Ocean Missions | Húsavík Iceland
Founded in 2019, Ocean Missions is an Icelandic NGO based at the edge of the Arctic, in Húsavík, Iceland. We are a group of marine scientists and sailors that came together to make a change. Our goal is to inspire people to be part of solutions through a combination of traditional sailing, education, and citizen science.
We strive to educate people about the crucial importance of our oceans and engage them in the excitement and beauty of scientific research.
Image by Norris Nilman
Ocean Missions’ Inspiration
Microplastic pollution affects all marine life.
We offer two week-long expeditions per year onboard Schooner Opal where passengers participate as citizen scientists, helping collect and analyze microplastic samples, but also macro plastics and marine debris that we find on remote beaches.
Images by Ása Steinars
In 2020, we started a big clean-up effort in the North East of Iceland. We contribute to studies on whales and sea birds. We also bring ocean literacy to schools, locals, and tourists through educational programs of different kinds.
We work on sustainable development and sustainable tourism for small communities in collaboration with other stakeholders. For example, since 2021, we have been working with Mission Blue to create the first Hope Spot in Iceland.
We began our efforts because of the deep need for more conservation and sustainable tourism in the unique and fragile Icelandic environment and nearby Arctic regions.
We are based in Húsavík, the so-called “whale town” of Iceland—one of the best destinations worldwide to see whales in the immensely biodiverse Skjálfandi Bay. Here, there is tremendous potential for expanding conservation work in collaboration with Icelandic research institutes, museums, and whale-watching operations.
Currently, we collaborate closely with the University of Iceland’s Húsavík Research Center, North Sailing, and the Húsavík Whale Museum.
Ocean Missions’ Legacy
We began our efforts because of the deep need for more conservation and sustainable tourism in the unique and fragile Icelandic environment and nearby Arctic regions.
Image by Ales Mucha
We are based in Húsavík, the so-called “whale town” of Iceland—one of the best destinations worldwide to see whales in the immensely biodiverse Skjálfandi Bay. Here, there is tremendous potential for expanding conservation work in collaboration with Icelandic research institutes, museums, and whale-watching operations.
Currently, we collaborate closely with the University of Iceland’s Húsavík Research Center, North Sailing, and the Húsavík Whale Museum.
Images by Daniel González
What Do You Want To See Change In The World?
Protecting the Arctic should be like taking care of our mothers. They gave us food and a safe place to live for as long as anyone can remember. Now is our time to prove that we‘re grateful and can give back.
Images by Ales Mucha
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Images by Erica Cirino
Website: https://oceanmissions.org/
Instagram: @oceanmissionsiceland
Image by Florian Stelman
