Over 95 per cent of Jersey’s territory is ocean. The unique character and ecology of Jersey’s marine estate supports an astoundingly diverse range of wildlife, with over 3,000 known animal and plant species. Jersey’s waters are also rich with sites of cultural, archaeological and historical significance. Jersey’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) currently cover 6.5 per cent of Jersey’s territorial waters. These areas prohibit only trawling and dredging. In addition, one small area, Portelet Bay, was designated as a fully No-Take Zone (NTZ) in 2022. Research clearly demonstrates that the existing small network of MPAs are having a positive influence on diversity with a greater number of species compared to open areas.
Europe’s Hidden Tuna Empire: Uncovering the true ownership of the Indian Ocean purse seine fleet
The European Union has held a dominant position among Indian Ocean tuna fleets since the 1980s, despite the ocean’s distance from Europe. At times, vessels flying Spanish or French flags accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the catch of the region’s three key tropical tuna species: skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye.
07 May 2026
