seabed 2030 Project for ocean mapping. SeaKeepers also produces the International Green Guide to Boating, the SeaKeepers Podcast: Voyages of DISCOVERY, educational lesson plans, and hosts regional chapters across USA, Asia, UK, South Pacific, and Bangladesh. The organization maintains global presence through strategic partnerships with over 200 organizations and has supported 260+ expeditions and 500+ projects since 1998.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISCOVERY Program: Primary initiative connecting vessel owners with scientists and educators for ocean research and conservation
• Green Marine Program
• Marina Partner Program
• International Green Guide to Boating
• Voyages of DISCOVERY
• International Junior SeaKeepers Programme

Products and services

• DISCOVERY Program SeaKeepers' flagship program that matches private vessel owners with marine scientists and educators needing time at sea, enabling research expeditions, citizen science, educational outreach, and community events across four pillars.
• DISCOVERY Yacht Fleet A global membership network of over 250 private vessels that volunteer as research platforms for marine science expeditions, citizen science activities, and educational outreach programs.
• DISCOVERY Vessel Portal Online platform enabling DISCOVERY Fleet vessel owners to manage their participation, view expedition opportunities, and coordinate with scientists for ocean research.
• International Junior SeaKeepers Programme Youth education and leadership program empowering ocean advocates aged 13-17 through marine conservation education, hands-on activities, and mentorship.
• Marina Partner Program Partnership program that engages marinas worldwide as distribution points to promote sustainable boating practices, recruit vessel owners, and support ocean conservation among recreational boaters.
• Green Marine Program Sustainable boating initiative that provides best practices, resources, and certification guidance to help recreational boaters reduce their environmental impact and protect marine ecosystems.
• International Green Guide to Boating Free downloadable digital publication offering practical best practices for recreational boaters to reduce environmental footprint and safeguard waterways through sustainable boating.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000+ students inspired through marine science education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Gulf Harbour Marina, Auckland Central Marina, Silo Marina, Westhaven MarinastrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 July 2026Multiple marina partners joined SeaKeepers South Pacific in New Zealand, expanding the Marina Partner Program in the Pacific region and engaging new vessel owners.
• James KetchellstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026World-first circumnavigation supporting global ocean research through SeaKeepers DISCOVERY Programme. The expedition contributed scientific data during the round-the-world voyage.
• ORCA OceanWatcherscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Global collaboration empowering boaters to protect whales and dolphins through real-time data collection. DISCOVERY Fleet vessels contribute marine mammal observation data to support whale and dolphin conservation efforts worldwide.
• Waiheke MarinastrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2026Waiheke Marina became the first Marina Partner in New Zealand for SeaKeepers South Pacific, marking expansion of the marina program to New Zealand.
• Royal Cape Yacht ClubstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025SeaKeepers partnered with Royal Cape Yacht Club to support marine research during the historic Cape2Rio race, leveraging the event for ocean data collection and conservation outreach.
• Jones Bay Superyacht MarinastrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 January 2025Jones Bay Superyacht Marina in Sydney joined as a new partner in marine conservation, providing access to the superyacht community and supporting DISCOVERY Program recruitment.
• Ethical Yacht WearstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 December 2024Ethical Yacht Wear partnered with SeaKeepers to expand educational outreach programmes. The partnership combines sustainable yachting apparel with ocean conservation education.
• Rivergate Marina & ShipyardstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2024Partnership with Rivergate Marina & Shipyard expands SeaKeepers' ocean conservation efforts in the Australian/Pacific region, leveraging marina facilities and customer relationships.
• PantaeniusstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024Pantaenius, a marine insurance provider, partnered with SeaKeepers to support ocean conservation initiatives. The partnership aligns yacht insurance with conservation efforts and engages the yachting community.
• The Ocean Collective SummitstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024SeaKeepers co-hosts The Ocean Collective Summit, an annual event uniting businesses in ocean conservation. The summit features sessions and networking to drive collective action.
• Pip Hare Ocean RacingstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024SeaKeepers UK hosted inaugural educational outreach in partnership with Pip Hare Ocean Racing, engaging sailors and marine enthusiasts in ocean conservation education.
• FarSoundercoreTechnology or Integration · 6 August 2024FarSounder launched the CSB Data Explorer Platform in partnership with SeaKeepers, the International Hydrographic Organization, and Seabed 2030. The platform enables visualization and sharing of ocean mapping data collected by DISCOVERY Fleet vessels.
• Team Port and StarboardstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2024Partnership with Team Port and Starboard focuses on women at the wheel and ocean champions, promoting diversity in marine science and sailing while advancing conservation awareness.
• RSA InsurancestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024RSA Insurance was announced as a 2024 Corporate Citizen Science Programme Partner to support SeaKeepers' DISCOVERY Yacht Programme. The partnership provides corporate backing for citizen science initiatives aboard vessels.
• Mike Golding OBEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Renowned yachtsman Mike Golding OBE partnered with SeaKeepers to embark on a global voyage contributing to critical ocean microplastics study, collecting data across oceans.
• Bangladesh Chapter LaunchstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2024SeaKeepers launched a Bangladesh chapter to advance ocean health, expanding its global presence to South Asia and engaging new communities in marine conservation.
• Marina Bahia Golfito and Enjoy GroupstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 March 2024Partnership with Marina Bahia Golfito and Enjoy Group establishes SeaKeepers' presence in Central America, working together for ocean sustainability and conservation in the region.
• Maiden (Ocean Globe Race)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2024SeaKeepers partnered with Maiden and Seabed 2030 during the 2023/2024 Ocean Globe Race. Maiden's record-setting voyage contributed critical ocean research data while empowering the next generation of ocean advocates.
• YATCOstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 April 2021YATCO, a yacht charter and sales platform, partnered with SeaKeepers to help drive ocean conservation and education. The partnership engages yacht owners in the DISCOVERY Program and promotes sustainable yachting practices.
• BWA YachtingstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2016BWA Yachting partnership established in 2016 engages the yachting industry in SeaKeepers' conservation mission, leveraging BWA's network of yacht services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ocean Conservancy: Major U.S.-based ocean conservation nonprofit focused on policy advocacy, science-based solutions, and engaging volunteers. Directly comparable to SeaKeepers in mission and donor base, though larger in scale and more policy-focused than SeaKeepers' yacht-fleet model.
• Marine Conservation Institute: U.S. nonprofit focused on protecting ocean ecosystems through science-based advocacy and Marine Protected Area designation. Comparable as a marine-science-driven conservation nonprofit, though more policy-oriented than SeaKeepers' vessel-facilitation model.
• Sailors for the Sea: Ocean conservation nonprofit specifically focused on the sailing and boating community, running the Clean Regattas program. Most directly comparable peer given its overlap with SeaKeepers' yachting-community donor base and recreational boating focus.
• The Ocean Foundation: Community foundation dedicated to ocean conservation that manages donor-advised funds for marine projects. Comparable to SeaKeepers as a 501(c)(3) funding intermediary and grant-maker for ocean research, though operates through fiscal sponsorship rather than direct vessel programs.
• Oceana: Largest international ocean conservation advocacy organization, running science-driven campaigns on overfishing, plastic pollution, and marine habitat protection. Comparable as a global ocean NGO with donor-funded operations and science partnerships, though focused on policy rather than at-sea research facilitation.

Emerging players

• 5 Gyres: Nonprofit leading scientific research on plastic pollution in the world's oceans, including citizen science voyages. Comparable in its use of sailing vessels for citizen-science expeditions, though focused narrowly on microplastics research.
• REV Ocean: Norwegian-founded ocean research initiative operating the world's largest research vessel. Comparable in marine research and conservation mission, with a much larger capital base and vessel-based research model that intersects with SeaKeepers' DISCOVERY Fleet concept.

Others

• World Ocean Council: International business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, convening shipping, offshore, and marine industry companies. Comparable as an organizing body for ocean-industry partnerships overlapping with SeaKeepers' corporate partnership ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Pristine Seas (National Geographic Society): National Geographic's flagship marine conservation initiative combining scientific exploration, expeditions, and policy advocacy. Comparable in marine research expedition model and use of vessels for science, though operates at much larger scale within National Geographic's brand and funding base.
• Surfrider Foundation: Larger grassroots ocean and beach conservation nonprofit with volunteer-driven beach cleanup and advocacy programs. Comparable in beach cleanup mobilization and coastal conservation, though broader recreational-ocean focus than SeaKeepers' research-vessel niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SeaKeepers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/seakeepers
• Facebookfacebook.com/seakeepers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-international-seakeepers-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/Seakeepers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 International SeaKeepers Society