Blue Marine Foundation

Blue Marine Foundation is a marine conservation charity working to restore ocean health through the protection of marine ecosystems and the promotion of sustainable fisheries. The organisation works across the UK and internationally to establish effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), improve fisheries management and strengthen ocean governance.

Marine ecosystems face growing pressures from overfishing, destructive fishing practices and weak fisheries governance. Despite increasing commitments to marine conservation, many protected areas remain vulnerable to damaging activities, while harmful subsidies and inadequate regulation continue to undermine efforts to restore ocean health and ensure sustainable use of marine resources.

ERF’s grant will support Blue Marine Foundation’s investigative, legal and media-driven campaigns to expose harmful fishing practices and drive reform in fisheries governance in the UK and internationally. This includes work to restrict bottom trawling in UK Marine Protected Areas, address overfishing and inequities within the UK fishing sector, expose harmful fisheries subsidies in the UK and EU, and strengthen conservation measures through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

ERF granted the Blue Marine Foundation £25,000 in 2022 to support the Akrotiri’s Marine Protected Area in Cyprus, including restoring marine habitats, and ensuring small-scale artisanal fisheries can operate sustainably.