Blue Marine Foundation (Indian Ocean / UK)
The Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) aims to restore the ocean’s health by addressing overfishing, one of the world’s biggest environmental problems. BLUE’s mission is to see at least 30% of the world’s ocean under effective protection by 2030 and the other 70% managed in a responsible way.
Blue carbon, which is carbon stored in coastal and ocean ecosystems, is key to mitigating the effects of climate change, but these vital habitats are in catastrophic decline.
In 2020, the Eurofins Foundation supported BLUE in proving the carbon sequestration value of two of its projects: the restoration of saltmarsh, seagrass and oysters in the Solent, and the protection of Sussex kelp forests. These projects were used as templates to leverage increased protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems for greater conservation impact.
The Eurofins Foundation’s support also allowed BLUE to gain a deeper understanding of the possible co-benefits and how they can be effectively supported. The Eurofins Foundation enabled BLUE to support a master’s student in Jersey to undertake an assessment of the blue carbon value of intertidal macroalgae.
The Eurofins Foundation also provided a grant to the project “Combat overfishing of the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock”. This project aims to reform the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) management of tropical tuna to secure an impactful and binding stock recovery plan and improved fisheries management measures for yellowfin tuna. BLUE is campaigning for at least a 25% reduction in yellowfin catch and a responsible catch limit for skipjack tuna (often caught with yellowfin tuna).
Thanks to the Eurofins Foundation’s support, significant progress was achieved. A few examples include:
- The creation of a short film, part of BLUE’s #TACforTuna campaign, highlighting the urgent need for a responsible recovery plan and total allowable catch (TAC) for yellowfin tuna and the role played by industrial distant water fleets in the overfishing of the stock. The film reached almost 2 million views on social media.
- Playing a leading role in developing the NGO Tuna Forum’s statement submitted to the IOTC. BLUE also worked with the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) to draft a statement supporting improved drifting Fishing Aggregating Devices (FAD) management in the Indian Ocean, which over 100 organisations signed. In addition, BLUE hosted a Symposium with 13 expert speakers. It developed its own set of FAD minimum requirements that over 120 other organisations and retailers have endorsed.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation supported BLUE’s project ‘Catalysing significant investment into ocean protection and restoration through a Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund.’
Blue carbon is under-researched and massively underfunded. BLUE has engaged with many blue carbon projects that struggle to secure development funding and is developing a ground-breaking blended capital fund.
Although progress was made in all workstreams, BLUE concluded that the project pipeline for blue carbon is too immature, too focused around a few, highly over-subscribed projects and too expensive to bring on stream in the timeframe necessary to deliver a return for investors. However, the learnings from the exercise, including the identification of key gaps in science, policy and economics has led BLUE Marine to build up its specialist units focusing on those areas so that the market for blue carbon can develop as fast as possible and so a Blue Carbon Accelerator fund could be not only viable but highly successful in the future.
Meanwhile, Blue Marine also launched their five-year science programme, which aims to broaden the potential sources of verified blue carbon beyond seagrass, saltmarsh and mangroves to include sediment carbon. Key scientific questions about sediment carbon are where and what quantity of carbon is present in various sites across the globe and what the anthropogenic impacts on this carbon have been.
In 2022/2023, the Eurofins Foundation renewed its trust to Blue Marine, supporting the creation of the largest marine reserve in Mexico to implement a 192,000 square kilometre Marine Protected Area (MPA) and promote new models of sustainable development in the seas surrounding the state of Baja California Sur, an extraordinary sanctuary for marine life, including orcas, mobula rays and nine species of whale.
The funding awarded by Eurofins has contributed to the following progress:
- Agua Amarga (and other identified communities to replicate the project in) are supportive of the MPA.
- Shark fishermen within the communities we work with transition to a sustainable tourism-based model.
- A baseline study is conducted to properly understand the area and the best course of action.
- There is increased awareness of the importance of the MPA.
- The longevity of the MPA is ensured through engagement and support from the communities of influence.
- The project can act as a template that is replicable throughout the region.
The support from the Eurofins Foundation has been transformational as the project is now ready to embark on phase two of the implementation. Blue Marine is now looking to raise ambition with its education unit and increase accessibility in the marine conservation sector and the academic work surrounding the topic.
In 2023/2024, the Eurofins Foundation remains a partner of the Blue Marine Foundation, contributing to the project Blue Education - inspiring the next generation of ocean advocates, seeking to empower young people from diverse backgrounds and amplify the voices that need to be heard, both to work towards equity in the sector and to mobilise conservation outcomes.
These projects contribute to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
