The Ocean Project advances ocean conservation in partnership with zoos, aquariums, and museums (ZAMs). We help them reach their millions of visitors and the public on the importance of conserving our ocean planet.

Our aim is to help our Partners effectively educate for conservation action. We provide Partners with cutting-edge public opinion and communications research; effective outreach program strategies to assist in changing attitudes and behaviors for conservation; helpful information and tools to increase civic involvement in community conservation activities; and ways to help with regional, national, and international policy-focused action.

Since its formation in the late 1990s, The Ocean Project has grown from a handful of founding North American aquariums into the world's most extensive network for advancing ocean education and action, with nearly 1,000 Partner ZAMs, plus conservation and education organizations, agencies, and institutions in all 50 U.S. states and 85 other countries.

Our Partners are the leading gatekeepers in providing the public with experiences that engage them, increase their understanding of science and conservation, and inspire them to take action at home and in their communities. Thus, we focus our resources on reaching and leveraging frontline ZAM staff, challenging them to more effectively communicate with their onsite and online visitors for conservation outcomes.

In the United States and many other parts of the world a conservation consciousness is the exception rather than the rule. Critically important, there is a noticeable absence of a large constituency speaking out and taking action for our world’s ocean, its life, and the future generations who will inherit it. With our Partners, we strive to change this situation and accomplish our goals through the following initiatives:

• Conservation Communications Research Initiative - The Ocean Project conducts cutting-edge public opinion research and analysis about how the public relates to the ocean in order to build environmental literacy and encourage conservation action. Our 1999 public opinion research on Americans' attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of the ocean was the most comprehensive study ever conducted at that time. In 2008, we completed a ten-year follow-up study that re-tested and significantly expanded upon the original data; we are also conducting tracking surveys every six months, with first one completed in September 2009. Our new study is the largest body of data ever on any environmental issue. Our strategies go beyond simply conveying facts; we favor a communications approach whose messages are positive, informative, empowering, and, ultimately, effective in changing attitudes and behaviors.
• Seas the Day Personal Action Initiative - The Ocean Project helps our Partners effectively reach their audiences for personal and societal action by developing inspirational information, tools, and products based on the latest market and public opinion research.
• Watershed-to-Ocean Visualization Initiative - The Ocean Project is developing a worldwide mapping and water connectivity effort to help advance watershed and ocean conservation. We believe this initiative could revolutionize the way people learn, explore, and take action to protect and conserve watersheds and the ocean with an interactive visualization tool that changes how people perceive their "eco address," and by extension their connection to and impact on the ocean.
• World Oceans Day - The Ocean Project continues to lead efforts to promote and coordinate World Oceans Day on June 8th of each year. This worldwide celebration is now recognized by the United Nations and celebrated in dozens of countries.

Providing Customizable Partner Benefits and Services

The Ocean Project provides many related benefits and services for our Partners, all geared toward helping communicate for conservation. Seas the Day provides our Partners with conservation-themed content, updated monthly, for use in their exhibits, programs, and activities, including tangible ways Partners can inspire their visitors and the public to "take ocean conservation personally." Our customizable products and tools can be tailored to each Partner's situation and needs. For example, these mission-driven products can be used in retail, as membership premiums, and for development purposes. Likewise, as our Watershed-to-Ocean prototype is fully developed over the next two years, we plan to replicate it across the country and around the world, as it can easily be customized to suit Partners' specific situations and needs.

All Partners and other friends can receive our e-newsletter, Blue Planet News to Use, and, if interested, our Seas the Day personal action update, featuring a new conservation theme each month. Remember to visit our blog for the latest information and tools to help you in become even more efficient and effective in your work to help conserve our blue planet.

Calling All Potential Partners!

If you`re affiliated with a ZAM or other organization or agency that is not yet a Partner, please join our global network. If you have questions, please contact us!