Open Seas Trust

Who we are

We are interested in protecting our marine environment and the things that live in it. We’d like to see more sustainable shellfish and fish, and are promoting sustainable alternatives to damaging fishing.

The seas are a common resource, but uncontrolled access caused some serious impacts only a generation ago. Many will testify to the boom and bust experienced around our fishing towns. Following a lot of hard work we have seen stocks like North Sea cod recover to viable fisheries. However, evidence based recommendations have not been followed so rigorously for our inshore – we’re stuck fishing the bottom for ‘high risk’ seafood with broadly damaging consequences. We can and should do much better.

Some fisheries operating in our inshore seas are not doing so in a way that best protects long-term ecosystem health and isn’t in the best interests of our coastal towns.

We are working with data and evidence to objectively identify issues and present opportunities for environmental and social sustainability.

It takes time to find a smarter, more sustainable way to look after our sea and seafood. We are taking a long term view and aren’t interested in undermining anyone with short term fixes.

We want to help spread the wealth and help our coastal communities prosper by making sure that the value of a healthy sea flows to the many, rather than further concentrating wealth in the nets of a few.