Communities across the world are set to benefit from a £14 million funding boost from the UK government aimed at protecting the ocean while reducing poverty in regions most affected by climate change. The announcement was made on Sunday 26 January by Nature Minister Mary Creagh, reinforcing the UK’s role in supporting frontline communities facing the impacts of environmental degradation.
The funding will support at least eight community-led projects under the second round of the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme, known as OCEAN. The programme focuses on empowering local people in developing countries to protect marine ecosystems while strengthening livelihoods that depend on healthy oceans.
Many of the communities targeted by the grants are already experiencing the harsh realities of declining ocean health, including depleted fish stocks, pollution and rising sea levels. The projects place a strong emphasis on supporting women, girls and marginalised groups, recognising their central role in sustaining coastal economies and family wellbeing.
One of the newly funded projects is being led in Ecuador by the Mare Nostrum Foundation, working in partnership with University College London. The initiative involves installing green LED lights in fishing nets that are visible to turtles, sharks, rays and whales but not to many fish species. Early evidence suggests the technology could reduce accidental capture of marine wildlife by up to 73 per cent, protecting biodiversity while allowing fishing communities to continue earning a living.
The latest awards build on the success of the first round of OCEAN funding, which has already helped protect and restore more than 93,000 hectares of critical marine and coastal ecosystems. That area is roughly equivalent to 130,000 football pitches, highlighting the scale of impact community-led conservation can achieve when properly supported.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the UK is committed to putting local people at the heart of solutions to conserve the ocean they rely on for food, income and protection from extreme weather. She said the projects will help families hardest hit by climate change to secure lasting change while safeguarding the ocean for future generations.
Jérémy Huet, conservation programme manager at the Zoological Society of London, which received funding in the first round, said the health of the ocean underpins global wellbeing. He warned that warming waters, pollution and habitat loss pose risks to everyone, not just coastal communities. He added that continued investment is vital as organisations work alongside communities in countries such as Mozambique to protect coral reefs and other fragile ecosystems.
The second round of funding also includes projects aimed at tackling plastic pollution and promoting sustainable livelihoods. In the Philippines, Eco Kolek will expand its inclusive waste recovery system to reach thousands of households and small businesses across island communities, preventing large volumes of plastic from entering the ocean. Another initiative in the country, led by Resiklo Machine Shop, will establish solar-powered recycling hubs that transform marine and household plastic waste into durable products, creating income opportunities while reducing pollution.
In Bangladesh, a project led by Badabon Sangho will support women-led fishing cooperatives to restore marine habitats and promote sustainable fishing practices. The initiative combines community engagement with close collaboration with public agencies and national-level advocacy to strengthen long-term marine protection.
For readers of Chijos News, particularly those in the Nigerian and wider African diaspora, the funding underscores how climate action abroad directly affects families and communities back home. Coastal livelihoods, food security and environmental resilience remain deeply interconnected across borders. As climate pressures intensify, investments like the OCEAN programme highlight the growing importance of inclusive, community-driven solutions that protect both people and the planet.
