Photo by Doncoombez
The Crown Estate has published its approach to delivering nature recovery ambitions in the marine environment through a new framework titled “Unlocking a Resilient Blue Future.” The publication sets out guiding nature principles that will inform decisions across the organisation’s marine operations, from seabed planning to infrastructure design and active restoration.
The framework establishes four core nature principles: unlock space for nature to thrive, protect vulnerable habitats and species, deliver positive outcomes for nature and people, and promote sustainable investment in nature. These principles will be embedded across The Crown Estate’s marine business operations, including how the seabed is planned, where infrastructure is located, how partners design infrastructure, active restoration efforts, seabed leasing and capital investment.
Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine, and Caroline Price, Head of Nature & Environment, stated “Nature is at the core of our vision to create the most sustainable and attractive marine economy in the world. But visions need action – and this publication sets out how we will plan our management of the seabed in a new way to nurture, protect and restore nature.”
Marine Delivery Routemap integration
The Crown Estate will publish its Marine Delivery Routemap in 2026, building on months of cross-sector stakeholder engagement. The digital platform will provide a holistic view of growing seabed demands, enabling important conversations when planning for future scenarios. The tool will ensure nature is considered alongside other sectors, including how other marine space users can deliver positive outcomes for nature through their activities.
The organisation aims to publish a Nature Routemap in 2026, outlining pathways and indicative timeframes for supporting specific outcomes. The Strategic Opportunity Map for Nature will highlight locations with high potential for restoration, recovery or enhancement, balancing infrastructure development impacts and broader investment opportunities within emerging natural capital markets. These initiatives will align with statutory planning and policy outcomes, supporting the UK’s national and international targets.
The Crown Estate emphasised “Healthy and resilient ecosystems provide essential services including food provision, carbon and nutrient cycling, coastal protection, water quality regulation and recreation. Our natural resources literally form the bedrock on which maritime industry depends and the services we draw from them are fundamental to our cultural identity as well as our prosperity.”
Collaborative approach and capacity building
The publication reflects collaboration across a wide range of partners who helped shape the delivery approach. The Crown Estate is working closely with diverse marine nature stakeholders, customers and industry colleagues who are playing vital roles in protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Each maritime sector holds unique potential to contribute positively to nature, with the organisation supporting efforts while recognising that every customer is at a different point on their journey.
The organisation is committed to developing new initiatives, leveraging innovative leasing and capital investment, and drawing on experience in market development. The framework recognises “the critical need to address skills gaps and build capacity for the future so that communities can benefit from high quality jobs in a sustainable maritime economy. This includes not only those roles directly linked to nature recovery, but also future facing roles in our infrastructure sectors, supporting growth that is resilient to the pressures of a changing climate.”
The publication states that demands on the seabed are set to grow in coming decades for additional critical infrastructure, resource extraction, climate adaptation and mitigation. Without a system-led approach, unintended consequences may create a challenging legacy for future generations, which is why nature is being embedded as a priority in marine operations with potential opportunities for nature recovery and biodiversity enhancement integrated across all activities.