When people think about protecting the ocean, they often think of plastic pollution or endangered species. What tends to go unnoticed are the people spending their days tracking dolphins, monitoring nesting beaches or restoring underwater seagrass meadows.
It’s this essential work, often carried out behind the scenes, that you can choose to support when you book a boat on SamBoat. Here’s how it works, and where your contribution goes.
How does the donation work?
When you complete your booking, you’ll have the option to add a donation to Fondation de la Mer. It’s entirely optional, and you’re free to choose the amount you’d like to contribute.
All funds collected are donated directly to Fondation de la Mer, which supports research projects, ecosystem restoration initiatives and programmes that protect marine biodiversity.
Even a small donation may not seem like much on its own. But combined with contributions from thousands of other boaters, it helps fund projects that make a lasting difference over many years.
What does Fondation de la Mer support?
Since 2015, Fondation de la Mer has supported researchers, charities and conservation projects in different parts of the world. Its work covers a wide range of issues, including marine wildlife protection, underwater habitats, pollution, scientific research and public awareness.
In 2024, Fondation de la Mer helped support:
- 48 marine biodiversity protection projects
- 2,770 litter collection initiatives
- 24 coral, mangrove and seagrass restoration projects
- 158,389 people reached through ocean awareness programmes
These figures help illustrate the scale of the work, but they only tell part of the story. Behind them are researchers, charities, volunteers and field teams working every day to protect the ocean.
Projects supported on the ground
Protecting sea turtles
Every summer, beaches across the Mediterranean become important nesting sites for sea turtles. Finding these nesting areas isn’t always straightforward. Beaches need to be monitored, nests protected throughout the incubation period – which lasts around two months – and hatchlings carefully observed when they emerge.
Thanks to programmes supported by Fondation de la Mer, more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline are monitored every year, with between 15 and 25 nesting sites protected.
To give an idea of the impact, a donation of €20 (around £17) helps fund the monitoring of 150 metres of beach to identify potential nesting sites.
Understanding dolphins and whales
You may have been lucky enough to spot dolphins while out at sea. It’s a memorable experience, but one that often lasts only a few minutes. Understanding where these animals live, how they move and what threatens their populations can take years of research.
To better protect them, several projects funded by Fondation de la Mer carry out observation campaigns and acoustic monitoring at sea.
In the Mediterranean alone, more than 750 Risso’s dolphins have been identified through photo-identification programmes. These observations help researchers monitor populations over time and better understand their movements.
Protecting sharks and rays
Sharks aren’t always the first animals that come to mind when discussing ocean conservation. Yet they play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
Today, almost one-third of shark, ray and chimaera species are threatened with extinction, while around 100 million sharks are killed worldwide every year.
Fondation de la Mer supports scientific expeditions in the Mediterranean, French Polynesia and the Gulf of Guinea to better understand their movements and the threats they face.
Restoring seagrass meadows
If you’ve ever anchored in a turquoise bay and noticed a darker patch beneath the surface, there’s a good chance it was a Posidonia seagrass meadow.
These underwater meadows are among the Mediterranean’s most valuable ecosystems. They provide habitat for hundreds of species and play an important role in storing carbon. At the same time, they remain vulnerable to anchoring, coastal development and certain fishing practices.
Fondation de la Mer supports several initiatives aimed at protecting these habitats and restoring damaged areas. In 2024 alone, more than 1,800 square metres of seagrass meadow were restored.
That’s also why it’s always recommended to anchor on sand rather than on Posidonia whenever possible. The impact of anchoring on the seabed is often difficult to see from the surface.
Tackling marine waste
Every minute, the equivalent of a bin lorry full of waste enters the ocean. Some of it breaks down into microplastics, while the rest can drift for years before ending up on a beach, on the seabed or inside a marine animal.
Through its “Un Geste pour la Mer” (Small actions for the ocean) programme, Fondation de la Mer brings together more than 400 organisations involved in coastal clean-up initiatives. It also works with fishing ports to recover waste brought up in nets and develops projects targeting abandoned ghost nets, one of the biggest threats to marine wildlife.
In 2024, 503 tonnes of waste were collected and either recycled or repurposed.
Part of this pollution can also be prevented through 12 simple ways to make your boating trips more sustainable before, during and after your time on the water.
What can your donation help fund?
To help put your contribution into perspective, here are a few examples from sea turtle conservation programmes.
| Amount | Example of impact |
| €20 (around £17) | Monitoring 150 metres of nesting beach |
| €1,600 (around £1,350) | Funding an observation mission at sea |
| €3,000 (around £2,550) | Purchasing a portable ultrasound scanner |
| €10,000 (around £8,500) | Funding a hyperbaric chamber for turtles injured by accidental capture |
Even small donations become meaningful when combined with contributions from the wider boating community.
Every contribution matters
At SamBoat, we’re fortunate to help thousands of people enjoy time on the water every year. With that comes a responsibility to help protect the marine environments that make those experiences possible.
Much of the work involved in protecting the ocean remains invisible to those enjoying a day on the water or a seaside holiday. Yet it is precisely the year-round efforts of researchers, charities and conservation teams that help preserve marine ecosystems for future generations.
By adding a donation to your SamBoat booking, you’re helping support the projects – and the people behind them – that work every day to protect the ocean.
FAQ
Is the donation mandatory?
No. The donation offered during the booking process is entirely optional.
Who receives the donations?
All donations go directly to Fondation de la Mer to support its ocean conservation and marine biodiversity programmes.
Can I choose how much to donate?
Yes. You’re free to choose the amount you’d like to donate, or not to contribute at all.
What types of projects are supported?
Donations help fund programmes that protect sea turtles, whales, dolphins, sharks and rays, as well as seagrass restoration projects, marine litter initiatives, scientific research and ocean awareness programmes.
