The role of the NPWS in the marine environment includes protection of marine habitats, protection of marine life in particular Cetaceans (principally dolphins) and seals, marine licencing, marine research and the control of marine research areas, amongst others.

Nature Seekers is a community-based organization founded in 1990 with the aim of protecting leatherback turtles in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to the protection of nesting turtles, they are involved in research, including tagging and monitoring turtles, and educating the public about marine issues. They are known for their Ecotours which focus on the leatherback turtles.

Nekton Foundation is a marine research organisation dedicated to exploring and protecting the deep ocean. Nekton leads research expeditions and conducts the Ocean Health Check, deploying the latest human operated submersibles and deep sea technology to obtain ‘scientific data and media content to amplify ocean prioritisation, accelerate ocean literacy and inform organisations mandated with regional and international marine protection and stewardship. Nekton’s research catalyses the increase of Marine Protected Areas, improvements in marine resource management, pollution reduction, climate change mitigation and changes to consumer behaviour.’ They have conducted expeditions in Bermuda, Weddell's Sea, Indian Ocean in Seychelles and Maldives, amongst others.

The NetTag approach to the problem of marine litter derived from fisheries combines two different types of preventive measures: new technology to prevent lost gears; and awareness actions to promote best-practices for on-board waste management. NetTag is developing new technologies to track fishing gears in case gears got lost, fostering a reduction of lost gears. The technology involves low cost, miniature and environmental-friendly acoustic tags and acoustic transceivers for uniquely localization (with fisher’s personal ID) of lost gear and an automated-short-range robotic recovery system. This is an active project co-ordinated by Ciimar in Portugal.

Norwegian Orca Survey conducts research into killer whales in Norwegian waters. In the process of studying and monitoring the whales, they collect info about these inhabitants of their waters, which contributes to an ID-Catalogue in existence since 1984 which they inherited in 2013, a considerable database. Their focus is on conservation of the whales and other marine life.

OBIS is a global open-access data and information clearing-house on marine biodiversity for science, conservation and sustainable development. As a project of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange programme of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, it aims to be 'the most comprehensive gateway to the world’s ocean biodiversity and biogeographic data and information required to address pressing coastal and world ocean concerns. It has the mission to be global alliance in which scientists share biodiversity and biogeographic data and information on marine life. There are more than 30 OBIS nodes around the world connect 500 institutions from 56 countries.

The Omcar Foundation was created in 2007 for the conservation of dugongs, seagrasses, and mangroves through scientific and traditional knowledge. Under the foundation’s auspices, the OMCAR Palk Bay Centre provides services to the local fishing communities in coastal environmental education and awareness, a dugong and marine mammal stranding response, seagrass and mangrove restoration projects, sustainable squid fishery, tree planting, amongst others. Participatory conservation and sustainable livelihoods are key to their mission.

The ORCA Foundation, based in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, is part of a volunteer community dedicated to marine conservation in South Africa. ORCA together with Nelson Mandela University are conducting active research and monitoring of the endangered humpback dolphin in South Africa. The data collected from this work will be put towards the establishment of a Conservation Plan for the species because the population is estimated to be fewer than 500 individuals along the SA Coast.

ORCA Ireland's stated aim is 'to enhance our scientific knowledge and understanding of marine megafauna in Irish waters through conservation, research and education.' They monitor marine megafauna (especially cetaceans), both through research with the help of citizen scientists through their mobile phone recording tool, the Observers App, and real-time cetacean acoustics research.

Through research and conservation projects, campaigns, environmental education, and involvement in a range of important international committees, OceanCare undertakes concrete steps to improve the situation for wildlife in the world’s oceans. In 2011, OceanCare was granted Special Consultative Status on marine issues with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Ocean Conservation Research is focused on understanding the scope of, and exploring solutions for, the growing problem of human generated noise pollution and its impact on marine life. They use their research to inform the public and provide guidance to regulators and policymakers so that all may become better stewards of the sea

OceanExpert is a Global directory of marine and freshwater professionals, managed by the UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE in Belgium. It provides extensive information including contact and research topic details on thousands of researchers and other marine and freshwater professionals around the world. The information is searchable from multiple perspectives, including names, specialities, type of organization, projects, oceans, countries.