Oceana Canada

What Oceana Canada does

Oceana Canada is an independent Canadian ocean conservation charity founded in 2015 and headquartered in Toronto, with operations structured around policy advocacy, scientific research, and public mobilization. The organization is affiliated with Oceana International, described as the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation, providing access to a multinational campaign network. Oceana Canada campaigns to rebuild fisheries, protect marine habitat, and reduce ocean pollution, with active campaign verticals spanning forage fish protection, plastics, North Atlantic Right Whales, capelin restoration, and broader ocean abundance rebuilding.

The organization's core outputs consist of scientific research products and advocacy campaigns rather than commercial technology products. Research products include the annual Fishery Audit, the first national assessment of Canada's 16 federally managed forage fish stocks, and joint deep-sea scientific expeditions conducted with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2025 along the Southern Newfoundland Slope at depths of 400 to 1,300 metres using drop-camera systems, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, and baited remote underwater video cameras. Campaigns are delivered through the bilingual website oceana.ca, the Wavemaker email community, online petitions routed through act.oceana.org, social media, press and earned media, and event-driven initiatives including the #ReuseForTheWin campaign tied to FIFA World Cup 2026 venues in Toronto and Vancouver.

Oceana Canada operates as a registered charity under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (BN 821618139RR0001) and is exempt from income taxes. Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with no products or services sold. The go-to-market motion combines science-based research with grassroots activism, petitions, and the Wavemaker community program to drive measurable policy outcomes. The disclosed customer segments are individual donors and supporters (primary), government and policy makers, and the scientific community. Corporate cause-marketing partnerships, exemplified by a $25,000 donation from Westland Insurance in March 2026, represent an emerging revenue channel.

Name

Oceana Canada

Legal name

Oceana Canada

Website

https://oceana.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oceana Canada is an independent Canadian ocean conservation charity that uses scientific research and policy advocacy to rebuild fisheries, protect marine habitat, and reduce ocean pollution, funded by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation advocacy
• Marine habitat protection
• Fisheries policy advocacy
• Plastic pollution campaigns
• Marine scientific research

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Oceana Canada operates as an independent registered charity, generating revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations support conservation campaigns, scientific research, policy advocacy, and operational activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oceana Canada is an independent ocean conservation charity that campaigns to rebuild Canadian fisheries, protect marine habitat, and reduce ocean pollution. Its offerings consist of science-based advocacy campaigns, annual and topical research reports (Fishery Audit, Forage Fish Assessment), deep-sea joint expeditions with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and public education resources such as the Marine Life Encyclopedia. The organization does not sell products or services; it delivers impact through policy advocacy, scientific research, and grassroots mobilization.

Product overview

Oceana Canada is an independent ocean conservation charity that operates as a campaign-based organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of scientific research reports (including the annual Fishery Audit and Forage Fish Report), deep-sea research expeditions, and advocacy campaigns focused on marine conservation issues including forage fish protection, plastic pollution, right whale protection, and marine habitat preservation. The organization also provides educational resources such as the Marine Life Encyclopedia. These offerings are advocacy, research, and educational in nature rather than technology products with features, integrations, or APIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fishery Audit 2025 Annual research report evaluating the state of Canada's wild fisheries, tracking progress, and providing targeted recommendations to meet federal commitments for sustainable fisheries governance. It is intended for policymakers, the media, and the general public.
• Forage Fish Report (Little Being, Big Foundation) First national assessment of Canada's 16 major forage fish stocks, finding that more than 80% of these populations are not healthy and only three are protected under the Fisheries Act. Targeted at policymakers, scientists, and conservation advocates.
• Southern Newfoundland Slope Expedition Deep-sea scientific expedition conducted in July and October 2025 with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to study the Southern Newfoundland Slope, documenting ancient coral habitats, deep-sea canyons, and marine ecosystems at depths of 400–1,300 metres. Intended for scientists, policymakers, and the public.
• Marine Life Encyclopedia Online encyclopedia providing information about marine species to educate the public about ocean life. Free public resource available on the Oceana Canada website.
• #ReuseForTheWin Initiative Public advocacy initiative to embed reusable systems at FIFA World Cup 2026 venues and Fan Festivals in Toronto and Vancouver, with modelling suggesting adoption could prevent more than two million disposable items. Targeted at event organizers, policymakers, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of Canada's forage fish populations are not healthy - key finding from Oceana Canada's first national assessment of 16 stocks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Joint scientific expedition conducted in July and October 2025 discovered ancient coral forests, deep-sea canyons extending over 150 kilometers, and extensive sea pen fields along the Southern Newfoundland Slope. Scientists documented complex marine habitat supporting halibut, Atlantic cod, redfish, and species at risk including cusk, northern wolffish, and smooth skate. The research used drop-camera systems, environmental DNA sampling, and baited remote underwater video cameras across depths of 400 to 1,300 metres. Findings will inform future ocean management decisions.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research expeditions with DFO scientists continue to analyze expedition data from Southern Newfoundland Slope exploration. Findings will be shared with scientists, policymakers, and the public as scientific review progresses. Canadian oceans generated over $7.1 billion in ecosystem services in 2023 according to Statistics Canada.
• Oceana InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOceana Canada is an independent charity and part of the largest international group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. The international organization has campaign offices in countries controlling close to 40% of the world's wild fish catch, including North and South America, Asia, and Europe. Victories have protected more than 2.5 million square miles of ocean.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Marine Stewardship Council: Global organization setting standards for sustainable fisheries and seafood certification, with a broader portfolio than Oceana Canada but overlapping strongly on the fisheries-management policy domain Oceana Canada targets.

Direct peers

• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: International marine conservation organization focused on ocean wildlife protection and habitat defense through direct action and advocacy, addressing overlapping issues such as marine biodiversity loss.
• Surfrider Foundation: International ocean and coastal protection nonprofit working on plastic pollution, beach access, and coastal ecosystem health through grassroots advocacy and science-based policy campaigns.
• David Suzuki Foundation: Canadian environmental advocacy charity using science, law, and grassroots mobilization to drive policy change on environmental issues including oceans and fisheries, closely mirroring Oceana Canada's integrated advocacy model.
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS): Canada-wide conservation charity focused on protecting public land and water, including marine protected areas, using science-based advocacy and community engagement similar to Oceana Canada.
• Greenpeace Canada: Major Canadian environmental advocacy organization running ocean-focused campaigns on fisheries, plastics, and marine biodiversity protection using grassroots mobilization and policy advocacy.
• Living Oceans Society: Canadian marine conservation charity focused on sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, and ocean policy advocacy, with substantial overlap in mandate and methodology with Oceana Canada.
• WWF-Canada: Canadian arm of a global conservation NGO with a substantial marine portfolio including sustainable fisheries, marine habitat protection, and ocean policy advocacy in Canada.
• Ecology Action Centre: Atlantic Canada-based environmental organization with a strong marine and fisheries conservation program, conducting science-based advocacy on issues like marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.
• Oceana International: The parent organization and largest international advocacy group focused solely on ocean conservation. Operates the same science-based policy advocacy model in countries covering ~40% of the world's wild fish catch, making it the most direct functional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/oceana
• Facebookfacebook.com/OceanaCanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/oceana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oceana-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Oceana Canada