Marine Conservation Society

Marine Conservation Society works to defend coastal habitats and species around the UK and Overseas Territories to recover the health of the ocean. They work on marine citizen science, social science, community engagement and conservation as well as pollution, persistent chemicals, marine protected areas, responsible aquaculture, and sustainable fisheries. They tackle the ocean emergency by working with communities, businesses and governments.

By 2030, the charity are calling for:

• A third of UK seas to be truly protected, so nature can recover
• Ocean pollution levels to show a clear downward trend
• UK fish stocks to be at sustainable levels

Sandy Luk, CEO, said: “The ocean can’t wait – and we are thrilled to have a new funding partner that understands and shares our hopes for a cleaner, healthier ocean everyone can benefit from.  This strategic funding partnership with KCCF couldn’t have come at a better time. It will help us pilot innovative, new ideas to achieve ocean recovery and leverage wider funding to trial those that work. And we’ll be able to carry on educating and inspiring diverse communities, businesses, politicians and individuals to speak up for the ocean in positive, pragmatic and sustainable ways.”

Unrestricted funding from KCCF is helping the Marine Conservation Society to continue to grow their impact. The grant has helped MCS invest with confidence in vital programmes, particularly policy and advocacy on water quality, marine litter, marine spatial planning and sustainable seafood. During the partnership, MCS’ advocacy has contributed to significant policy progress including approval of Deposit Return Scheme regulations in England, a ban on single-use disposable vapes, and inclusion of MCS’ definition of PFAS (persistent chemicals) and recognition of the ocean in UK Government’s February 2026 PFAS Plan. Volunteering through the Great British Beach Clean also grew, with 6,482 volunteers across 472 events by September 2025.