Ocean destruction

The UK has lost up to 92% of its seagrass in the last century

While a third of UK seas are protected on paper less than 1% are well managed

Just 6% of the UK’s marine protected areas are safe from bottom-towed fishing gear, like bottom trawling and dredging.

Marine pollution

Every year an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastics enter our ocean.

29 million metric tonnes of plastic is expected to enter the ocean every year by 2040

It's estimated that 1.5 million tonnes of microplastics enter the ocean every year

Unsustainable fishing

Between 30-40% of UK fish stocks are overfished

Only 1% of fishing trips are independently monitored

11 of 15 indicators of ocean health are being failed by the UK

Our work

We’ve seen a 55% drop in plastic bags on UK beaches since the 5p charges (which we campaigned for) were introduced in 2011.

In 2019 businesses that used our Good Fish Guide to inform their sourcing supplied over 20% of the UK’s seafood. That’s around 760 million seafood meals!

When marine protected areas are fully protected biodiversity increases by an average of 21%

Our volunteer divers spent over 1,000 hours underwater in 2022/23 recording species and changes in habitats.

Amazing facts

Coral reefs cover 0.2% of the seafloor, yet they provide habitats to over a quarter of marine species.

At 12m long, the basking shark is the second largest fish in the world.

77% of people who had visited the sea in the last 12 months said they felt happier.

Kelps are seaweed that form dense, underwater forests. They are among the most productive ecosystems on earth.

81% of people said they felt healthier when they were by the coast and sea