Edmiston & Conservation Collective: Advancing marine conservation in 2025 

With the ocean at the heart of the yachting experience, protecting its future is not just a responsibility — it’s a mission. Environmental philanthropy has therefore remained a defining focus for Edmiston. In recognition of this responsibility, we have partnered with Conservation Collective since 2022 to support grassroots conservation efforts in some of the world’s most ecologically significant yet vulnerable marine regions. These include the Cyclades, St Vincent & the Grenadines, the Balearics and the Ionian Islands.  

Through this partnership, we aim to create tangible impact through initiatives that do more than protect, but actively regenerate. From safeguarding endangered species to restoring vital marine habitats, each project is rooted in the understanding that sustainability is not simply a value but a necessity. Together, with Conservation Collective, we are working not just to protect the waters we journey through, but to ensure a thriving future for the coastal communities that depend upon them. 

Cyclades Care for Wildlife – Cyclades preservation fund  

The Aegean Care for Wildlife programme is an extension of the Cyclades Care for Wildlife initiative, a partnership with four specialist rescue organisations, each focused on a distinct area of wildlife care: sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins and cetaceans, birds and other mammals. Cases of injured and stranded animals are increasing, driven by habitat loss, underwater noise, and growing vessel traffic in sensitive marine zones. For endangered species such as beaked whales and sea turtles, timely intervention is critical—and often depends on the first people on the scene knowing how to respond. 

In 2024, training and awareness activities were delivered across the islands of Sifnos, Milos and Santorini, with the goal of expanding a network of informed, prepared first responders throughout the Cyclades. Beach and port authorities are now being trained in marine wildlife first aid and equipped with appropriate kits, improving their ability to stabilise animals until specialist support arrives. The project also supports the rehabilitation and eventual release of rescued animals, helping to return them safely to the wild. 

Further efforts include educational workshops for the general public, enabling local residents and marine users to identify and assist distressed wildlife. Alongside this, the programme is monitoring the causes of harm—ranging from illegal bird traps to boat collisions—while expanding a citizen science initiative to collect data on marine biodiversity.  

Sea Turtle Project – St Vincent & the Grenadines environment fund  

In 2017, legislation was passed in St Vincent & the Grenadines banning the hunting of sea turtles. However, recent monitoring efforts funded by Edmiston have shown that illegal poaching and the consumption of turtle meat and eggs still persist. Since 2022, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Sea Turtle Project has been working to address this issue, building local conservation capacity while offering tangible benefits to the community. 

After three years, the project has established a dedicated team of monitors and secured growing support from both local government and residents. In 2024, the scope of the initiative was significantly expanded, with more than 20 community members now trained in turtle monitoring and employed to patrol key nesting beaches across the island. These patrols are helping deter poachers, and since their introduction, a rise in nesting activity has been recorded for the three main species found in St Vincent: hawksbill, leatherback, and green turtles. 

With Edmiston’s continued support, the project is now preparing to extend its work to the neighbouring island of Bequia, while strengthening operations on more remote beaches in St Vincent. The focus for 2025 includes greater collaboration with the Fisheries Division and Department of Forestry to promote awareness of the hunting ban and improve enforcement. In parallel, the safety of patrollers remains a key priority, supported by new technology such as night vision camera traps and in-sand microphones to monitor high-risk areas discreetly and effectively.  

Calant Xarxes – Ibiza preservation, Mallorca preservation, Menorca preservation 

The Mediterranean is the most overfished sea in the world, with approximately 75% of its fish stocks being exploited beyond sustainable limits. In the Balearic Islands, Calant Xarxes is tackling this issue head-on. A collaborative initiative, it seeks to engage fishermen as active allies, championing sustainable fishing practices and responsible seafood sourcing. By addressing unsustainable and illegal fishing through education, improved seafood traceability, local governance, and consumer action, the programme is working to build a thriving marine environment that continues to deliver social and economic benefits. 

So far, 64% of all fishers in the Balearics—representing around 250 boats—have taken part in training workshops focused on traceability and awareness-raising. Meanwhile, 61 restaurants have committed to the Responsible Seafood Manifesto, ensuring their sourcing practices align with the region’s conservation goals. To support this shift in consumer behaviour, the Sustainable Seafood Guide for the Balearics has been published in English, Spanish and Catalan, and is now being distributed across restaurants and communities. 

In 2025, the programme will focus on expanding its reach and deepening its impact. Key activities include developing a Menorca-specific sustainable fish label and strengthening those already established in Mallorca and Ibiza. Efforts will also concentrate on securing long-term commitments from restaurants and hotels to serve local, sustainably caught fish. To support enforcement, Calant Xarxes will work with the Balearic government to fight illegal fishing through increased surveillance.   

Ghost net removal – Ionian environment fund  

Following two years of mapping and monitoring efforts across the Ionian, this new initiative marks a shift from surveying to direct action. With previous Edmiston-funded research having identified priority areas for the conservation of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, attention is now turning to a lesser-known but equally damaging threat: ghost nets. These abandoned or lost fishing nets, often tangled across the seabed, pose a serious risk to both marine ecosystems and the delicate seagrass habitats that are essential to carbon storage and biodiversity. 

Working in partnership with local fishers and diving schools, this project will target known ghost net hotspots in Corfu and other regions of the Inner Ionian Archipelago, including Lefkada and Paxos. Corfu and its neighbouring waters are among the last places in Greece with near-pristine Posidonia meadows, but these habitats are increasingly threatened—not only by anchoring, but also by the presence of heavy synthetic nets that smother marine life and obstruct natural growth. 

In 2025, trained teams comprising divers, fishers, emergency responders and volunteers will carry out two underwater recovery missions to remove ghost nets from the most sensitive sites. The project also includes the transportation and safe management of recovered nets on land, as well as engagement with local authorities and action groups to share best practices and build awareness. To further involve the public, a cultural event will be held using the arts to highlight the hidden impact of ghost nets and the need to protect these vital underwater ecosystems.  

Digifish – St Vincent and the Grenadines environment fund  

Following its successful development in Barbados, the Digifish initiative is now being expanded to St Vincent & the Grenadines with support from Edmiston. This innovative project equips small-scale fishing boats with solar-powered vessel-tracking devices, offering a dual benefit: supporting marine conservation efforts while improving safety for local fishers at sea. 

Between 2022 and 2025, Digifish led a pioneering collaboration between conservation groups, fishers and coastal authorities in Barbados. Now, in its new regional phase, the programme will support Marine Protected Area enforcement, help monitor marine mammal activity following a national ban on the hunting of orcas and bottlenose dolphins, and gather valuable fisheries data to inform sustainable management. By adapting the model to the unique needs of St Vincent & the Grenadines, the project continues to demonstrate how targeted technology can deliver lasting environmental and community impact. 

In 2025, funding from Edmiston will enable the installation of solar-powered tracking devices on 10 small-scale fishing vessels. These devices will be used to monitor vessel activity in priority conservation zones, including no-take areas and sensitive marine habitats. The data will also support national research and enforcement priorities by tracking conch fishing during closed seasons and monitoring marine mammal activity, in line with the national ban on hunting orcas and bottlenose dolphins. In parallel, the project will work with national authorities to analyse fisheries data and improve marine management, while enhancing safety at sea by providing fishers with real-time distress alert capabilities. 

A shared vision for the future 

Through these four projects across diverse yet interconnected regions, Edmiston and Conservation Collective are demonstrating that meaningful conservation is possible when science, local knowledge, and a shared sense of purpose align. Each initiative is carefully tailored to address the specific needs of its environment, while empowering communities to become active stewards of their natural resources. 

As the yachting industry looks to the future, our commitment is clear: to champion initiatives that protect and restore the very ecosystems on which it depends. Edmiston’s 2025 programme reflects a broader ambition—to show that sustainability is not a constraint but a catalyst, shaping a more responsible, resilient, and rewarding future for the seas we navigate. 

For more information on Conservation Collective, or to donate to their causes, please visit their website.