What The Ocean Agency does

The Ocean Agency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, focused on ocean conservation through creative communication. The organization pursues its mission through a portfolio of interconnected initiatives: the Emmy-winning documentary Chasing Coral (distributed via Netflix), the Seaview Survey (an underwater adaptation of Google Street View imaging technology), the 50 Reefs conservation prioritization initiative, the Ocean Decade communication program in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and the Ocean Image Bank—a free digital library containing thousands of curated ocean photographs organized across 16 categories.

The organization's underlying technology stack centers on content production and distribution rather than software products. The Seaview Survey applies 360-degree panoramic photography methodology underwater, originally developed in partnership with Google, to document marine ecosystems at scale. The Ocean Image Bank operates as a free, web-based content library aggregating imagery from contributing photographers worldwide. Distribution leverages multiple global channels: Netflix for documentary reach (tens of millions of viewers), the UN Ocean Decade partnership for institutional legitimacy, and physical/virtual exhibitions for direct engagement.

The Ocean Agency operates a donation-based revenue model as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN #84-3398911), with no commercial product sales or paid services. Funding flows from a diversified base of foundation grants (Bloomberg Philanthropies, Tiffany & Co. Foundation, Vulcan Inc./Paul Allen Foundation, Waitt Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation) and corporate partnerships (Google, Adobe, Accenture, Pantone, WeTransfer, World Surf League). The organization serves multiple stakeholder segments including conservation NGOs, scientific research institutions (NOAA, Scripps, Woods Hole, University of Queensland), corporate partners seeking environmental alignment, and general public/educator audiences accessing free content.

Name

The Ocean Agency

Legal name

The Ocean Agency

Website

https://theoceanagency.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ocean Agency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses creative communication—including Emmy-winning documentaries, underwater 360° imaging with Google, and a free global ocean imagery library—to drive awareness and support for ocean conservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation nonprofit
• Coral reef protection
• Underwater imaging surveys
• Ocean imagery library
• Conservation documentary production

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Ocean Agency relies on donations from supporters and partners as its primary revenue source. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN #84-3398911), contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ocean Agency is a nonprofit that delivers ocean conservation impact through a portfolio of creative initiatives: the Ocean Image Bank (a free global ocean imagery library for the UN Ocean Decade), the Emmy-winning Chasing Coral documentary and outreach program, the Seaview Survey (underwater Google Street View imaging), the 50 Reefs coral reef prioritization initiative, and the Ocean Decade creative communication program. These programs are offered free of charge and supported by donations, grants, and partnerships with brands, foundations, scientific institutions, and UN agencies.

Product overview

The Ocean Agency is an ocean conservation nonprofit with a portfolio of interconnected initiatives and platforms. The core offerings include the Ocean Image Bank (a free imagery library for the UN Ocean Decade), the Chasing Coral documentary and outreach program, the Seaview Survey underwater mapping initiative, the 50 Reefs conservation prioritization project, and the Ocean Decade communication campaign. These products work together to create awareness and support for ocean science and conservation through creativity, collaborations, and communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 50 Reefs A global initiative identifying the coral reefs where conservation and restoration efforts will have the greatest impact, focusing resources on the most critical ecosystems.
• Chasing Coral An Emmy-winning documentary film and ongoing initiative that inspires support for coral reef conservation through unique photography and adventurous storytelling, with tens of millions of viewers understanding the coral reef crisis.
• Seaview Survey A global underwater imaging initiative that applies Google Street View technology to record and reveal the state of the ocean, documenting marine environments at scale.
• Ocean Decade An initiative supporting the UN Ocean Decade that inspires support for ocean science and conservation through creative communication and education, including exhibitions and educational materials.
• Ocean Image Bank The leading free library of ocean imagery created for the UN Ocean Decade, containing thousands of images across categories including Animals, Antarctica, Arctic, Blackwater, Coastal & Islands, Coral Bleaching, Coral Reefs, Kelp Forests, Macro, Mangroves, Ocean Plastic, Panoramas, People, Seagrass, Sharks, and Waves & Open Water.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of millions of viewers reached through documentary filmmaking

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle partnership includes the Seaview Survey project which takes Google Street View underwater to record and reveal the state of the ocean.
• AdobecoreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe partnership providing creative software tools for ocean conservation content creation and documentation.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix distributes Chasing Coral documentary to tens of millions of viewers globally.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNEP for ocean conservation initiatives and environmental advocacy.
• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for UN Ocean Decade, providing ocean imagery and creative communication for the decade-long initiative.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partnership with NOAA for ocean research and conservation efforts.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with WWF for marine conservation and ocean protection initiatives.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Nature Conservancy for ocean conservation projects.
• AccenturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partnership for ocean conservation initiatives and creative communication projects.
• Great Barrier Reef FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on coral reef conservation and protection efforts.
• Scripps Institution of OceanographycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partnership with leading ocean research institution.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with premier ocean research institution for scientific collaboration.
• World Surf LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports league partnership for ocean awareness and conservation messaging.
• PantoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColor institute partnership for ocean-themed color campaigns and awareness.
• WeTransferminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative partnership with file transfer platform for content sharing.
• Convention on Biological DiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational treaty organization partnership for biodiversity conservation.
• International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with global partnership dedicated to coral reef conservation.
• University of QueenslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Griffith University for coral reef research.
• SECORE FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral reef restoration foundation partnership.

Scale indicators1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-oceanagency

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 The Ocean Agency