Join Our Community

ECOP Programme

Empower the Next Generation of Ocean Leaders

Achieving "the Ocean We Want"

The Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Network Programme is established to empower ECOPs, who self-identify as being early in their career in any field related to the ocean. The Programme is at the heart of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and it was endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade as a network program in 2021.

Our vision is to elevate and strengthen the diverse perspectives of new generations of ocean professionals through a collective voice, ensuring that knowledge is transferred between experienced professionals and ECOPs to promote ocean sustainability for “The Ocean We Want”.

Our mission is to incorporate new ways of thinking into global ocean sustainability and stewardship challenges. We will achieve this by empowering ECOPs with meaningful networking and professional development opportunities with each other and with local to global institutions through the framework of the UN Ocean Decade.

Are you an

Early Career Ocean Professional?

Join the ECOP Global Community by completing the sign up form below and you will be added to the Global ECOP registry, which is an online networking database of Early Career Ocean Professionals designed to connect, monitor and reach out to our Global ECOP community.

For the purpose of the ECOP Programme, An ECOP is a person that self-identifies as being early in their career, within 10 years or less of professional experience in any field related to the ocean. This definition includes post-secondary students and any volunteer roles, so not only employed/paid positions. The term ‘professional’ is used in order to be inclusive of professionals from various sectors of society.

By joining the Global ECOP registry you will automatically be added to our newsletter mailing list and receive monthly updates on ECOP jobs, opportunities, internships, training and more, straight to your inbox.

Find your Regional or National Node

The ECOP Programme is growing. Our Regional and National Nodes are helping expand and integrate our network on a local to global scale. Click on the map below to find your Regional and National Node and reach out to our ECOP Programme coordinators.

If you are considering starting your own Node or are one of our coordinators already; read or download our ECOP Programme Onboarding Handbook to help guide you through the process.