Published 27 May 2026
Every year on 08 June, the United Nations hosts World Ocean Day – a global moment to celebrate, reflect on and recommit to the health of our seas. But what is World Ocean Day? It’s a call to action – a reminder of humanity’s deep, irreversible connection to the ocean and the urgency of protecting it for generations to come.
Here in Jersey, that call doesn’t fall on deaf ears. As an island whose territorial area is 95% sea, the ocean isn’t a backdrop – it’s our heartbeat. Which is why World Ocean Day feels particularly personal to us.
This year, we wanted to celebrate some of the incredible people for whom life quite literally revolves around the water. From ocean photographers and marine conservationists to sustainable fishermen (and women) – these are Jersey’s ocean advocates. The ones giving a voice to the sea, all year round.
Matt Porteous – Ocean Photographer & Storyteller
Award-winning photographer Matt Porteous has travelled the world through his lens. But it’s Jersey that shaped him – and it’s the sea that drives him.
“The dramatic coastline, the wide open beaches – they’ve been my canvas for so many years. Jersey is where I can rebalance, see my friends and get back in the water.”
Alongside his photography career, Matt and long-time friend Tamsin Raine founded Ocean Culture Life – a platform connecting and amplifying the voices of those working to restore ocean health through storytelling, science and collaboration. It’s marine conservation through the power of narrative, and it’s reaching people in ways data alone never could.
“I love Jersey. No matter where you are on the island, you are never more than ten minutes from the sea. The twice-daily change of 30-foot tides resembles the beating heart and lifeline of our island” – Matt Porteous
Kathryn Smith — Blue Marine Foundation
If you want to understand how to conserve marine life, look at what’s happening right here in Jersey’s waters.
Kathryn Smith is building her career in marine conservation as part of the Blue Marine Foundation’s Jersey project – one of the most significant marine conservation initiatives in the Channel Islands. Blue Marine’s global mission is to see at least 30% of the world’s oceans protected by 2030, and Jersey is a key part of that story.
In October 2024, Jersey’s States Assembly unanimously approved a Marine Spatial Plan – a landmark moment for ocean protection that Blue Marine has been working towards since 2018. The plan will see a proposed network of marine protected areas (MPAs) covering 23% of Jersey’s territorial waters, closed to dredging and trawling and allowing small-scale, sustainable fishing to thrive alongside nature.
On the ground, Blue Marine has launched Snorkel Portelet and Snorkel Bouley – a snorkel trail at Portelet Bay and Bouley Bay that brings Jersey’s underwater world to life for visitors and locals alike. Their education programme has now reached over 840 children across Jersey’s primary schools, helping a whole new generation fall in love with the sea they live beside.
Kathryn herself is rarely far from the water – sea swimming, paddle-boarding and sailing are all part of her island life.
The Snorkel Trail at Portelet Bay, a Blue Marine Foundation initiative.
Gabby & Leyton – Jade-S Fisheries
Since 2020, the duo Gabby and Leyton, have been serving up some of the freshest, most sustainably sourced seafood on the island – pulled straight from Jersey’s local waters and sold direct to customers from their iconic vintage Citroën HY van.
“We pride ourselves on our knowledge, our quality and our freshness, all of which can’t be beaten. It all comes directly from our local waters and local boats and goes straight to the customer.”
And the story doesn’t stop at the van. Gabby and Leyton also own and run the much-loved Driftwood Café at Archirondel Bay, where sustainably caught fish and shellfish – from their own boat and fellow local fishermen – take centre stage on the menu.
Sustainable seafood means fish and shellfish that’s caught or farmed in ways that protect ocean ecosystems, avoid overfishing and support the long-term health of marine life. And in Jersey, no one embodies that ethos quite like Gabby and Leyton.
Jersey and the ocean: a relationship worth protecting
Jersey’s seas are extraordinary. Kelp forests, seagrass meadows, maerl beds – habitats that support over 3,000 animal and plant species and some of the most diverse oyster beds in Northern Europe. The island’s unique position, with tides that expose 30 square kilometres of inter-tidal zone twice daily, creates marine environments found nowhere else in the region.
Protecting that is not a nice-to-have. It’s everything.
From the Marine Spatial Plan to Blue Marine’s education work, from Ocean Culture Life’s storytelling to the sustainably caught fish landed on Jersey’s shores every morning – marine conservation here isn’t just policy. It makes Jersey the place that it is.
Discover Jersey's ocean life
Mini Bioluminescence – Intertidal Walk
Intertidal Walks with Lou
Step into a glowing world after dark and meet the amazing creatures that light up our shores! This family-friendly adventure reveals the secret life of the intertidal zone as it comes alive under the stars. Perfect for curious kids and their grown-ups. Duration: 1.5–2 hrs.
Sep 05 2026 ‐ Dec 31 2026
Intertidal Walks
Intertidal Walks
Explore the rocky intertidal zone and discover some of the richly diverse and supremely adapted marine life that is uncovered by one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, by day and under the cover of darkness.
Geowalk: Oysters – A Stroll Back over 6,000years
aspiring Jersey Island Geopark
This gentle wander through the Royal Bay of Grouville and its modern oyster beds offers a fascinating insight into this age-old delicacy. Jersey’s Neolithic population already fished for them before oysters became the money spinner for Gorey in the 19th century. Today Jersey’s oyster cultivation is one of the largest in Britain.
Aug 19 2026
Snorkel Portelet
Blue Marine Foundation
Snorkel Portelet provides an opportunity for all generations to spark an interest and appreciation of our oceans. It highlights four areas of interest which act as self-guided snorkel trails. Information about the location, species, habitats and safety will be available on information boards in the bay as well as online.
Snorkelling Lesson & Guided Tour
Bouley Bay Dive Centre
Join our experienced instructors and guides for a snorkel lesson and tour. The session is 1.5 hours and will include an explanation of the equipment used, breathing techniques, positioning in the water, and a guided tour to spot marine life. Beginners can join this session as well as experienced and it will be tailored to suit the group. If you already can snorkel we will take you to one of the snorkel trails or other locations. Check the location in which you are booking as they are offered at a variety of sites.
Jun 13 2026 ‐ Oct 30 2026
Snorkel Bouley
Tucked away on the north coast of Jersey, Bouley Bay is nestled between Jersey’s tallest cliffs, with a pebble stone beach and a sandy shelf descending into deep blue waters. A long, winding hill poses the only access down to this secluded bay; home to a tiny harbour and Jersey’s only dive centre— Bouley Bay Dive Centre.
Bioluminescence on The Beach
Jersey Walk Adventures
As night descends and the ocean recedes, star-like shapes of luminous green twinkle and sparkle in a few unique spots at low tide. Experience the uniqueness of bioluminescent creatures and other marine life on this “moonwalk” across the seabed. Come along with the local guides who first discovered this fascinating phenomenon!
Jul 11 2026 ‐ Aug 10 2026
The Intertidal
The Intertidal
A unique adventure across Jersey's low-tide terrain from Gorey to St Aubin's, linking six iconic landmarks across the foreshore. With the third-largest tidal range in the world, this point-to-point race really is the chance to go where very few feet have been before.
Aug 15 2026
Try Scuba Diving Session
Bouley Bay Dive Centre
Explore the underwater world in a try-dive experience! Try Scuba Diving sessions allow you to experience the thrill of breathing underwater in full scuba, you do not need any prior diving experience this is designed for the ultimate beginner looking to try scuba and experience the underwater world.
Jul 18 2026 ‐ Sep 19 2026
Seaweed Foraging: Wild Vegetables of The Ocean
Jersey Walk Adventures
Join a local guide for a relaxed walk along Jersey’s beautiful coast and discover the hidden value of foraging for seaweeds. With over 200 species found around the island, you’ll learn how to spot, gather, and use these wild ingredients for baking, seasoning, or bringing a taste of the sea to your kitchen
Jul 18 2026 ‐ Jul 30 2026
Bioluminescence – Intertidal Walk
Intertidal Walks with Lou
Night walks in the intertidal zone. Discover some of the wonderful creatures that come out under the cover of darkness. Explore some of the tidal pools close to shore and see things in a new light. Duration: 2 -2.5 hrs. Terrain: Easy to moderate. Distance: 1-3 km
Jul 11 2026 ‐ Dec 20 2026
Planning a sustainable trip to Jersey?
Explore our sustainable holidays in Jersey and discover how to experience the island in a way the ocean would approve of.
