Jersey’s beautiful marine environment, with its kelp forests, seagrass and maerl beds, showcase some of the best shallow marine habitats in the British Isles. Many species call these waters home, such as dolphins, seals, tuna and on occasion, even the odd sunfish. A Jersey Marine Park would cover approximately 900 square kilometres and protect ’high-value habitats’ – habitats that are essential for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, sustaining fisheries and the wellbeing of Jersey’s population – from inappropriate development and damaging activities. It would include all shallow marine habitats, extending approximately to the 20m depth contour and would incorporate existing No Mobile Gear Zones and conservation designations at Les Minquiers, Les Écréhous and around Jersey’s coastline. Such an area would be several times the size of the Island itself, equating to over 30 per cent of Jersey’s territorial waters. These areas provide extensive ecosystem services, and their protection would allow for substantial growth of Jersey’s natural capital. Designation of a Marine Park would emphasise the incredible marine environment that surrounds our island by providing a shared sense of responsibility and ownership, as envisaged when the Crown gifted the seabed to the population of Jersey in 2015.