Every tiny action matters in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
Change is never just one big moment, but a ripple effect of small, conscious choices. This might inspire you to rethink how you shop at your local supermarket, to question where your food comes from or to avoid single use plastic. It could lead you to actively spend more time near water, join a beach clean or consider studying ocean sciences.
When individuals come together, when a crew of changemakers leads by example, the impact grows exponentially. These choices and action matter, and the result is shifting mindsets.
One choice, one moment, one ripple at a time.
SAILING WITH CHANGEMAKERS
THE BIG PICTURE: KEY INDICATORS OF OCEAN HEALTH
Marine life is disappearing at unprecedented speeds. Over one-third of marine mammals and nearly one-third of sharks and rays are now at risk of extinction. Global fish stocks are in trouble, with over 34% of fisheries overexploited, disrupting ecosystems that have thrived for millennia. (WWF)
Closer to home, UK waters are not immune. Seabird populations have plummeted due to declining fish stocks, Cod in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, and waters west of Scotland have experienced severe declines due to overfishing. (NHM, 2023)
Seagrass meadows in the UK have experienced significant declines. Research indicates that at least 44% of the UK's seagrass has been lost since 1936, with 39% of that loss occurring since the 1980s. When considering potential historical extents, losses may be as high as 92%. (Project Seagrass)
Over 14 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year (UNEP, 2023).
Microplastics have infiltrated marine food chains, with over 90% of marine species tested now carrying plastic residues. The UK, with its vast coastline, is a contributor. A recent study found microplastic levels in the Thames are among the highest recorded globally (Royal Society, 2023), and plastic ingestion in seabirds along the English Channel has surged.
From plankton to whales, plastic doesn’t just litter the seas, it becomes part of the ocean’s biology affecting everything in the food web, including us.
The ocean has absorbed 90% of the excess heat from global warming (IPCC, 2023), leading to:
- Marine heatwaves killing coral reefs and altering fish migration patterns.
- Shifts in ocean currents disrupting weather systems, affecting fisheries and fuelling stronger storms.
- Sea-level rise accelerating, threatening coastal communities worldwide.
Closer to home:
- The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is showing signs of slowing. Even a slight change in this huge ocean current could alter global weather patterns dramatically. (Nature, 2023).
- Cornwall’s sea temperatures in summer now regularly exceed 20°C, impacting species that depend on colder waters (Marine Biological Association, 2023).
TURNING THE TIDE: POSITIVE ACTION & SOLUTIONS
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAs)
The UK has designated over 300 Marine Protected Areas, covering more than 38% of its waters, helping to safeguard critical habitats and species. But enforcement and expansion remain key. See how MPAs are helping.
REWILDING OUR SEAS
Seagrass restoration projects, such as those led by the Ocean Conservation Trust and WWF UK, are bringing back vital carbon-absorbing meadows.
MENTAL HEALTH & OCEAN STEWARDSHIP
This UK charity is helping more people to reconnect to the ocean and waterways, for their mental health benefits, and to nurture stewardship of our blue spaces.
HELPING THE BOATING COMMUNITY
The Green Blue and Royal Yachting Association aim to inspire, inform and enable the recreational boating community to make more environmentally sustainable choices, to help protect and enhance our environment for people and nature.
OCEAN CLEAN UP & PLASTIC-FREE MOVEMENTS
The UK has taken steps to reduce ocean plastic, from banning single-use plastic straws to increasing recycling initiatives. Campaigns like Surfers Against Sewage’s Plastic Free Communities empower local action.
SCIENCE VESSEL NAZCA - A DATA DRIVEN APPROACH
NO FOSSIL FUELS
NO FOSSIL FUELS
NO FOSSIL FUELS
Nazca has sailed 5,000 nautical miles entirely on renewable energy. If she had been a motor driven only yacht of similar displacement, she may have burned approximately 700 litres of diesel over that distance. That’s equivalent to avoiding around 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Energy storage is the key, electric motors, for their reliability and durability are a given.
BIOCIDE FREE
NO FOSSIL FUELS
NO FOSSIL FUELS
By using alternative hull maintenance methods instead of traditional antifouling paints, Nazca has prevented an estimated 150kg of toxic biocides from leaching into the ocean over the past 5 years. With millions of vessel afloat of varied types and all with different use cases, the cumulative impact of heavy metals and biocides is still unknown.
HOLISTIC IMPACT
NO FOSSIL FUELS
UNDERWATER SURVEYS
Nazca and the myriad of projects serve as a real-world demonstrators. Their stories have contributed to increased awareness of ocean health and biodiversity losses. Demonstrations of off-grid energy autonomy, and encouraging more sailors to consider alternative antifouling solutions. Collectively they inspire who they meet to become more involved in a sustainable ocean.
UNDERWATER SURVEYS
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
UNDERWATER SURVEYS
Nazca runs "BOB" our Remote operated underwater vehicle, Working with the RYA's The Green Blue and the Ocean Conservation Trust we've been monitoring seagrass restoration zones along the South Coast for a number of years, and with her 4K Camera exploring habitats with significant less disruption than deploying divers.
PELARGIC SAMPLING
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
Using a Manta Trawl, a specially designed micro and macro surface sampler that looks a like a Manta Ray allows us to identify debris in areas we've visited. The Bristol Channel is of huge interest with the huge tidal flow and diverse coastlines. There is now a huge amount of energy for beach cleans and awareness programs that help tackle the devastating issue of plastic at the source.
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
COLLECTIVE AMBITION
Nazca, and all the projects is the collective effort of all our partners and friends, we have made an impact and we will continue to research and innovate. It's staggering how far we've come in such a short space of time. Collaboration is the key and with a mix of advocates, sailors, surfers, scientists, engineers and clients, we all live in hope of a better future for our planet.
Do you have a story to share or would like to get involved with the project?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Small actions scale up: Reducing plastic, choosing sustainable seafood, supporting marine conservation and pressing for stronger ocean policies all contribute to reversing these trends.
If you're involved in marine research, conservation or simply have a story to share, let’s connect. The sea is changing, but so can we.
The more sailors, surfers, swimmers, fishers and marine operators that share these insights, the more powerful the message becomes.
