Blue Marine Foundation and RBC are making waves in marine protection

Anyone who dons a snorkel and delves into the deep off Jersey will experience a side of the island that many visitors don’t see. The surrounding waters support more than 3,000 animal and plant species . They bolster kelp forests, seagrass meadows and some of Northern Europe’s most abundant clam beds. 

The area is also a haven for maerl, a coralline algae formed of intricate calcium carbonite “twiglets” – itself the perfect nursery for juvenile scallops, lobsters and crabs. But maerl beds are precious for another reason: they play a key role in the carbon cycle and therefore help to regulate our climate.

Today, these critical habitats are challenged by large-scale destructive fishing practices and the escalating impacts of climate change. The good news is that people are working hard to protect them.

Safeguarding vital ecosystems

In 2018, the Blue Marine Foundation , a charity dedicated to marine conservation, began a campaign to help shape the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan , a strategy document that will ensure the local marine environment is protected and enjoyed for generations to come. 

As part of RBC’s Purpose Framework , which provides global strategic direction on its sustainability and impact programmes, RBC is committing £300,000 over three years to support Blue Marine’s efforts across the globe. To start, the funding will further support Blue Marine’s research into maerl in Jersey, and its ability to sequester carbon. This will help the charity strengthen its evidence base to protect even larger areas of maerl beds. 

RBC’s support will also enable the charity to continue its collaborative work with the Jersey government, aiding the delivery of an expanded Marine Protected Area (MPA), an area of the ocean with legal protection to safeguard vital ocean ecosystems. Blue Marine will also advocate for commitments from the Guernsey government to strengthen evidence to inform a future MPA.

In addition, RBC’s investment will help enhance the organisation’s youth education, such as the Jersey Snorkel Trails , an immersive programme designed to inspire the next generation of marine stewards.

“Things are heading in a really positive direction,” says Freddie Watson, Channel Islands project manager at Blue Marine.

Currently, only 6.5 percent of Jersey’s waters are designated as MPAs. But this is set to change, thanks to a collaboration of efforts. Through years of supporting local research, Blue Marine has helped prove that MPAs boost biodiversity, habitat health and the quality of fishers’ catches.

The research (a four-year PhD study carried out by Samantha Blampied) quantified differences in the composition, diversity and abundance of mobile species, both inside and outside three MPAs in Jersey’s waters. After three years, greater numbers of taxa (units used in biological classification) were recorded within the MPAs compared to the unprotected areas, making a compelling case for their expansion. 

“Several chapters of Sam’s report were peer-reviewed and published in scientific journals,” says Watson. “It’s really strong evidence that’s incredibly hard to argue with.”

Chris Matthews, managing director, RBC Wealth Management in the British Isles, emphasises the natural alignment with Blue Marine’s mission. 

“Jersey has provided a home to RBC for more than 60 years,” he says. “Our purpose is to help clients thrive and communities prosper. For the people of Jersey, including our more than 500 employees here, island life is cherished because of the waters that surround us.”

Improving marine biodiversity

RBC’s funding will also contribute to two full-time staff members in Jersey. With financing secured for several years, they’ll be able to concentrate on the valuable work of data collection and monitoring to get a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of maerl beds. 

“If we can establish how maerl’s relationship to carbon and biodiversity, climate change and fishing changes over time, we will have an even more compelling story to tell,” says Watson. 

Thanks in large part to Blue Marine’s evidence, campaigning and outreach, the Jersey government eventually approved plans to expand MPAs from six percent to 23 percent of its territorial waters. More details of the legislative process and timeline are expected in 2025.

The new network of MPAs will establish protection across 552 square kilometres. It will safeguard the areas from dredging and trawling, in order to protect habitats, improve biodiversity and boost the long-term health of commercial fish stocks. Low-impact fishing techniques such as potting, rod and line, netting and scallop diving will have a safe space to flourish. And the enhanced marine environment could be a potential driver of ecotourism. 

“The government has done an amazing job of developing the plan,” says Watson. “We’ve been holding them accountable, making sure they deliver on the timelines, and providing pressure when needed. And the proposed expansion of the MPAs is really positive.”

Exploring different modes of funding

Looking further ahead, Blue Marine aims to establish financial sustainability without relying on philanthropic support. The team is now working with RBC’s sustainable finance experts to explore diverse funding mechanisms, including debt-for-nature swaps, impact bonds and revolving credit facilities.  

“Our oceans remain overlooked in terms of conservation finance,” says Tom Blathwayt, director of ESG at RBC Europe, who chairs the RBC Europe nature working group. “Using private capital to finance marine protection will be an increasingly important issue in years to come. This is very exciting, and it’s where Blue Marine’s expertise as marine scientists dovetails perfectly with ours as a global financial bank.”

Meanwhile, Blue Marine’s growing understanding of the role of maerl beds in carbon sequestering may lead to another pioneering outcome: Jersey including maerl in its carbon reporting. Watson suggests this would be a first in Europe. 

It’s clearly not just underwater habitats like maerl that thrive on symbiosis (the interdependence of species). With humanity facing critical climate challenges, experts in science, policy and sustainable finance must come together and share knowledge, skills and experience. That’s what forms the foundation for an effective response.

“We’re committed to establishing long-term solutions so marine conservation doesn’t just fall off the map,” says Watson. “The legacy of all this good work can live on.”