Founded in October 2020 by brokerage house Edmiston and the UK Sailing Academy (UKSA), The Edmiston Foundation addresses diversity within the superyacht community to provide opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
Read: Edmiston Foundation & Inclusivity Programme launched by Edmiston and UKSA
In addition to improving diversity in the marine world, The Edmiston Foundation continues to work with the Conservation Collective to improve sustainability and safeguard our marine environments for future generations. This year Edmiston has been supporting the following projects. 
The aim of this project is to end illegal fisheries and fish fraud in the Balearics and to raise awareness of this controversial issue. Illegal fishing currently accounts for as much as 40 percent of the fish bought and sold in the region. Edmiston has hired a project manager to engage with the hospitality industry and to implement trustworthy certification labels on fish products. So far, three other benefactors have been found to match Edmiston’s €20k pledge of funding and this ambitious project aims to increase awareness, create change, and secure high media coverage with the aim to get the local government to improve monitoring and enforcement.
This project was launched to establish a network of 25 local turtle monitors across 11 beaches to collect data to determine the current state of nesting sea turtle populations. The team uses data obtained from nesting activity, tracks, and threats to create a more targeted approach to conservation efforts. The project runs in partnership with local government and other programs nationwide and through training and active participation, the wider coastal community stakeholders have now become aware and active in safeguarding sea turtles.
A spokesperson for the Conservation Collective says: “In 2022, thanks to key Edmiston funding, the Foundation will focus on improving the protection of nesting turtle populations through increased community awareness and involvement in monitoring and protection on the Leeward side of St Vincent.”
This project optimises the sustainable management of fisheries in the region through technology. Launched in January 2022, the project uses digital technology in the form of 30 small solar-powered Pelagic Data System vessels equipped with tracking devices to follow a select number of fishing vessels in Barbados.
The data is then used to lobby for legislation to make tracking mandatory across the fleet, thus creating a more sustainable industry. Data is also used to inform future policies on marine protected areas, tackle illegal fishing, and to improve efficiency and safety for fishermen, who will ultimately use less fuel when they know where the best catch areas are.
This project focuses on raising awareness among local communities and protecting the precious Mediterranean seagrass, Posidonia Oceanica. This specific seagrass has carbon storing properties that has led some conservationists to refer to them as the ‘lungs of the Mediterranean’.
This year the project mapped the Posidonia distribution and current anchoring pressure to prioritise hot spot areas of interest that may be threatened. The scheme creates awareness and education activities with tourists and the local community to look into anchoring and proposed solutions such as eco-moorings. Working with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the project hopes to identify Posidonia hotspots and eventually push for further protection of these marine areas.
A spokesperson for the Conservation Collective said: “Thanks to key Edmiston funding, the project is expanding to the Small Cyclades, and it is widening in its engagement capabilities, especially in the awareness raising stage of the project.”
The aim of this project is to tackle the issue of edible invasive alien species (IAS) through gastronomy. The project focuses on the Ionian Islands and other parts of Greece and encourages the consumption of fish such as lionfish, rabbitfish, cornetfish, and Atlantic blue crab in the local community.
The project involves local chefs and restaurants by demonstrating how to cook them and replace more popular fish species with these on menus. In 2022, several tasting menu events took place across the region, which focused on sharing information with more than 450 participants, and a recipe book designed by local chefs was created.
The goal is to safeguard and protect native species; and reduce numbers of invasive species, thus helping minimise their impacts on marine ecosystems.
The Edmiston Foundation is still looking for €250k-€500k of funding to help support future activities. If you would like to see a more diverse marine world and play your part in protecting the seas for our children’s children and beyond, then get in touch.“On our own, we can only do so much, but together the potential for change is limitless.”
To find out more about The Edmiston Foundation and to donate towards future activities visit: