To restore the health of the ocean by leveraging the power of science, technology, and collaboration to develop replicable and scalable solutions

We were founded in 2016 when Lynne and Marc Benioff, CEO & founder of Salesforce, made a gift to UC Santa Barbara for improving and safeguarding ocean health through science and technology. Originally called the Benioff Ocean Initiative, we are based at the Marine Science Institute where we are strategically positioned to leverage the world-class research and faculty of the university and expand collaborations beyond the campus throughout the world. In 2022, the Benioffs renewed their commitment to UC Santa Barbara with an additional $60 million gift to establish the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory and expand the advancement of science-based solutions.

We are an ambitious team of scientists and engineers dedicated to restoring the health of our ocean. We want the legacy of marine science to not just be about studying problems, but fixing problems. We identify the most pressing threats facing our ocean, and then convene experts from academia, NGO’s, civil society, business, and government to tackle these challenges together. Our collaborative and interdisciplinary approach bridges the latest science and technology with policy, communications, and education to develop replicable and scalable solutions. We do this with a sense of urgency – the pulse of the ocean is getting weaker, and we need immediate action to revive it. Our directive is to implement tangible solutions that make an impact today, and to share our knowledge, insights, and data openly and responsibly so that impact can be expanded by others tomorrow.