Our Mission & history
EcoOcean is an Israeli non-profit organization, acting to maintain a healthy marine
environment in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Since its establishment
in 2002 by a group of Israeli scientists, EcoOcean has been conducting research
and running ecological education programs in the region. Our aim is to make people
more aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy and vibrant marine environment,
motivate them to act and enjoy such an environment, and affect decision makers to
promote legislation towards protecting it for the future.
Background
The ecological balance of the earth's oceans and seas has been severely damaged
by human activities. Not only are animals and vegetation under threat, but public
health is too.
What we do
We believe that education and research are the main tools for combating the region's
environmental problems. As well as conducting independent studies, such as programs
for monitoring the Mediterranean coastline, EcoOcean also supports studies aimed
towards monitoring or improving Israel's marine environment by providing a platform
for biological, geological and oceanographic researchers and graduate students from
Israeli and foreign research institutes.
How?
Our main tool for supporting research is our research ship, the R/V Mediterranean
Explorer, designed and equipped according to specifications of marine researchers
working in the Mediterranean.
Education is another tool that contributes to reinforcing the connection between
man and his surroundings. A great portion of our activity focuses on educating the
public on the importance of a healthy marine environment.
EcoOcean operates a number of educational programs intended for a wide range of
ages. Every year, hundreds of school children visit the Megalim Center for Educational
Activity at Kibbutz Sedot Yam – a center for studying marine and environmental sciences.
EcoOcean's educators also visit elementary and high schools across the country and
lecture on marine ecology and biology related issues.
In addition, EcoOcean acts to enrich the knowledge of marine science students from
institutions of higher education who visit our research ship, where they can practice
current research methodologies at sea.
How we work
EcoOcean's research is carried out by established and renowned scientists from some
of the world's leading universities and research institutions, and is funded solely
by private donations. This ensures that our educational and scientific activities
are impartial and independent of any political or other bias. In addition, EcoOcean
subsidizes independent marine research by giving researchers access to our R/V Mediterranean
Explorer at greatly subsidized costs.
Our partners
EcoOcean works with educational and environmental organizations with similar objectives.
Our educational programs are the product of cooperation with organizations such
as The Heschel Center's Green Network, the Karev Program and the Clean Beach program
proposed by the Sea & Coast Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.