This report contains the results from an assessment of the blue carbon resources for Jersey’s territorial seas, for example, carbon occurring within the marine environment. Using a combination of biological, environmental and geological evidence, the stored weight of carbon in Jersey’s marine environment has been estimated as has the annual rate of production and burial. This is the first study of blue carbon resources for the Channel Islands region.

Results suggest that Jersey’s offshore marine habitats are productive, complex and biodiverse and there is potential for the development of accredited blue carbon projects. Further work will be required to ground-truth the results, identify project sites and obtain a better understanding of the generation, storage and burial of carbon in Jersey’s territorial seas.

This report was prepared by the Government of Jersey’s Marine Resources team and is a first step toward a fuller documentation of Jersey’s blue carbon resources. Its estimates and distribution maps will be further refined through fieldwork and laboratory analysis.

This report was prepared by Government of Jersey officers during work hours. It was peer reviewed by the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, St Andrew’s University, at a cost £600.