As a travel company that values thoughtful exploration, we recognise that our relationship with the ocean must be one of stewardship.
Preservation of marine environments is essential not only for biodiversity, but for the wellbeing of the communities who depend on them. This belief shapes our partnerships with organisations working to restore, research and protect ocean ecosystems.
For many of our travellers, the ocean is a place of discovery, whether through marine wildlife encounters in the Caribbean, coastal cultures on the coast of Mozambique or remote island environments, such as our Galapagos group charters. Yet these same waters face growing pressures from climate change, overfishing, pollution and habitat loss, turning what was originally a need for preservation into an urgent need for regeneration.
From our continued support of Seawilding and Galapagos Conservation Trust to a new partnership with The Blue Marine Foundation, we are doubling down on our commitment to ocean conservation initiatives that deliver tangible, long-term impact.
Ocean Conservation: Seawilding
Based in Loch Craignish, Argyll, Seawilding is the UK’s first community-led project dedicated to restoring native oysters and seagrass. Uniting local people, scientists and volunteers, the organisation focuses on reviewing marine habitats, enhancing biodiversity and improving water quality. Through the careful reintroduction of oysters and restoration of seagrass meadows, Seawilding captures carbon, supports marine life and creates green jobs.
Oysters act as natural filters, cleaning the water, storing carbon and providing vital habitat for countless species. Equally, seagrass meadows are powerful carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots. Surveys in Loch Craignish reveal that without seagrass, half of local marine species could disappear, reflecting on a global 92% decline in these essential underwater ecosystems.
Their recovery has far-reaching implications for biodiversity, carbon capture and climate resilience. Seawilding’s work is helping to rebuild the natural infrastructure that sustains coastal ecosystems.
Breakthrough for Seagrass Restoration
In 2024, Seawilding achieved a major breakthrough in seagrass restoration, marking a transformative year. Moving away from traditional methods that rely on planting seeds – a technique that has often yielded limited success – the team developed an innovative approach based on transplanting adult seagrass shoots from healthy ‘donor’ meadows. This technique has delivered outstanding results. Within 15 months, seabed coverage in one restoration increased from 10% to over 70%, with an exceptional 97% survival rate. A subsequent 2025 trial produced a four-fold increase in coverage within just six months, creating 0.3 hectares of thriving new seagrass habitat.
Equally significant is the minimal impact on donor meadows. Even when a quarter of the donor area was harvested, shoot density naturally recovered to near-original levels within five months, proving the sustainability of this pioneering method. The success of these trials marks one of the most effective examples of seagrass restoration in the UK to date.
2026 and the Year Ahead
Through its blend of scientific innovation and community participation, Seawilding is setting a new benchmark for marine restoration. The next phase focuses on building upon this success by improving harvesting and planting efficiency, expanding trials to new locations, and continuing its vital work to restore and rejuvenate marine ecosystems.
“The ongoing support of Steppes Travel has helped Seawilding overcome many challenges to achieve breakthrough success with our seagrass planting putting us in a position to scale up the restoration of this critically endangered habitat in the west of Scotland. Long-term supporters like Steppes Travel are invaluable to us as restoration of marine habitats, such as seagrass and native oysters, is a long and labour-intensive game. Thank you for the important part you play in saving our seas.” Danny Renton, Seawilding Founding Director
Ocean Conservation: Galapagos Conservation Trust
In 2022, we launched our Pay a Fair Price for Nature campaign, using the Galapagos National Park Fee as a clear example of how the world’s natural assets are often undervalued. Tourism can – and should – play an important role in giving these places real economic worth, helping safeguard them for the future. For this to work, governments and private organisations must ensure that the true value of nature is recognised and supported through appropriate contributions. Although the National Park Fee in the Galapagos was recently increased by an additional $100 USD, we believe it still falls short of what is required to protect such a fragile ecosystem.
Paying a Fair Price for Nature
This is why Steppes Travel continues to supplement the park fee on every client we send to the Galapagos, by making a donation to the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT). GCT is the only UK charity dedicated solely to the Galapagos, working with scientists, local communities and the Ecuadorian authorities to restore habitats, protect endangered species and promote sustainable living. Their mission is to safeguard the islands’ unique biodiversity and ensure it thrives for generations to come.
Recent highlights from their impact work include advances in protecting the critically endangered mangrove finch, expanded monitoring of giant tortoises across multiple islands and progress in tackling marine plastic pollution through community-led initiatives. In 2025, Steppes Travel was asked to join a panel brought together by GCT to discuss a regenerative tourism strategy for the Galapagos. In 2026, following workshops and consultations coordinated by GCT, the Galapagos National Park Directorate plans to launch a Code of Conduct to support better coexistence between visitors, communities and nature across the islands.
Ocean Conservation: Blue Marine Foundation
In 2025, Steppes Travel became a Corporate Partner of the Blue Marine Foundation, a charity dedicated to restoring the health of our oceans with the aim to secure meaningful protection for at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Through science, policy and strong community partnerships, the foundation works to support both marine life and the coastal communities that depend on it.
So far, the Blue Marine Foundation has helped secure protection for 4.5 million km 2 of ocean through marine protected areas, bottom-trawling bans and habitat restoration, proving to be a key partner with our oceans. Through science, advocacy and community-led action, the foundation has also conducted essential research to help with the restoration of the oceans. The Convex Seascape Survey is a pioneering research project that is attempting to quantify the amount of blue carbon stored in continental shelves, thus laying a scientific foundation for ocean-based climate solutions.
