Global impact
The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University, was hosted alongside Edinburgh Ocean Leaders, a global network focused on protecting and restoring the ocean and helping coastal communities through initiatives such as improving sustainable fishing and reducing marine litter and plastics.
Since 2020, the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders programme, led by the University, has grown to a network of 56 people from 35 countries across Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas.
Marine protection
The programme allows for peer-peer knowledge sharing across borders focused on regenerating, boosting resilience, and engaging local communities in protecting seas and building sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Edinburgh Ocean Leaders have helped protect 700,000km2 of marine protected areas in 28 countries, representing 2 per cent of the world’s total marine protected areas – designated protected zones akin to underwater national parks.
Reef restoration
At the event to welcome the latest cohort of Leaders, Her Royal Highness heard how the network has impacted the livelihoods of 200,000 people in coastal communities across the world, through restoring coral reef, aiding small-scale fishers with boats, and boosting finance available for women fishers.
Ocean Leaders – supported by environmental protection non-profit organisation the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation – have also driven efforts to reduce marine litter in 35 countries, and contributed towards 70 legal and regulatory changes that affect the oceans.