© Gustavo Figueiredo

Ocean Alive is a Portuguese NGOD
dedicated to the protection of marine
forests WITH the community

Ocean Alive is Portugal’s first co-operative dedicated to ocean protection.

We envisage a thriving ocean protected by coastal communities. We exist to accomplish this vision.

We work to protect the ocean through marine education projects and activities that foster transformation of behaviours.

Ocean Alive’s project is focused on the Sado estuary, where seagrass meadows are the nursery habitat for both the prey of the resident dolphin population, and for the fish and shellfish which the fishing community’s economy depends upon.

Our goal is to protect the seagrass meadows with the engagement of local fisherwomen, our Keepers of the Sea.

We act through a program of marine education, awareness-raising campaigns and through monitoring and evaluating our project’s impact on the seagrass meadows.

Ocean Alive’s institutional partner is UNESCO. We contribute to SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts and SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Declaration of Values

We are people of the sea. We speak with a sparkle in our eyes. We are genuine. We have passion. We are proud. We dive and discover freely. We look at the sea and others with respect. We see the truth in the openness of the sea, and find our integrity in its great depth. What the sea gives, the sea takes away. At every tide, we lend a hand - we show solidarity while respecting the sea's boundaries - we seek justice and consensus, we share our knowledge and ask for help. The sea welcomes all rivers. We communicate with empathy, even with our enemies. We need everyone. We are inclusive. Together we row the same boat. We are loyal and committed to the cause. We do not abandon the ship. We are resilient, and we have faith that reaching a safe harbour is the only way to change the world. With the courage and persistence of the tides, we turn over every rock to change behaviours. We take risks. We fight. We brave the tempest with the confidence that after the storm comes the calm. We know that the deeper we fall, the higher our dreams lift us. We have to face our mistakes. Everyone has some craziness in them. We like the freshness of the cold water. That's why we are pioneers and innovators. We give our hearts to the sea. We breathe salt water. We smell the sea air. We inspire others with it.

Ocean Alive’s actions are led by women who love the sea.

Ocean Alive’s project is built with the dedication of women of the fishing community: Keepers of the sea, our volunteers and our partners. Ocean Alive is led by:

RAQUEL GASPAR

CEO and co-founder of Ocean Alive
Marine biologist. PhD in Cetacean Conservation. Post-Doc in Science Communication.

2019 National Geographic Explorer

SOFIA JORGE

Presidente and co-founder of Ocean Alive.
BSc in Management.

Ocean Alive is built on the commitment and passion of its team.

Meet the members of our team:

LIA NEVES

Communications manager, MSc Management and conservation of natural resources.

SÉRGIO FIGUEIREDO

Finance manager.
BSc in Economics

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

The Keepers of the Sea project by Ocean Alive won the national-level ODSlocal’24 Projects Award in the Planet Dimension category.

Ocean Alive won the Natura 2000 Award - 2024 edition in the Marine Conservation category.

Ciência Viva Award Education 2021, awarded to Ocean Alive

Scientific Merit Medal awarded by the Portuguese Ministry of Science Technology and Higher Education to Raquel Gaspar at the Science Conference 2019, for her work fostering scientific culture in partnership with the women of Sado Estuary’s fishing community.