Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is a non-profit organization based in Portsmouth, NH, USA. Our mission is to protect marine life in the Gulf of Maine through research, education and inspiring action. Long-term studies on marine mammals such as endangered whales allow us to learn about whale behavior, population health, and preferred habitat, and promote activities that will help increase whale populations and overall ocean health. Blue Ocean Society fulfills a critical role in designing, implementing and effectively managing and overseeing projects that benefit living marine resources.BACKGROUND:Blue Ocean Society was founded by two scientists/educators, Jen Kennedy and Dianna Schulte, who were frustrated with the lack of translation of open ocean research into information that could be used by the public. Jen and Dianna met in 1995 during training for a whale research internship in Gloucester, which they did in winter 1996.Following the internship, both Jen and Dianna were working on whale watch boats in New Hampshire, collecting unique data about whales on Jeffreys Ledge, which is an important whale habitat about 20 miles off the coast. They decided to start their own database, and work to translate their on-water experiences into educational programs for schools and the general public. Blue Ocean Society was started in 2001 and achieved non-profit status in 2002.