Our conservation impact

Blue Marine is filling a niche in the NGO world, enabling marine conservation to happen fast and effectively. What differentiates Blue Marine is that we are well connected and determined; we seize opportunities as they arise and get things done. We forge new partnerships and challenge the status quo.

Strategic goals

Blue Marine has three strategic goals, which we believe are the most effective way to achieve our mission.

  • Secure effective protection of the ocean

    We secure effectively managed marine protected areas that are closed to destructive fishing and other damaging activities.

  • Tackle overfishing and supporting sustainable, equitable use of the ocean

    We tackle overfishing and other damaging activities. We support low-impact fishing and encourage a transition to fishing which benefits local economies and coastal communities without destroying the ocean.

  • Restore vital ecosystems

    We restore marine habitats to revive and protect vulnerable and threatened species.

Impact in numbers

Read our latest impact report

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  • 4.8M

    sq km of ocean protected

  • +4K

    direct beneficiaries

  • 75

    projects with more than 200 partners

  • 27

    countries, 5 continents and 28 marine protected areas working with us

  • 3897

    people completing educational/training programmes

The goals of healthy fisheries and conversation are the same: more fish, more abundance.

David Attenborough

Blue Marine Foundation is continually responding to the dynamic set of challenges the ocean faces.

Our work sits at the intersection of climate, biodiversity 
and human development. The question we ask of everything we do is:

What have we achieved for the marine environment?

We assess that using a rigorous evaluation framework developed by our team and external experts.

“Having a positive impact on life in the ocean and those who depend on it matters more than anything to us at Blue Marine. It unites us as a team and drives us to achieve even more. So much of our work has been made possible thanks to partnerships with amazing organisations and individuals around the world. As a team, we salute every one of you.”

Clare Brook

CEO, Blue Marine Foundation

Human stories

“Blue Marine has supported me since 2016 to improve marine protection in Maldives. They have helped me to set up a Maldivian NGO, with the intention of leaving a lasting legacy. They appreciate my local knowledge and have invested in my and my team’s careers. They always listen and provide timely support. We couldn’t have achieved what we have achieved so far without Blue Marine.”

Shaha Hashim Director, Maldives Resilient Reefs

“I started volunteering with Wild Oysters Project as I thought its mission to improve native oyster numbers and by default, the marine environment worthwhile. I did not however, expect it to have such a significant impact on me as a person. Not only did it add to my knowledge and understanding of our environment. It also provided me with vital skills and hands on experience, giving me the abilities and confidence to complete a career change into Ecology. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to work alongside this great bunch of people!”

Dan Lear Wild Oysters Volunteer, Conwy Bay

“Our collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation has been a transformative journey in the realm of shark conservation. Working together has exceeded expectations, offering a collaborative environment where passion meets purpose. The impact on ORGCAS project goals has been substantial, with the non-profit’s expertise and support amplifying the reach and effectiveness of our initiatives, ultimately contributing to meaningful strides in marine conservation.”

Frida Lara Scientific Coordinator, ORGCAS, Mexico

“Collaborating with the Blue Marine Foundation has been a truly enriching experience and a great partnership. Blue Marine consistently engages with us, checking in on our progress and offering support to help establish our region as a Marine Protected Area… Specifically, women in our oyster and mussels farm have benefited, as Blue Marine empowers them to excel in various aspects of ocean activities. This empowerment extends to capacity building, creating alternative livelihoods and fostering skills development.”

Yudmila Chunguane Marine Biologist , Love our Oceans (Mozambique)

“Working with Blue Marine Foundation on the Strengthening Namibia’s Island Marine Protected Area (NIMPA+) Project has been an incredible journey… We have faced challenges and celebrated successes as a united team. Blue Marine brought passion, dedication, and a unique view, making this project a great experience. I am grateful for the partnership we share and the remarkable outcomes we’ve achieved together.”

Veikko Hainana Livelihood Support Officer, Marine and Coastal Conservation, Namibia Nature Foundation

“When I met Blue Marine, I was still fishing and collecting fishing data for the Mediterranean Conservation Society… For the first time, I was talking about how difficult this job, fishing, could be for a woman. Of course, I didn’t know then that I would start working as a marine ranger in the organisation. Afterwards, of course, as it is known, I started working in the association as a marine ranger. I not only met Blue Marine, I started working with them.”

Aysenur Olmez Fisher turned Ranger, Turkey

“Having the experience, knowledge and contacts of Blue Marine for our local initiative was a game changer and as partners started to coalesce in the Help Our Kelp partnership Blue Marine continued to amplify our work, and also help us appreciate that what was happening in Sussex was nationally significant.”

Henri Brocklebank Director of Conservation – Sussex Wildlife Trust, Sussex Kelp Recovery Project

I am so proud of what we have built and the extraordinary team that is making such a difference in the safeguarding of our ocean. 

Chris Gorell Barnes

Blue Marine Foundation Cofounder and Trustee

Through the years

  • 2024

    An additional 166,000 sq km of ocean at South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are fully protected

    This was achieved thanks to campaigning from Blue Marine, in partnership with Pew Trusts and the Great Blue Ocean coalition.

    The Dominican Republic became the first Caribbean nation to protect over 30 per cent of its waters, following financial and scientific support from Blue Marine.

    In Greece, Blue Marine lead efforts to secure a government pledge to expand marine protected areas to 32%, including a ban on bottom-trawling.

    Blue Marine is involved in three major legal cases: challenging UK fisheries law, protecting marine areas in the Netherlands, and supporting the UK in international arbitration against overfishing.

    Less than a month after it forms, an alliance led by Blue Marine stopped the reopening of longline fishing in the Maldives, ensuring it remains one of the few countries in the world to practise pole and line tuna fishing throughout its waters.

  • 2023

    Blue Marine supports breakthrough marine protections across the UK, Europe and the Caribbean

    UK government u-turned to support a moratorium on deep sea mining following a Blue Marine media and policy campaign. 

    Blue Marine formed part of a ten-partner collaboration to launch the Solent Seascape Project – the first whole ecosystem restoration project in the UK. 

    The Jersey government proposed plans to secure 27 per cent of its waters, supported by Blue Marine research and campaign. 

    Blue Marine helped secure support from the Greek state for the first Greek permanent no-fishing reserves and seasonal fishing closure around Amorgos, spearheaded by local fishers 

    In partnership with Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, Blue Marine advocated increased marine protection across the Dutch Caribbean to the Dutch and Island Governments. Aruba formally committed to creating an EEZ-wide MPA covering 25,199 km2 at the Our Ocean conference. 

  • 2022

    From Banning Destructive Fishing to Investigating Tuna Fleets and Launching Major Ocean Research

    Legal action by Blue Marine and others secures a ban in the Dogger Bank that doubles the amount of sea around England closed to trawling and dredging. 

    Blue Marine investigations in the Indian Ocean reveal evidence of unauthorised fishing by EU tuna fleets in the waters of four countries, including India and Somalia. 

    In partnership with the University of Exeter and Convex Group Limited, we launch the Convex Seascape Survey, a $15 million five-year research project to quantify the carbon stored in continental shelves. 

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