Photo: NPS / Climate Visuals
Find and support ocean-focused organisations
Looking to take action for the ocean? Whether you want to volunteer, share your skills, support a campaign, or connect with ocean organisations, you’re in the right place.
Explore our global directory of ocean-focused NGOs and community projects. Many welcome remote support, local help, or public funding to boost their efforts in restoring the ocean. Some of them need support with data / community reporting. This is also known as citizen science.
Citizen science involves everyday people assisting researchers by gathering data. They might track plastic pollution, note whale sightings, or check water quality. This helps us better understand and protect the ocean.
Lists updated quarterly – last update: Tuesday 24th June 2025
Explore our global directory of ocean-focused NGOs and community projects. Many welcome remote support, local help, or public funding to boost their efforts in restoring the ocean. Some of them need support with data / community reporting. This is also known as citizen science.
Citizen science involves everyday people assisting researchers by gathering data. They might track plastic pollution, note whale sightings, or check water quality. This helps us better understand and protect the ocean.
Lists updated quarterly – last update: Tuesday 24th June 2025
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Description
A 3-year expedition-based initiative on a laboratory ship focused on the regions most affected by plastic pollution. It aims to fight ocean plastic pollution by researching solutions, promoting recycling solutions and raising awareness.
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types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
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Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A UK-based charity focused on the conservation of seagrass ecosystems through research, community engagement, and action.
Individual and corporate volunteer opportunities include roles on land, in water and remote. Internships are paid. Seagrass reportings can be recorded in the Seagrass Spotter. The Seagrass Restorer is a community register of global seagrass projects which identifies successes and failures in seagrass restoration. This allows other organisations to then iterate accordingly in their own seagrass projects.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
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Volunteering location
Who can get involved
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Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A foundation supporting marine research, conservation, and education projects worldwide. Particular focus on sharks and rays.
No direct volunteer programs. However, they collaborate with global organisations which welcome volunteers and interns and can be found on: https://saveourseas.com/foundation/careers/internships-volunteering/
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
No
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
Yes
Description
An international non-profit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems through protected areas, stewardship, and community engagement.
Report and track coastal threats through the Save the Waves app. International surf and environmental film festival occurs in multiple locations around the world.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A non-profit marine conservation organisation focused on direct-action campaigns to defend ocean wildlife and habitats.
Volunteering opportunities available both on land (free) and at sea (pay some expenses). Marketplace donations: a portion of final sale proceeds can be donated to Sea Shepherd when buying / selling items through eBay's Giving Works programme, GoodShop or Sea Shepherd's marketplace. Using GoodSearch as an internet search engine earns donations for Sea Shepherd.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
An umbrella organisation of European environmental NGOs promoting ambitious marine protection policies.
Commission research reports from other marine organisations. The website includes an interactive map of Europe which highlights different types of plastic pollution reduction initiatives in different countries.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
No
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
An international charity which produced the Seaspiracy Documentary (Netflix). Their focus is in being the voice for the ocean through their educational and inspiring advocacy, campaigns, petitions, and online content.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
No
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Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A social enterprise tackling ocean plastic pollution through cleanups, community engagement, and creating a circular economy from the waste collected.
Provide waste consultancy, plastic credits and transparent plastic reporting (Periscope) to/for businesses. Plastic waste collected is turned into items like construction bricks, roof tiles etc. Volunteering opportunities are for businesses only, e.g. team-building.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A UK-based charity campaigning for clean oceans and beaches through community action.
Data HQ includes monitoring of sewage, water quality, sickness / human health and recreational uses of waterways. The website includes a live map of sewage pollution around the UK. Cleanup crews report the brands identified in the plastic waste collection.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
Description
A non-profit dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves, and beaches.
Volunteer opportunities vary by region. Check with local chapter. Volunteering roles at Surfrider offices include program development, research and analysis, legislative lobbying, translations etc.
Focus areas
types of support needed
Volunteering
Volunteering opportunities
Yes
Volunteering categories
Cost to volunteer
Volunteering location
Who can get involved
Who can support
Who can volunteer
Grants available
No
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Tell us your story
We’d love to hear how you are helping to protect the ocean — no matter how big or small your actions might feel. Your story could inspire others to take action too.
Share your story with us herePhoto: Avijit Ghosh / Climate Visuals
