A New Partnership for the Ocean

 

 

Silver Spring, MD (November 17, 2015) — As part of its 20th Anniversary celebration, SeaWeb is embarking on a new partnership with The Ocean Foundation. Longtime collaborators and partners in pursuit of a healthy ocean, SeaWeb and The Ocean Foundation are combining forces to expand the reach and influence of both non-profit organizations.  SeaWeb shines a spotlight on workable, science-based solutions to the most serious threats facing the ocean by combining its collaborative approach, strategic communications and sound science to catalyze positive change. The Ocean Foundation works with individuals and organizations from around the world to support, strengthen, and promote their efforts, programs and activities dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments. 

 

The partnership took effect on November 17, 2015, concurrent with the departure of SeaWeb President Dawn M. Martin who is leaving SeaWeb after leading the organization for 12 years. She has accepted a new position as Chief Operating Officer at Ceres, a nonprofit devoted to using market forces to combat climate change. The Ocean Foundation’s President, Mark Spalding will now serve as the President and CEO of SeaWeb. 

 

 

“SeaWeb and The Ocean Foundation have a long history of collaboration,” said Mark J. Spalding, President of The Ocean Foundation. “Our staff and board founded SeaWeb’s Marine Photobank, and we were partners in SeaWeb’s ‘Too Precious to Wear’ coral conservation campaign.  Over the last several years we have been both sponsors and huge fans of the Seafood Summit. The 10th SeaWeb Seafood Summit in Hong Kong was the first conference to offset its carbon footprint using our SeaGrass Grow blue carbon offset program. I am excited about this opportunity to expand our leadership role in promoting ocean health,” Spalding continued.

 

“It has been an honor to work with SeaWeb’s Board of Directors on this important collaboration, said Dawn M. Martin, SeaWeb’s outgoing President.  “Just as they helped to inspire the design of our unique partnership with Diversified Communications for the Seafood Summit, they have been fully supportive of the creative model we developed with Mark and his team at The Ocean Foundation.” 

 

The SeaWeb Seafood Summit, one of SeaWeb’s largest programs, is the premier event in the sustainable seafood community bringing together global representatives from the seafood industry with leaders from the conservation community, academia, government and the media for in-depth discussions, presentations and networking around the issue of sustainable seafood. The next Summit will be held 1-3 February 2016 in St. Julian’s, Malta where the winners of SeaWeb’s Seafood Champion Awards will be announced. The Seafood Summit is produced in partnership by SeaWeb and Diversified Communications.

 

Ned Daly, SeaWeb Program Director, will be responsible for managing SeaWeb’s programmatic initiatives at The Ocean Foundation. “We see great opportunity through this partnership to continue to expand SeaWeb’s programs and to help The Ocean Foundation pursue its goal of generating new ideas and solutions,” said Daly. “The Ocean Foundation’s fundraising and institutional strengths will provide a strong base to grow the Seafood Summit, the Seafood Champions Program, and our other initiatives for a healthy ocean.” 

 

“I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team for the progress they have made in advancing ocean health and continuing to build trust within the sustainability community to create lasting change. The partnership with The Ocean Foundation is an exciting next step for further integrating the science of communications within the broader community, and I am pleased to continue to be a part of both organizations by serving on the Board of Directors,” Martin added.

 

The formal affiliation between the groups, through an Organizational Partnership Agreement, will increase programmatic impact and administrative efficiency by combining services, resources, and programs.  By so doing, it will create opportunities to advance ocean health and achieve goals beyond what each organization could achieve individually.  SeaWeb and The Ocean Foundation will each bring substantive programmatic expertise, as well as strategic and communication services. The Ocean Foundation will also provide the management and administrative services for the two organizations.  

 

 

SeaWeb transforms knowledge into action by shining a spotlight on workable, science-based solutions to the most serious threats facing the ocean, such as climate change, pollution, and depletion of marine life. To accomplish this important goal, SeaWeb convenes forums where economic, policy, social and environmental interests converge to improve ocean health and sustainability. SeaWeb works collaboratively with targeted sectors to encourage market solutions, policies and behaviors that result in a healthy, thriving ocean. By using the science of communications to inform and empower diverse ocean voices and conservation champions, SeaWeb is creating a culture of ocean conservation. For more information, visit: www.seaweb.org.

 

The Ocean Foundation is a unique community foundation with a mission to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. The Ocean Foundation works with donors who care about our coasts and oceans to provide financial resources to marine conservation initiatives through the following lines of business: Committee and Donor Advised Funds, Field of Interest grantmaking Funds, Fiscal Sponsorship Fund services, and Consulting services. The Ocean Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of individuals with significant experience in marine conservation philanthropy, complemented by an expert, professional staff, and a growing international advisory board of scientists, policy makers, educational specialists, and other top experts.  The Ocean Foundation has grantees, partners and projects on all the world’s continents.