EcoOcean is an Israeli non-profit organization acting to maintain a healthy marine environment in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The organization was established by a group of Israeli scientists in 2002 and has since been conducting research and running ecological education programs.
EcoOcean believes that education is a tool for reinforcing the connection between man and his surroundings. A great portion of the organizations’ activity focuses on educating the public on the importance of healthy marine environments, and for that it operates a number of educational programs intended for a wide range of ages.
Every year, hundreds of school children visit the EcoOcean Center, and the organization educators 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 higher education institutions who visit their research vessel, where they can practice current research methodologies. Apart of national activities, EcoOcean also leads international research projects and courses.
In Summer 2011, EcoOcean initiated a unique international workshop entitled "Environmental Impacts Know no Boundaries” that brought together graduate students of marine and environmental disciplines from Israel, the Palestinian authority, Malta, Lebanon, Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the UK.