About
Ocean Conservancy is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that has worked to protect the ocean for more than 50 years. Describing itself as the world's leading ocean conservation organization, it advises governments, builds coalitions, and engages global citizens to implement evidence-based solutions to the ocean's greatest challenges — from plastic pollution to overfishing and offshore oil drilling.
Mission
Ocean Conservancy's mission is: "Ocean Conservancy unites science, people and policy to protect our ocean, today and for generations to come." Its vision is "a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone." The organization emphasizes that the ocean supports all life on the planet, producing half of the world's oxygen and absorbing 90% of the excess heat from climate change.
What they do
Ocean Conservancy's work spans three broad program areas listed on its site:
- Biodiversity — including the Arctic, sustainable fisheries, Florida, and ghost gear (lost and abandoned fishing gear)
- Climate — including clean ocean energy and decarbonizing shipping
- Plastics — including cleanups and the International Coastal Cleanup, plastics research, and plastics policy
Its approach combines policy work that addresses root causes with local-level action such as cleanup events, and the organization positions itself as a trusted first call for policymakers at the global, national, and state levels.
History
Ocean Conservancy dates its history to 1972 and highlights "53 years of making an impact" on its Our Story page. Over five decades it has built the credibility and connections to assemble diverse international coalitions and effect change at a global scale.
Scale and impact
Figures published on Ocean Conservancy's Our Story page include:
- 400 million pounds of plastic and other trash removed
- 19 million volunteers working together
These totals reflect its signature volunteer cleanup work, including the International Coastal Cleanup.
Financials
Per Ocean Conservancy's Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending June 2025, the organization reported total revenue of 48,811,949 dollars (including 45,956,622 dollars in contributions and 1,845,948 dollars in investment income), total functional expenses of 49,486,289 dollars, and net assets of 86,343,543 dollars at year end. Ocean Conservancy Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 23-7245152) and also publishes audited financial statements on its website.