Early Career Ocean Professionals

What Early Career Ocean Professionals does

Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) is a global non-profit network programme, founded in September 2019 and endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade in June 2021, that connects, trains, and represents ocean professionals within 10 years of career onset. It serves a long-tail member base of 5,200+ ECOPs across 151 countries and territories, organized through five Regional Nodes (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central America, Pacific) and more than 40 National Nodes, with thematic work conducted through six Task Teams covering Capacity Development, Deep Ocean, Diversity Equity and Inclusivity, Ocean Literacy, OceanBRIDGES, and Private Industry.

The programme's core product surface is the Global ECOP Registry, an online networking database that doubles as the membership and newsletter distribution system, supplemented by an Opportunities Database, a multilingual website (14 languages), an ECOP Voices storytelling platform, training/webinars delivered with OceanTeacher Global Academy and IOC-UNESCO, and the ECOPs Blue Capacity Development Project. Technology infrastructure is built on standard web tooling (Brevo/Sibforms newsletter, gtranslate multilingual flags) rather than proprietary software; differentiation comes from institutional endorsement, community mobilization, and partnerships with 20+ organizations including UNESCO IOC, NORAD, AGU, IEEE OES, PICES, Marine Technology Society, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans.

ECOP operates as a free-to-join, grant-funded programme with no commercial pricing model. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the operating model relies on institutional support from NORAD and UNESCO IOC, with in-kind contributions from regional/national coordinators and partner organizations. The go-to-market is community-led: members join via a website sign-up form, are added to the registry and newsletter, and engage through regional/national nodes, task teams, conferences (UN Ocean Conference, Ocean Decade Conference, PICES, WESTPAC), and capacity-development cohorts such as NORAD-funded training for African and Caribbean SIDS ECOPs.

Name

Early Career Ocean Professionals

Legal name

Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme

Website

https://ecopdecade.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ECOP is a UN Ocean Decade-endorsed global non-profit network founded in 2019 that connects, trains, and represents 5,200+ early-career ocean professionals across 151 countries through regional/national nodes, task teams, and grant-funded capacity-development programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Professional Network Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Ocean professional network
• Capacity development programs
• Ocean science community
• Marine conservation training
• Career development support

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Institutional Support: The ECOP Programme operates as a network endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, supported by institutional partners including UNESCO IOC and NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation). Funding supports capacity development trainings, regional node activities, and programme operations. The programme is free for ECOPs to join and participate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme operates a global networking and capacity development network for ocean professionals within 10 years of their career start. Its core offering is free membership in a global community delivered through an online networking database (Global ECOP Registry), five Regional Nodes and 40+ National Nodes, six specialised Task Teams, training programmes and webinars, the ECOP Voices storytelling platform, and an Opportunities Database. Members gain access to networking, training, mentorship, internships, funding opportunities, and representation in UN Ocean Decade processes.

Product overview

The Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme is a global networking and capacity development initiative under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. It is not a software product but rather a network program consisting of a Global ECOP Registry (online networking database), Regional and National Nodes Network spanning over 40 countries, Task Teams focused on specialized ocean topics, training programs and webinars, the ECOP Voices storytelling platform, and an Opportunities Database. The programme empowers early career ocean professionals with networking, professional development, and capacity building opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global ECOP Registry: An online networking database of Early Career Ocean Professionals designed to connect, monitor and reach out to the global ECOP community.
• ECOP Nodes
• ECOP Blue Capacity Development Project
• V.ECOP Day
• OceanBRIDGES Task Team

Products and services

• Global ECOP Registry An online networking database of Early Career Ocean Professionals designed to connect, monitor, and reach out to the global ECOP community. Members who join via the website sign-up form are automatically added to the registry and receive a monthly newsletter subscription with jobs, opportunities, internships, and training updates.
• Regional and National Nodes Network A growing network of Regional Nodes (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central America, Pacific) and National Nodes spanning over 40 countries, helping expand and integrate the ECOP network on a local to global scale and providing localised networking, training, and representation.
• ECOP Programme Task Teams Specialised working groups including Capacity Development, Deep Ocean, Diversity Equity and Inclusivity, Ocean Literacy, OceanBRIDGES, and Private Industry, focused on advancing specific thematic areas within the UN Ocean Decade framework.
• ECOP Training and Webinars Blended training programmes and webinars for skills development, including oceanographic survey techniques, data management, science communication, and capacity-building workshops delivered in partnership with IOC-UNESCO and OceanTeacher Global Academy.
• ECOP Voices Platform Storytelling and publication platform featuring ECOP Stories, ECOP Conversations, My Coastline, ECOPs Envision, Decade ECOPs, and ECOP Publications to amplify the voices of early-career ocean professionals.
• ECOP Opportunities Database An online database aggregating job opportunities, internships, funding, and events for Early Career Ocean Professionals across the global network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 120 ECOPs from Africa and Caribbean SIDS received funded training through the Ocean Decade's ECOP Programme
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Students On Ice Foundation (SOI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ECOP Canada's new administrative home within the Students On Ice Foundation (SOI), supported by the Blue Futures Pathways programme. SOI and ECOP Canada share a vision of supporting workforce development and increasing awareness of career opportunities in Canada's Sustainable Blue Economy.
• UNESCO IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The ECOP Programme is at the heart of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and was endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade as a network programme in 2021. UNESCO IOC provides institutional support and alignment with global ocean science priorities.
• American Geophysical Union (AGU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGU is listed as a partner organization supporting the ECOP Programme and ocean science community.
• Future EarthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Earth is listed as a partner organization supporting global sustainability research and the ECOP Programme.
• Geo Blue PlanetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeo Blue Planet co-leads the OceanBRIDGES task team within the ECOP Programme, supporting Earth observation integration for ocean professionals.
• IEEE OES (Oceanic Engineering Society)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEEE OES partners with ECOP Programme for joint events including OCEANS conferences and young professional activities.
• OceanTeacher Global AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOceanTeacher Global Academy collaborates with ECOP Programme to deliver blended training on oceanographic survey techniques and data management for Mediterranean ECOPs.
• Marine Technology Society (MTS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTS partners with the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans to offer the Walter Munk Scholar Award and collaborates on publications in the Marine Technology Society Journal.
• Stockholm Resilience CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStockholm Resilience Centre is listed as a partner organization supporting ocean sustainability and resilience research.
• East-West CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast-West Center runs the Southeast Asian Ocean Professionals Program (EWCSEAOPP), an endorsed ECOP project under the UN Ocean Decade.
• PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPICES co-organizes ECOP activities including the ICES/PICES Early Career Scientists Conference and publishes ECOP updates in PICES Press.
• Ocean Vision AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Vision Alliance is listed as a partner organization working on ocean solutions and innovation.
• Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTRI is listed as a partner organization supporting marine research and ECOP activities.
• Youth in Maritime (YIMO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth in Maritime (YIMO) is listed as a partner supporting young ocean professionals and maritime career development.
• OceanBestPractices SystemmajorTechnology or IntegrationThe OceanBestPractices System partners with ECOP Programme to engage ECOP ambassadors and session co-leads for ocean best practices workshops.
• Sustainable Ocean AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable Ocean Alliance collaborates with ECOP Programme on youth panels at events like the World Ocean Summit.
• Edinburgh Ocean LeadersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh Ocean Leaders co-organizes satellite events with ECOP Programme, including 'Building Ocean Leadership: Fostering Networking, Creativity, and Resilience'.
• Ocean ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Conservancy is listed as a partner organization supporting ocean protection and sustainability efforts.
• Mentoring365majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentoring365 is listed as a partner providing mentorship opportunities for ocean professionals.
• ECSF (Early Career Scientist Federation of India)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECSF is listed as a partner organization supporting early career scientists in India.
• German Alliance for Marine Research (DAM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Alliance for Marine Research (Deutsche Meeresforschung) is listed as a partner supporting international ocean research cooperation.
• Marine Technology SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTS supports early career ocean professionals through awards, publications, and conference activities. They co-created the Walter Munk Scholar Award with the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance: Youth-led global ocean network that mobilizes early-career leaders and entrepreneurs for ocean solutions. Closest comparable to ECOP in mission, audience (young ocean professionals), and UN-Ocean-Decade-aligned activity mix, and is already an ECOP partner.
• PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization): Intergovernmental marine science organization that co-organizes early-career conferences and publishes ECOP updates. Comparable as a regional anchor for emerging ocean researchers and a current ECOP partner.
• Marine Technology Society (MTS): International professional society for ocean engineers and technologists, with active early-career programming and co-creation of the Walter Munk Scholar Award. Operates as a parallel professional-community anchor for emerging ocean talent.
• ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea): Intergovernmental marine science forum employing several ECOP focal points (e.g. Ellen Johannesen). Comparable as an international early-career-oriented scientific network in ocean research.
• Students On Ice Foundation: Canadian foundation running youth ocean expeditions and workforce programmes, including the Blue Futures Pathways programme that now hosts ECOP Canada. Comparable in targeting early-career ocean talent and delivering education/career-development outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• The Ocean Cleanup: Large-scale nonprofit deploying technology to remove ocean plastic pollution, with active youth engagement. Comparable as a high-profile UN-Decade-aligned ocean nonprofit, though focused on a single technical mission rather than workforce development.
• World Ocean Council: Industry-led cross-sectoral ocean stewardship body convening shipping, offshore energy, aquaculture and finance. Comparable as a global convening platform for ocean stakeholders, but focused on industry leadership rather than early-career professionals.
• Sea Grant (NOAA): Federal-state network of university-based marine research, education and extension programmes in the US. Comparable as a workforce and capacity-development pipeline for ocean professionals, though with a national rather than global scope.
• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropically funded ocean research foundation supporting technology, expeditions and open data. Comparable as a capacity-and-workforce enabler in ocean science, but at significantly larger scale and with research-vessel assets.
• Ocean Conservancy: Established US-based ocean advocacy NGO with global campaigns on plastics, fisheries and policy. Overlaps with ECOP on ocean-sustainability advocacy and is a listed partner, but operates at much larger scale and broader remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oceandecadeecop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk6Pow32zCEgPkosnbYgr9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecopprogramme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/early-career-ocean-professionals
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecop_programme

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Early Career Ocean Professionals