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IMARCS joins the World Ocean Council

The IMARCS Foundation teamOct 8, 20263 min read
A giant clam at the IMARCS facility

We're proud to share that the IMARCS Foundation was accepted as a non-profit member of the World Ocean Council (WOC) in September 2026.

The WOC is an international alliance of ocean businesses working toward a thriving, sustainable, and regenerative blue economy. Its members come from shipping, energy, aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, technology, finance, and research. What ties them together is what the WOC calls Corporate Ocean Responsibility: the industries that depend on the ocean taking real responsibility for its health.

Why a reef science nonprofit joined an ocean business alliance

At first glance, a small marine research foundation might look out of place next to shipping lines and seafood companies. We think it's exactly where we belong.

Our approach to conservation is stewardship, not passive preservation. People are part of the natural world, and the ocean will keep being fished, farmed, sailed, and built along. The question isn't whether the ocean gets used. It's whether it gets used well.

We've seen what "used well" looks like. At our core field partner, the giant clam hatchery in Kosrae, Micronesia, native clams are raised in their own waters by the people who live there. Farming gives the species an economic reason to exist, takes pressure off wild populations, and helps put clams back on reefs that lost them. Use and protection reinforce each other.

The World Ocean Council is built on the same premise, at a much larger scale.

What membership means for our work

Membership gives IMARCS a seat in a global network of organizations working on ocean sustainability. For us, that means three things:

  • Reach. Our research on giant clams, coral bleaching recovery, and mangroves can reach the companies best placed to apply it, from aquaculture operators to coastal developers and tourism businesses.
  • Partners. Reef restoration depends on industry, from hatcheries to the companies that fund seeding programs. The WOC network is where we expect to find our next partners.
  • Perspective. Working alongside businesses keeps our science grounded in the practical realities of the people who operate on the water every day.

What comes next

We'll take part in WOC programs and events where our work fits, and we'll report back here as those conversations develop.

If you're a WOC member working on reef restoration, mariculture, or coastal conservation, we'd like to hear from you. You can reach our team through our partners page.

Thank you to the World Ocean Council for welcoming us.