About
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it campaigns around the globe to protect and restore the world's oceans through targeted, winnable policy campaigns grounded in science, and reports having helped protect more than 4 million square miles of ocean.
Mission
Oceana's stated mission is to "campaign around the globe to protect and restore the world's oceans." Its campaigns are specific, targeted, and designed to be won in a three- to five-year timeframe, with strategies that integrate scientific research, legal action, advocacy, communications, and grassroots engagement.
What they do
- Runs science-based national campaigns to win policy changes that rebuild ocean abundance, such as measures protecting threatened marine species
- Pursues legal action and advocacy directed at governments and decision-makers
- Conducts scientific research to underpin its campaign goals
- Mobilizes grassroots supporters and communications campaigns worldwide
History
Oceana was founded in 2001 after research revealed that "less than 0.5% of all resources spent by environmental nonprofit groups in the United States went to ocean advocacy." Major philanthropic institutions — The Pew Charitable Trusts, Oak Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Sandler Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund — collaborated to establish the organization to fill that gap with a dedicated ocean advocacy group.
Scale and impact
Oceana reports protecting more than 4 million square miles of ocean and securing hundreds of policy wins worldwide, highlighting over 75 specific policy victories protecting threatened marine species. It operates in countries that together control one-quarter of the world's wild fish catch, with offices across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The organization counts over 9 million supporters, including 1.5 million monthly contributors it calls "Wavemakers."
Financials
Per Oceana's Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending December 2024, the organization reported total revenue of 34,668,686 dollars (including 34,526,730 dollars in contributions and 459,792 dollars in investment income), total functional expenses of 45,522,287 dollars, and net assets of 50,909,801 dollars at year end. Oceana Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 51-0401308).
Governance
Oceana is headquartered at 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA, and maintains offices in multiple countries across five continents.