Editor’s Welcome
As we embark on another exciting year, I am pleased to welcome you to the first Ocean Conservationist magazine of 2025. In this issue, we dive into the victories of the past year and set our sights on an even more impactful year ahead!
Our Blue Meadows Community Engagement team tells us about their work to empower local communities in the fight to save seagrass, and we tell you about our innovative solution to help fund long-term seagrass restoration! We are absolutely delighted, for the first time ever, to be getting involved with the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, bringing our Ocean conservation work into a new and exciting space.
This edition shines a spotlight on the important role of aquariums in conservation, exploring how these institutions are not only places of wonder but also powerful hubs for education, wellbeing and behaviour change. Our Marketing Manager shares insights into the unique challenges and rewards of promoting the UK’s largest aquarium, bringing the magic of marine life to audiences far and wide.
As always, we invite you to join the conversation, get involved, and be inspired by the incredible work being done to safeguard the future of our Ocean, and planet. Here’s to another year of making waves for Ocean conservation with our community of Ocean optimists!
Catherine Ansell, Ocean Conservation Trust.
Contents
Our Impact in 2024
We share some of our key achievements from 2024 as we continue on our mission to create a healthy, thriving Ocean.
Making seagrass visible through community empowerment
Our Blue Meadows Community Engagement team tells us about their work to empower local communities in the fight to save seagrass.
Make a difference, support a meadow
Find out about our innovative solution to help fund long term seagrass restoration!
The role of Aquariums in conservation
We are delighted to share the findings from Sydney Jackson’s project, an MSc Marine Conservation student from the University of Plymouth, who undertook her dissertation in collaboration with us.
Contact us
Editor: Catherine Ansell
info@oceanconservationtrust.org
01752 717294
@OceanCTrust
@OceanConservationTrust
@OceanConservationTrust
Ocean Conservation Trust and b
Inspiring a global movement to promote and encourage a wave of positive behaviour towards our Ocean. Charity Number 1032491
Sea in Our School
Find out the work we are doing to help children in Plymouth discover the wonders of the Ocean.
How does the Ocean make you feel?
Find out how we embed the Blue Mind theory and ethos into our work.
World’s greatest flower show
For the first time ever we are collaborating on not one, but two gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show!
Riding the wave to the UN
Our Ocean Advocacy Manager, Grace, talks to us about the importance of taking the Ocean’s voice to the UN!
Help us strengthen the voice of the Ocean
Are you ready to make waves and help us have important Ocean conversations?
A day in the life of a Marketing Manager
Find out what a day in the life of a person marketing the UK’s largest conservation aquarium is like!
Our Impact in 2024
2024 was another great year for us! We focused on our solutions-based approach to protecting and restoring some of the Ocean’s most important habitats, whilst creating accessible and exclusive experiences to connect people with the Ocean, and advocating globally for positive action towards our Ocean. We couldn’t have achieved any of the impact we have made in 2024 without the support of our members, so we wanted to share some of our key achievements with you!
Ocean Habitats
Our seagrass protection and restoration work continued in our Blue Meadows project and we marked the end of the four-year long LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES project.
Our professional dive team completed 176 dives in total, to collect seeds, restore seagrass and monitor the seagrass previously planted at our restoration sites.
Our dive team collected around 900,000 seeds from several sites along the South Coast, the majority of which will be used to start restoration efforts in Falmouth.
31 new Blue Meadows marker buoys were installed in Studland and Falmouth to protect an additional 90 hectares of seagrass.
We continued our restoration efforts through the Blue Meadows and ReMEDIES programme. We grew and translocated 250 seagrass mats, which covered an area of 0.4 hectares. We also used our hydro marine seeders over 0.6 hectares, which marked the completion of our 8 hectares restoration effort for the LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES project.
Our Blue Meadows Engagement Team engaged with 2,194 people across 211 miles of coastline! They also attended 40 events across the South West, and now have 16 regular volunteers in our seagrass laboratory.
Ocean Experiences
Our team of Ocean Discovery Rangers love nothing more than connecting people with the Ocean, and that’s exactly what they did throughout 2024, engaging with nearly 11,000 people in total!
460 people joined us on the waves of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park for a boat trip.
203 people joined us on Rockpool Safaris.
105 people joined us snorkelling to explore the National Marine Park.
654 people took part in our Ocean for All programme, connecting with the Ocean through immersive VR technology.
140 young people (11–15 year olds) became Junior Marine Biologists for the day, and 188 5–10 year olds attended a workshop to become a Mini Marine Biologist.
We engaged with 3,585 people at events across Plymouth and the Southwest.
127 volunteers dedicated their time, which is a massive 2 528 hours supporting us!
65 young people (11–15 year olds) took part in our week-long holiday club, Ocean Squad.
Ocean Education Ocean Advocacy
For decades, we have been providing an exciting and interactive learning programme, using the Ocean as a hook for teachers to deliver all subjects of the curriculum. In 2024…
● We delivered interactive workshops in our dedicated learning centre to 9,692 students.
● 10,527 students toured our Centre of Ocean Excellence, the National Marine Aquarium, with our Education team, and a further 5,412 students took part in a self-led exploration!
● We delivered 39 outreach sessions in local schools, teaching 1,301 students about our blue planet.
● We delivered 23 virtual experiences, journeying around the National Marine Aquarium with 1,811 students who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to explore!
● Our highly anticipated STEMFest event brought 900 young people into the NMA to learn all about Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution!
● Virtual STEMFest, run in partnership with the Eden Project, saw over 3,000 students join us virtually, with some even as far as the Scottish Highlands!
● The team are dedicated to educating all ages with the Ocean, so have also been running bespoke sessions with University of Plymouth cohorts, careers tours with young people and hosting groups from the University of the Third Age.
Conservation is all about people. We inspire Ocean Advocacy, leading to pro-Ocean behaviour.
● 12 Councils declared an urgent need for Ocean recovery through our Motion for the Ocean, bringing us to a total of 34.
● 848 people took our #thinkOcean challenge, learning how to think about their impact on the Ocean in their everyday lives.
● We had 16 engagements with Members of Parliaments and Committees, including meeting MP’s, attending All Party Parliamentary Groups and round tables, giving us the opportunity to make the voice of the Ocean heard at this level.
● We submitted to 1 International and 3 National Consultations that the government put out to engage with stakeholders, these included topics covering the Education Curriculum Review, water bathing regulations and governing the marine environment.
● We grew our Ocean network internationally through attending and presenting at conferences. These included the Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans, Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, World Ocean Literacy Conference in Venice and the EMSEA Conference in Croatia. Through the conversations and engagements at these events we hope to enhance our global impact to protect the Ocean.
Looking back, we are so proud of everything we have achieved in 2024, and it has made us feel even more inspired and energetic for what is to come in 2025!
Making seagrass visible through community empowerment
We spoke to our Blue Meadows Engagement Officers, Megan and Eden, about their work to empower local communities to help us save seagrass.
Seagrass, an ancient plant that creates beautiful underwater meadows brimming with life – from commercially important species such as plaice and cod to the mythical seahorse. To most people, seagrass meadows are an invisible habitat with the beauty of them only being revealed to snorkellers and divers. However, these important meadows are at threat of disappearing. We want to reverse the decline in seagrass meadows across the UK, and one way we are doing that is by making seagrass more visible.
Our Blue Meadows engagement programme has an overarching purpose: to connect communities with their local seagrass meadows and empower them to take action to help protect it. This empowerment starts with awareness and is the core reason for some of our events – whether that’s a pop-up informational stand on a beach or a snorkelling visit to see the meadows up close.
One of our favourite events from 2024 was a seagrass stroll in Torbay, where we were joined by a few passionate individuals to wander along the beach, collecting washed up plants as we went. Over 200 plants were collected that had a strong enough root system for replanting, so these were brought back to our seagrass lab at the National Marine Aquarium. Through the power of social media and our Blue Meadows Bulletin, we’re keeping people up to date on the status of these plants, with the hope that they can be replanted back in the sea soon.
One of the biggest threats to seagrass in the UK can be attributed to accidental damage – people may not know where seagrass thrives and how their actions can impact it. This makes our targeted engagement actions even more
important, to support different communities to live in harmony with the biodiversity supported under the waves. One of the ways we do this is by partnering with navigational apps to alert boat users to the locations of seagrass meadows and encouraging them to drop anchor outside of these areas – a simple change for us, which can make a huge difference to the seagrass below.
Our plans for 2025 involve building on our previous work, alongside creating a network of seagrass supporters within and across our Blue Meadows sites. More than anything, we are interested in learning more about people’s perceptions of seagrass – do they value its incredible ecological benefits, and the impacts of these to our own wellbeing? This valuable information can help direct our programme and help us to support seagrass advocates across the UK.
Find out how to get involved here
The vital work done by the Blue Meadows project relies heavily on communities respecting seagrass meadows. That’s why we’re inviting you to get involved in any way you can – whether that’s by joining our Blue Meadows Seagrass Community on Facebook, by telling us about your views on seagrass through our perception survey or simply by considering seagrass in your day-to-day life.
If you have any questions, thoughts or feelings about the Blue Meadows engagement programme, don’t hesitate to get in touch on bluemeadows@oceanconservationtrust.org
Make a difference, support a meadow
The Ocean covers two-thirds of our planet and is the world’s largest ecosystem, but it needs more investment. At a time when the world needs to mitigate the effects of climate change, some of the greatest carbon capturing habitats are being damaged and degraded.
Seagrass is a key part of the solution for a healthy Ocean and planet. Our work has been focused on protecting and restoring this vitally important habitat for over 10 years. We have worked to refine our seagrass expertise, develop processes and expand our knowledge, but we need more support to scale up the impact of our seagrass conservation work.
Securing long-term funding remains a significant challenge, particularly at the scales required to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
Exploring the road to recovery for UK seagrass through sustainable financing
Last year, we took part in an interdisciplinary study* on the seagrass in Plymouth Sound, which looked to value the climate mitigation potential of UK seagrasses and explore strategies to help facilitate the conservation of this habitat through a novel sustainable investment financing model.
Together, we highlighted a novel approach: financially valuing seagrass ecosystem services to generate tradable credits and sustainable revenue streams. By participating in ecosystem service markets, seagrass restoration projects could gain access to funding, enabling scalable and lasting habitat enhancement initiatives.
Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, for their wellbeing and quality of life. These can range from things like food and clean air to improved water quality and carbon sequestration. Data from the seagrasses in Plymouth Sound concluded that to support restoration, a single ecosystem servicebased financial model using the blue carbon benefits of seagrass is not compatible with the current credit market
approach. Instead, numerous benefits are needed, including biodiversity, commercial fish stock valuations, nutrient cycling and more. Bringing together an array of benefits underpins this financial model, allowing donations to be received to support seagrass restoration, and benefits to be recognised.
The study also developed the first ever Seagrass Natural Capital Asset and Risk Register, which uses ecological and socio-economic data to guide decision-making and management of ecosystem services from natural resources. By assessing the current extent and condition of seagrass habitats, this approach will evaluate the risk to ecosystem service delivery and therefore highlight the risks to long term funding that need to be mitigated.
We now know that the ability to value the ecosystem services of seagrass, to fund long term seagrass restoration, is reliant on further research, monitoring, protection, governance and management of these habitats. But as they are rapidly declining, we need to act now!
*Funding from DEFRA and the Environment Agency, through the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), enabled Plymouth City Council, University of Plymouth, Ocean Conservation Trust and Finance Earth to complete this study.
Our solution, because nature can’t wait…
So, at the OCT we have launched an interim, innovative solution
Our new Mini Meadows scheme is a donation model that provides a nature-based solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, allowing both people and businesses to come together and save a critical habitat. Mini Meadows takes into consideration existing seagrass areas, which are nationally declining, as well as new restoration sites, combining protection and restoration in one simple offer!
In the first phase of our launch, we have engaged multiple businesses who want to invest in the future of our marine environment and the natural world. We are excited to be launching the same opportunity for individuals in the near future.
Our vision is for Mini Meadows to become a network of people and businesses all coming together to save a critical habitat for the survival of people and our planet. Find out more.
The role of Aquariums in conservation
At the Ocean Conservation Trust, we have been conducting research for over two decades. We are passionate about working with research institutes to support ground-breaking research, from undergraduate projects to novel industry led projects. Sydney Jackson, an MSc Marine Conservation student from the University of Plymouth, undertook her final project dissertation in collaboration with us, and sums up the interesting findings from her project in this article.
Background to the study
For this study, Ocean literacy is defined as the understanding of an individual’s impact on the Ocean and the Ocean’s impact on the individual.
Working in collaboration with us at our Centre of Ocean Excellence, the National Marine Aquarium, Sydney conducted a study with the aim to understand how aquarium visits influence Ocean literacy, conservation awareness, and personal wellbeing. Through a series of pre and post visit surveys, she gathered insights into the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of aquarium visitors.
The impact of aquarium visits on wellbeing and learning
One of the key findings was the positive impact aquarium visits had on wellbeing. The study revealed a significant increase in happiness, with 90.4% of visitors reporting feeling happy post visit, up from 59.1% pre visit. This aligns with broader research that suggests exposure to aquatic environments can lower stress and enhance mood.
In terms of learning, while overall Ocean literacy didn’t shift dramatically—95.7% of visitors were aware of the Ocean’s impact before their visit—there was a notable increase in knowledge about specific marine species like sharks and jellyfish. Visitors left with a deeper understanding of marine life, even if their broader understanding of Ocean systems remained relatively unchanged.
Inspiring pro-environmental behaviour
Another exciting discovery from the study was the way in which aquarium visits motivated pro-environmental behaviour. Many visitors were inspired to take positive actions for the Ocean, such as recycling (27 4%) and participating in beach cleans (26%). These figures highlight how aquariums can serve as powerful platforms for encouraging real-world engagement with environmental issues. However, more complex actions, such as supporting conservation organisations or engaging in policy advocacy, were less frequently mentioned, suggesting room for growth in education about broader conservation efforts.
Tailoring educational content to diverse audiences
The study also highlighted the need for tailored educational content. A diverse audience means varying levels of preexisting Ocean knowledge; 67.5% of visitors stated they had moderate knowledge before their visit. While most post-visit participants (81 7%) reported learning something new, visitors aged 45–54 were more likely to gain new knowledge compared to younger ones.
However, there were the fewest number of respondents in the 65 and up age group in both the pre and post visit survey, suggesting that older people may not be as Ocean literate as younger age groups. To maximize learning, aquariums should consider developing agespecific programmes that cater to the unique needs of each demographic. For example, more adult-oriented educational experiences, including a movie room and other interactive content, could enhance visitor engagement.
The larger role of aquariums in conservation
Ultimately, Sydney’s research underscores the critical role aquariums can play in Ocean conservation and wellbeing. By improving the visitor experience and enhancing educational efforts, aquariums have the potential to inspire positive action on behalf of the Ocean. Understanding how visitors engage and learn can help these institutions refine their programmes, contributing not just to public education but to the broader mission of protecting our marine ecosystems for future generations.
It has been great learning about the findings from Sydney’s project, and we are excited to use this information to enhance the experiences our visitors get when they visit our Centre of Ocean Excellence, the National Marine Aquarium!
Sea in Our School: How Plymouth’s children are discovering the Ocean
Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Schools Project Lead, Elspeth Shears, talks about one of our newest educational programmes, Sea in Our School, which will help children across Plymouth discover the wonders of the Ocean.
Rocky foreshores, winding rivers, sandy beaches, bustling harbours – let’s face it, there aren’t many cities in the UK that boast all of these. Plymouth has all of this within its reaches and more, making it a perfect place for the UK’s first National Marine Park.
Despite Plymouth’s proximity to the sea, not all Plymothians feel a connection to the waters that surround them. For many, the sea is simply ‘out there’ and not something they engage with in their daily lives. It has been estimated that 17% of children in Plymouth have never even been to the beach. At a time when we know so much about the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in or near water, not to mention the recreational
and employment opportunities of Plymouth Sound, this poses the question: How can we help Plymouth’s young generation find their connection to the Ocean?
Enter: Sea in Our School. A pioneering education programme with a core mission – to engage children from every primary school in Plymouth with their local blue space – the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP).
Before we dive in, let’s recap the journey up to this point. Back in 2022, our Learning Team kicked off the ‘Generation Ocean’ project in partnership with 27 primary schools. This pilot introduced children to the wonders of Plymouth Sound and trialled different types of learning experiences – virtual, in and out of the classroom. From this, we identified which activities inspired them, sparked their curiosity, and made learning fun!
Fast forward to now, using the lessons learned during Generation Ocean and our 25 years of experience in leading education initiatives, we have developed a unique programme with a wide range of activities that bridge the gap between the classroom and the sea.
As of September 2024, we’re proud to say that Sea in Our School is officially underway! Nearly 1,000 children from 36 Year 3 classes across 30 Plymouth primary schools are on board – half of which we will work with annually until they finish primary school in Year 6. To guide children through the programme, we created a Sea in Our School journal for them to record their experiences, reflections and discoveries, ensuring they leave with a personal keepsake of their adventures in the PSNMP.
Over the course of the programme, each child experiences a mix of classroom sessions, virtual experiences and school trips. They will not only have the opportunity to explore the PSNMP first-hand through visits to places like the National Marine Aquarium, but we will also bring it directly to their classroom through expert-led outreach sessions in partnership with local organisations such as Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association, Far Flung Dance and Shark Trust (to name a few).
With its blend of hands-on learning, community involvement, and a strong focus on local conservation initiatives, Sea in Our School is already making waves in shaping a generation of young Ocean ambassadors.
For us, this project has incredible potential in fostering a lifelong connection between Plymouth’s children and their local marine environment, ensuring they become passionate stewards of the sea for years to come. By engaging with the PSNMP in an integrated and impactful way, these children aren’t just learning about the Ocean –they are becoming part of its future.
Plymouth Sound National Marine Park’s Sea in Our School programme is fully funded with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
How does the Ocean make you feel?
How do we use the Blue Mind theory at the Ocean Conservation Trust?
in their wellbeing, and 94% of participants think that interacting with the Ocean is important for their wellbeing after taking part in our Blue Mind Hub.
Our Ocean Engagement Manager, Freyja, tells us all about the theory of Blue Mind, and how we embed it into our ethos at the Ocean Conservation Trust.
When you think of the Ocean, how does it make you feel? The sound of the waves lapping on the shore may make you feel calm, or the blues and greens that make up the colour of the Ocean may make you feel relaxed. The thought of the swell from a winter storm might make you feel excited, or invigorated. The feelings we have when we think about the Ocean (and other blue spaces) is known as ‘Blue Mind Theory’, a term coined by Wallace J Nichols, and is also used to describe the psychological and physiological impacts that being in these blue spaces can have.
The Blue Mind ethos is something that all at the Ocean Conservation Trust relate to immensely. Our team sees the effects first-hand on individuals every time we take someone on a boat, to the beach, or to sit quietly at the huge viewing windows in our Aquarium. By encouraging people to feel empathy towards the Ocean, we know that people will feel inspired to help protect our blue planet more.
We incorporate both the Blue Mind theory and ethos into our community wellbeing project, Blue Mind Hub, designed to support people experiencing poor mental health by getting them into Ocean spaces. Through activities such as snorkelling, visits to the National Marine Aquarium, rockpooling and boat trips, small groups of people are immersed in blue spaces, and experience blue mind theory first hand.
Since 2023, we have been able to work with nearly 30 people from Plymouth and meet professionals from all over the city working in health, wellbeing and social care. Two-thirds of participants to date said that they experienced a positive improvement
We’ve also been able to engage professionals across Plymouth with each other, to encourage more joined up thinking across community-based services. Early in 2025, we took Blue Monday (the third Monday in January and coined as the most depressing day of the year) as an opportunity to share our stories of awe, wonder and inspiration that come from our Ocean planet, in our first Blue Health Networking event. A first for Plymouth too! Practitioners learned more about our Blue Mind Hub activities, community-based initiatives from a local CIC Moondogz, and gave feedback about barriers that exist to accessing the Ocean for those living with poor mental health.
Our Blue Mind Hub is funded through OCT initiatives so thank you for being part of our community of Ocean Optimists and helping us support members of our community!
World’s greatest flower show
We are absolutely delighted, for the first time ever, to be getting involved with the World famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show! We are collaborating with not one, but two gardens, find out more below…
Seawilding Garden
For the first time ever, seagrass is going to be featured at the RHS Chelsea Flower show, and we are excited to be the ones growing it for display!
Garden designer Ryan McMahon is creating a garden inspired by the landscape of Loch Craignish in Scotland and the efforts of Seawilding, a community-led charity dedicated to restoring seagrass and native oysters. The garden, which is sponsored by Project Giving Back, will feature coastal elements including sandstone rock outcrops, a pebble beach and a saltwater pool planted with seagrass.
We are delighted that seagrass will be featured for the first time so it can help spread the message of importance of marine restoration in the fight against climate change. After the flower show, the seagrass plants will be coming back to our seagrass aquaculture facilities, and we plan to plant them into the Ocean as part of our restoration activities!
We are delighted to be working with garden designer Ashleigh Aylett, and sponsors Navium Marine, on a Blue Mind inspired garden!
This garden will explore our deep connection to water as humans and the positive impact it brings to our wellbeing. The garden draws inspiration from the concept of Blue Mind, highlighting the calming and mentally restorative benefits of being near, in, on, or beneath water. It reimagines how the aspects of water can be thoughtfully integrated into small spaces to create a sense of serenity in an urban environment.
Our team will be on hand throughout the show to help visitors feel the benefits of blue in a busy, city environment, and support conversations that link a healthy mind to a healthy Ocean. We can’t wait!
We are thrilled that after the Chelsea Flower Show, the garden is going to be relocated to our Centre of Ocean Excellence, the National Marine Aquarium. It will be reconfigured into a community garden for all our staff, volunteers and visitors to enjoy.
We are looking forward to spreading some Ocean optimism at the Chelsea Flower Show and we will bring you an update in the next issue!
Riding the wave to the UN
So no, we aren’t actually surfing our way across the pond! But raising Ocean voices – Yes!
We encourage everyone no matter where they live, who they are, to Think Ocean! From our supporters and staff members to local councils and MP’s, we want to take the Ocean to every level. We have one Ocean. The Ocean affects us all and we are inextricably linked to it, so we know it’s not just action at ground level and national level that’s required to support a healthy Ocean, but all levels of action are required. That’s where our work within the United Nations comes in….
On
a
global stage…
We choose to raise the Ocean’s voice at the United Nations (UN) because it can have global impact. The UN has a range of functions, but requires countries also known as Member States, to engage in the creation of policy, goals and targets for the betterment of the world. Agreements made at the UN level can then be implemented by all the 193 countries who are currently Member States of the UN.
A good example of a UN action plan are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); 17 Goals that aim to deal with issues that are affecting society by 2030.
The UN involved all countries in the creation of the SDGs, and now they are adopted, countries are accountable for helping to reach these goals and are required to report on their progress every few years.
There are a few SDGs that are particularly important to the work we do at the Ocean Conservation Trust...
Goal 14
Life Below Water – Conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Goal 13
Climate Action – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Goal 4
Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
You can see how these Goals are global issues, and by all countries supporting these changes we can work together to help impact not only our local and national communities but others around the world!
Speaking Up on the Ocean Stage
The United Nations has many organisations, and each holds conferences to ensure that work is evaluated, collaboration is effective, newest developments are shared and policy is made.
One of these is the UN Ocean Conference, this connects to the SDGs and specifically Goal 14 – Life Below Water. The Conference meets to update on the progress of SDG 14 which includes targets such as ‘protect and restore ecosystems’ and ‘increase scientific knowledge, research and technology for Ocean health.’ You can see how it aligns with our work at the OCT. It is also a space for governments, charities, subject experts, researchers, financers, policy makers and more to discuss, assess challenges and share ideas to create new actions and policies to help get the world closer to achieving those goals.
The 2025 Conference will be held in Nice, and each conference has a theme, this year’s is ‘Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the Ocean.’ At the event there are stands and talks, evening networking and long queues to get a cup of tea!
We are absolutely thrilled to be attending in person this year! Throughout the whole conference we will be seeking out and finding Ocean advocates who share our vision for a healthy Ocean, promoting emotional connections to the Ocean and raising your concerns to those with the power to make decisions. We will discuss the White Paper outcomes and how we have implemented them so far. We hope to target specific countries to find out what they are doing to help realise those outcomes as well, using interventions within events to promote an Ocean literate society.
Ride the wave with Us!
The world of the UN can be complicated, but it is an important place to have conversations, to network and the OCT can use our voice not just for the Ocean, but for you as well. We invite you to share with us your thoughts on what you want raised at the UN Ocean Conference and you can do that by contacting us at:
info@oceanconservationtrust.org
Help us strengthen the voice of the Ocean
#thinkOcean is a movement created to encourage everyone to think about their impact on the Ocean throughout the day and make choices with the Ocean in mind. We’re excited to announce the relaunch of our challenge, with not only a brand-new look but also a new question, so you can help us strengthen the voice of the Ocean!
We believe there is power in the small-scale actions people take every day, creating a wave of change. We are building our wave through all of the work we do, gaining momentum as we engage different audiences, add feedback to decisions, and support leaders with documents to help them understand where their actions can make a difference. So, whilst we all love to get in the Ocean, these waves of change are the ones we will ride to the UN.
If you are someone who has already embraced the #thinkOcean movement, you know how powerful it is to reflect on your daily impact on the Ocean, and how even small changes make you feel empowered! For you, this is a time to dive back into the challenge and see how your Ocean thinking has evolved.
For those new to the movement, our challenge is designed to help you discover how your personality can contribute to saving the Ocean or at least make a positive impact. By joining one of our shoals, you will join a like-minded group of people, using their strengths for the good of the Ocean and our planet!
Whether you are new to the movement or you have been making waves for months, there is one thing that all shoals, and every single person, can do! In 2025, our focus is on Ocean conversations. Conversations are powerful. When we talk to each other, we learn, we connect, we inspire, and we come together to solve problems.
Since our inception, we have initiated millions of Ocean conversations. Our teams work locally, nationally and internationally to be the voice of the Ocean when it can’t speak for itself. Sparking Ocean conversations has allowed us to get over 30 Councils to declare a Motion for the Ocean, secure vital funding to protect and restore habitats, develop important partnerships and build a community of Ocean Optimists who are passionate Ocean Citizens.
So, we encourage you to talk to each other, whether it’s friends, families, colleagues, neighbours, even strangers! One simple conversation could be the start of something great for the Ocean!
This year, we will be attending lots of events where policy makers will be present, so why not let us know what issues you want to raise with those who have the power to create positive change! Let us know by taking the challenge and answering the last question, reach out to us via email on info@oceanconservationtrust.org or send us a message on one of our social media channels!
Let’s have Ocean conversations, let’s make waves for positive change!
Shoals
A day in the life of a Marketing Manager
We spoke to the Marketing Manager of our Centre of Ocean Excellence, the National Marine Aquarium (NMA), about what a day in the life of a person marketing the UK’s largest Aquarium is like! Here, Kate tells all…
What does a typical day in the life of a Marketing Manager look like?
Marketing by nature is really varied, which is what I enjoy. On a typical day, I get to use different skills; such as conducting audience research; brainstorming creatively on new and fun campaign ideas; analysing how well events and experiences are performing; as well as budgeting our Marketing spend for the most efficiency.
Day-to-day, this means I cover NMA planning and accountability for delivery across all of our communication tools including: outdoor billboards, bus advertising, radio, PR, social media, email, website, brand guidelines, on-site signage and more.
This means could be involved in longer term planning months in advance or getting a piece of content finalised and live in the same week. Due to this, you have to be able to juggle lots of projects at the same time and change your focus from more strategic thinking, to executional elements multiple times a day.
I love working collaboratively with all the different teams throughout the charity. As a function, we also network with other Marketing professionals and support our local Plymouth and Southwest community.
How did you get into your field of work?
From early on, I had an interest in how businesses ran and studied Business Studies at the University of Plymouth. From this, I knew I wanted to go into Marketing and started off my career in food and beverage brands such as Nescafe and Nesquik to McVitie’s Biscuits. I relocated to Plymouth in 2014 with my husband and young kids for a better work-life balance. I then joined Ginsters pasties and was promoted to Head of Marketing and then Interim Marketing Director.
Having built my skills and understanding in large multimillion pound businesses, I wanted to use my experience to help support smaller enterprises and those with a more purpose driven focus. I worked for a couple of lovely Cornish brands including a Marketing Director role at one, and for the past 2 years I have been a Non-Exec Director of a Community Interest Company – Iridescent Ideas - supporting their Marketing Strategy and board level decision making. This not only keeps building on my skills, but also supports a more purpose related goal.
I love the National Marine Aquarium, having brought my kids here from toddlers to teens. So when this Marketing Manager role came up, I jumped at the opportunity to do my bit for the blue spaces that I love, as well as work in such an inspiring and unique location.
What is your biggest achievement as Marketing Manager at the NMA?
I’ve loved working in Marketing roles for around 20 years and over the varying levels of roles, I have enjoyed so many experiences and feel proud of many of my achievements. Having worked at the NMA for just under a year now, most of my focus has been centred around improving the visitor experience both on site and through communications. With the support of the marketing team, I have rolled out the NMA branding consistently across everything we do, from our on-site signage, improving the wayfinding for visitors and being consistent in the key messages and creatives through our communications.
Working with other departments, I coordinated and delivered the creative for an interactive iPad drawing activity in our Eddystone exhibit (initiated by our Curator). This helped to offer something new, to improve the dwell time for our visitors.
Behind the scenes I have been working to support other teams with events, experiences and deliver fully integrated footfall communication campaigns that have maximised visitor numbers especially at key holiday periods. These, alongside our TV series that was still available on iPlayer, contributed to a high last year of over 387,000 visits!
What are the main challenges of your job?
Marketing creative can often be subjective as it’s hard to remove our own likes and preferences from those of the audience we are developing content for. So if a new piece of creative work is developed and there are differing viewpoints, it’s about bringing it back to what would most appeal to our audience and reviewing it against the criteria. It’s important that the creative briefs are as detailed as can be, so that we can review if it has met the objectives. This is why when I joined, I put in place a new more complex creative brief form to be able to improve the quality and speed of the content that is developed and it seems to be working well.
As mentioned, collaborating is good fun, but it can also be a challenge to get everyone working together on projects in a timely manner and progress with as much speed as possible. What makes it easier is that the people at the OCT are hugely supportive and as flexible as they can be.
What excites you most about your job?
I remember coming to the NMA soon after it had first opened on its new site in 1998, as I was here studying at the University of Plymouth. Having returned to Plymouth in 2014 with my family, I knew it would give us more of an opportunity to be in nature, as it’s situated in between the stunning moorlands, woodlands and of course the amazing beaches and coastal paths across Devon and Cornwall. Coming into the aquarium to work, I find myself feeling very lucky to be able to see some of the mesmerising marine life we care for on site.
My role is currently focused on bringing visitors to our aquarium. It’s such an amazing space for people to connect with many animals that they would otherwise never get to see in the wild. Building this love of the Ocean and marine species at an early age helps the next generation to want to protect it and they often influence their families too. One of the best bits about my job is seeing the wonder and excitement on the faces of visitors experiencing it for the first time, from tiny toddlers to university students and those older generations, coming back time and time again because they just love it so much.
I know that bringing more people into the NMA year after year helps our vital conservation efforts, as all proceeds from ticket sales and experiences go towards supporting this work.
What is on the horizon for 2025?
Experiencing the Ocean via the NMA continues to be one of the three key programmes of the OCT conservation strategy. The other two being our Ocean Advocacy and Habitats programmes. For the NMA, it’s continuing to get people to connect with the Ocean and one way is by visiting us. We continue to positively influence pro-Ocean behaviours, raising awareness with new audiences and continuing to engage with current audiences, such as those of you reading this.
Our next visitor campaign is focused on our ‘Habitat Heroes’ – some of those animals that help their marine environment – and working with our Advocacy team on a trail that gets you thinking about how you can help too. Communications started in the lead up to February Half Term and on site with the trail until Easter. Come and visit and join in too!
What is your top tip to protect the Ocean?
I love the Ocean and being outdoors in nature, whether in green or blue spaces. It’s my happy place, giving me that sense of calm and the benefits it provides for both mental and physical wellbeing are immense.
I love the charity’s focus towards a thriving Ocean and inspiring that positive change through connecting people with the Ocean. We know we are more likely to protect those things that we love. Protecting the Ocean for future generations has to start with us – you and me – if we all more consciously think about how our small everyday actions can contribute to this bigger challenge, we can do our bit.
If you are stuck for ideas on how to help, take our #thinkOcean challenge and see how well you are already doing, as well as get inspired by further ideas. My biggest tip for protecting the Ocean is to talk about it with others and encourage your friends and family to see if they too can help by considering how their everyday actions could benefit the Ocean.
A turtle I saved which was caught up in plastic.
