Ocean Alive

Ocean Alive is a Portuguese NGO and cooperative committed to ocean conservation through community-driven action. Its mission centers on protecting seagrass meadows, vital blue carbon ecosystems, by working directly with the people closest to them: fishers and shellfish gatherers of the Sado estuary. The organization builds bridges between these coastal communities, scientists, and decision-makers to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and drive meaningful behavioral change. Key initiatives include the 'Mariscar SEM Lixo' campaign, which mobilizes volunteers to clean marine litter from the Sado estuary while raising awareness among fishing communities, and the Ocean Alive Camp, an educational program connecting participants with marine science and conservation. The organization also runs a scientific program mapping and monitoring seagrass meadows in the Sado estuary, involving local shellfish gatherers, researchers, and students. Ocean Alive extends its impact internationally as an NGDO, cooperating with projects in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) that involve women, communities, and seagrass ecosystems. It is also active in advocacy, developing recommendations to support management plans and policy decisions for the valorization and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. The organization collaborated on the documentary 'Lungs of the Ocean' and participates in the RESTORESEAGRASS project alongside CCMAR and other partners, dedicated to conserving seagrass meadows in the Algarve, Arrábida, and Tróia/Setúbal regions. Founded by Raquel Gaspar and Sofia Jorge, Ocean Alive positions itself at the intersection of community empowerment, gender equity, and marine ecosystem restoration, envisioning a healthy ocean protected by coastal communities.